Australia to Hold Talks Over Future of China's Darwin Port Lease
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Representatives from the Northern Territory government will travel to Canberra on Thursday to discuss the port and 'steps necessary to secure its future,' according to a statement released Tuesday by NT Treasurer Bill Yan. He called for clarity from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on possible funding for Darwin Port.
'We've been doing our due diligence now over many, many months to make sure that what we do around Landbridge and any acquisition of the port is done in the correct manner,' Yan told reporters on Tuesday.
Federal and territory authorities have been discussing how to deal with uncertainty around the port since November, when reports first emerged of potential financial difficulties at Landbridge. In an emailed statement on Tuesday, Landbridge Australia Non-Executive Director Terry O'Connor said the Port of Darwin isn't for sale.
'The minister's announcement today has come as a surprise and I can confirm that Landbridge and Darwin Port have not been involved in any discussions on the matter,' he said.
The Northern Territory government originally approved the lease to the Chinese company, a decision criticized by then President Barack Obama as Darwin — on the doorstep of a Southeast Asian region that's increasingly being contested by China — is also a base for thousands of US Marines. The federal government later changed laws that would allow it to force states and territories to cancel new or existing agreements with foreign governments.
Still, a Department of Defence review that began in 2021 found that there were no national security concerns as a result of the deal.
One of Albanese's lawmakers in the Northern Territory, Luke Gosling, told Sky News on Monday that the government is looking at buying the port back from Landbridge, potentially with 'a mix of federal government funds and institutional investors.'
'We can return the port to Australian hands where it should be and we can start to make the most of our strategic position in the Indo-Pacific,' Gosling said. The Labor lawmaker also questioned whether Landbridge was meeting its obligations under the terms of the lease.
Asked at a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday, Albanese didn't confirm or deny whether he was considering using federal money to buy back the port. 'We wouldn't have sold it in the first place,' he said.
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The Hill
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Taiwan votes to decide whether to oust lawmakers from China-friendly party in closely watched poll
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Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
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Taiwan votes to decide whether to oust lawmakers from China-friendly party in closely watched poll
HONG KONG (AP) — Taiwanese were voting Saturday to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in elections that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island's legislature. The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year's presidential election , but the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and the smaller Taiwan People's Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc. Those who support removing the 24 lawmakers are angry that the KMT and its allies have blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget , and passed controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China, which considers the island its own territory . The opposition parties' actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the island's democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing similar votes on Aug. 23. But the KMT alleged the ruling party was resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwan's democratic system. The KMT holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT lawmakers would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win all by-elections, which would need to be held within three months following the announcement of results. For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favor of the recall, and the total number of supporters must exceed those against. If KMT loses its seats in the recall elections, the party can file new candidates for the by-elections and may be able to win back the seats. Outside a Taipei polling station, voters old and young were waiting in line to cast their ballots. The poll will close at 4 p.m. local time, with results expected on Saturday night. The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favoring improved ties with Beijing. Critics accuse China-friendly politicians of compromising Taiwan and take issue with their meetings with mainland Chinese politicians. But these Taiwanese politicians claim their connections are vital for dialogue given Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. When asked about the recall election, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in June that since the administration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te came into power, it has sought to achieve 'one-party dominance' and practiced 'dictatorship' under the guise of 'democracy,' state broadcaster CCTV reported. She was quoted as saying that Lai's government has spared no effort in suppressing opposition parties and those who supported the development of cross-strait relations. Taiwan's mainland affairs council said Wednesday that the Chinese authorities and state media had tried to blatantly interfere with the vote. ____ Leung reported from Hong Kong. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


NBC News
3 hours ago
- NBC News
Economists doubt Trump outlook that US will sell 'so much' beef to Australia
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