Beijing: China on Tuesday defended the 99-year lease of Australia's Darwin Port by the Chinese company Landbridge Group, emphasizing that the firm's rights must be respected and warning against any attempts to reclaim the facility.

According to Anadolu Agency, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning addressed reports about a US private equity firm's interest in purchasing the lease from Landbridge. She stated that the deal was obtained through "market means" and insisted it must be honored. Mao emphasized that the lease was secured through an open and transparent bidding process, and the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese enterprise should be fully protected.

The remarks surfaced amid increasing pressure from Australian political parties to regain control of the strategically important port located in the Northern Territory. In their recent election campaigns, both the ruling Labor Party and the opposition coalition pledged to reverse the 2015 lease agreement.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, also criticized the attempts to retake the port, deeming the push "ethically questionable." He pointed out that leasing the port when it was unprofitable and then seeking to reclaim it once it becomes profitable raises ethical concerns. Xiao, who recently visited the Darwin Port and met with Landbridge officials, asserted that the 2015 agreement should be honored by both the Australian and Northern Territory governments.

The Northern Territory government leased the port to Landbridge in 2015 for 99 years in a deal valued at 506 million Australian dollars (around $390 million). The agreement has since faced scrutiny from Canberra and its allies, who have expressed concerns over national security and Chinese influence in critical infrastructure.

Despite a government review last year, the Albanese administration ultimately decided not to cancel the lease. Nevertheless, political and public pressure surrounding the port continues to be significant.