Australia’s Port of Darwin move risks ISDS arbitration with China (Tianqi Gu, Luke Nottage – East Asia Forum)

The re-elected Australian Labor government plans to reclaim China’s 99-year lease over the Port of Darwin. This risks triggering an international arbitration claim by the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group under the Australia–China investment agreements. If Landbridge is forced to divest and refuses to exit voluntarily from the lease, it may challenge Australian measures by invoking the China–Australia Bilateral Investment Treaty and the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement. This could deepen ruptures in Australia–China relations.

Australia’s Port of Darwin move risks ISDS arbitration with China | East Asia Forum