Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun 
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at a press conference (©AP via Kyodo)
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The government of Australia has adopted a tougher stance towards China ahead of May's general election.
It has firmly rejected calls from Beijing to cooperate in countering United States' tariffs. In Canberra, the government also announced plans to review a lease agreement for the port of Darwin in northern Australia. Under the 2015 agreement, Shandong Landbridge Group, a Chinese company, obtained a 99-year lease to operate the facility.
We support the Australian government's decision. Australia and Japan are strengthening their security cooperation within what has been characterized as a "quasi-alliance" relationship. Moreover, Australia is part of the Quadrilateral Security Alliance, or Quad, consisting of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. Canberra's clear diplomatic stance is vital in deterring China.
About-face by China?
Until recently, Australia had been under economic pressure from China, which imposed high tariffs on Australian food products. And, in February, a Chinese naval fleet conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, forcing civilian aircraft to divert flights. Such moves have likely made Australia even more leery of China.
Nonetheless, China recently attempted to invite Australia to join it in opposing US President Donald Trump's tariff initiative and retaliatory tariffs.
In an opinion article that appeared in the April 10 edition of the Australian newspaper The Age, China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, wrote, "Under the new circumstances, China stands ready to join hands with Australia and the international community to jointly respond to the changes of the world."
However, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles curtly rejected the overture from Beijing. "We are not going to be holding hands with China in respect of any contest that is going on in the world," he told reporters.
China is currently Australia's largest trading partner. However, Marles also said Canberra plans to reduce Australia's economic reliance on China through "trade diversification."
A Strategic National Asset
In 2015, the Chinese company Shandong Landbridge Group signed a lease with the government of Australia's Northern Territory. It gave the Chinese company ownership rights for the Port of Darwin until 2114.
However, reports of close ties between the Shandong Landbridge Group and the Chinese Communist Party surfaced shortly after the contract was signed. That revelation sparked criticism in Australia and other countries that the local government had "handed over important infrastructure to the Chinese side."
The deepwater port at Darwin is a strategic Australian asset. It is where a US Marine Corps rotational force is stationed for half of each year. In addition, multinational military exercises are frequently based there. This is why the Australian government has indicated its intention to review the lease agreement.
During the general election campaign, the opposition party leader has also called for Australia to buy back the port.
China's foreign ministry has reacted sharply, charging that "normal business cooperation is being politicized."
However, eliminating Chinese influence from Darwin Port has deep implications for the security of Australia and the entire Indo-Pacific region. Japan, the US, India, and Europe should all support Australia's decision. This unity is important to impeding China's ability to take retaliatory measures.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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