analysisChina didn't want to be part of Australia's election story — but behind the silence was a loud messageBBy Bang XiaoTopic:Australian Federal Elections43m ago43 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 9:46pmAll seven of the marginal seats with the largest Chinese populations have turned to Labor. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)abc.net.au/news/what-the-election-revealed-about-the-china-relationship/105260770Link copiedShareShare articleOn election night, as Labor secured a second term, China's foreign ministry released a statement congratulating the Albanese government — time-stamped just before midnight on a national public holiday.For a government that rarely rushes to comment on foreign elections, the timing alone was notable.The language was even more revealing.The statement referenced the "important consensus" reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese — a deliberate nod to personal diplomacy and Beijing's desire to "continue promoting a more mature, stable and productive China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership".In the careful world of Chinese diplomatic language, it was a clear message: Beijing had been closely watching — and was keen to rebuild trust with the Australian public.Xi sees Australia as a strategic partner — a relatively stable player amid the turbulence of Beijing's deteriorating relationship with the United States.He sees the re-election of the Albanese government not just as political fact, but as strategic opportunity.The next three years will test whether Albanese's measured approach can hold under pressure — from Beijing, from Washington, and from domestic critics.Beijing may not want to be the story. But it's already one of the biggest stories in our region.Federal politics live updates: Get the latest on the post-election election landscapeLive results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continuesThe Darwin Port dilemmaWhen Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on the sidelines of the G20 in Johannesburg in February, he made a specific point.China had no interest in meddling with Australia's federal election, Wang said.It was a diplomatic assurance that suited both sides.Labor presented itself as calmly confident in dealing with China during the campaign. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)China didn't dominate the campaign — but the story of China lingered just beneath the surface of the debate between Albanese and his rival Peter Dutton.And while China said it didn't want to interfere in Australian elections, the signs of interest were unmistakable.China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, published two opinion pieces during the campaign — one in the Australian Financial Review, the other in The Australian — outlining Beijing's vision for the bilateral relationship.Together it formed a careful choreography: not overt interference, but strategic visibility.Now that the election result is settled, deeper challenges will surface.Chief among them is the future of the Darwin Port lease — a politically charged issue first raised under the Morrison government, and a recurring flashpoint in Australia's China debate.Chinese community urges rethink on Labor, Coalition's Darwin Port plansPhoto shows Shuqin LiDarwin's Chinese community is calling for federal Labor and the Coalition to reconsider plans to take back the Darwin Port lease.In 2015, Chinese company Landbridge secured a 99-year lease on the port in a $506 million deal.Since then, it has undergone multiple national security reviews — all of which have so far upheld the lease.But in the final weeks of the campaign, pressure mounted again. Critics argued the lease undermines sovereignty and national security.Labor, pre-empting attacks, pledged to "reconsider" the deal if re-elected.Landbridge has known ties to China's military through its founder's reported involvement in state-led defence logistics programs.It was the Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party government that signed the 99-year lease with Landbridge in 2015 under the Coalition government led by Malcolm Turnbull — and any move by Labor to overturn it now would face significant legal, diplomatic and commercial hurdles.Former Australian ambassador to China Geoff Raby sees it differently."My view is the whole issue is ridiculous," said Raby, now the chair and CEO of a Beijing-based business advisory firm.Labor pledged to "reconsider" the Darwin Port deal if re-elected. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)"It's been reviewed again and again. The Port of Darwin isn't a national security risk. This is about political opportunism — and if we keep moving the goalposts, we risk damaging Australia's credibility as an investment destination."Raby also warned of a broader consequence: sovereign risk.If foreign investors — not just in China — believe that legally binding deals can be overturned for political reasons, Australia's reputation as a reliable destination could suffer.China's silent campaign giftThen there was maritime theatre.Chinese military and research vessels were observed moving along Australia's coastline in March, stirring debate in the media and defence circles.Chinese warships re-enter Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone and head closer to TasmaniaPhoto shows A black and white image of a navy ship. Three Chinese warships that completed live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea re-entered Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone and were tracked operating east of Hobart.The sighting of these vessels sparked controversy across Australia, reigniting debate over how the nation should respond to a rising China asserting its presence in the region.The prime minister and other senior Labor figures responded calmly.Albanese said that while he'd "prefer" the ship wasn't in Australian waters, he emphasised China hadn't broken international law."That was not just a coincidence," said Liu Luxin, a Chinese-Australian political commentator."It actually helped Labor. These moves had a positive effect for the Albanese government."All seven of the marginal seats with the largest Chinese populations have turned to Labor.Loading...Only Menzies, where Labor candidate Gabriele Ng leads, is still too close to call.Labor didn't campaign on foreign policy — but its message of stability, especially on China, with all of the chaos from the US-China trade war, resonated in key multicultural electorates."It reminded people that Labor has kept the relationship with China steady. People didn't want instability — they wanted continuity," Liu said."That presence might have been subtle, but it mattered more than people realised."Still, others argue that the link between the vessels and the election outcome is tenuous.The government itself made no public comment connecting the two, and defence analysts stopped short of attributing political intent.What's clear, however, is that China remains a powerful backdrop to how many Australians think about security, stability and leadership.Election fallout and analysis:Counts in seats of Melbourne and Goldstein to go down to the wireElection map paints confronting picture for the CoalitionANALYSIS: Albanese might have to choose between Xi and TrumpWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenWhat does China want from another Albanese term?For Beijing, a second Albanese term offers opportunity.After inheriting one of the lowest points in the bilateral relationship in 2022, the foreign minister re-established diplomatic contact and softened the tone.Now, with US-China tensions intensifying — and Donald Trump's re-election inflaming global uncertainty — Beijing sees Australia as a stable market and business partner, particularly as it faces steep tariffs in the US.With both Canada and Australia returning centre-left governments this year, China may view them as useful interlocutors amid broader global economic and diplomatic fragmentation.Albanese's big challenge is straddling the US-China fencePhoto shows Donald Trump frowns as he looks off camera while Xi Jinping stands behind him.America has decided to sever its trading relationship with China — a strategy that ultimately will come at enormous cost. And Australia, more than any other nation, will be caught smack in the middle.Xi also remains interested in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).But Taiwan's inclusion in early-stage discussions has aggravated Beijing, which insists the island is a province of China.How Albanese and Wong navigate Taiwan's role — while maintaining support for democratic norms — will be closely watched by officials in Beijing.After securing Australian journalist Cheng Lei's release in 2023, the Albanese government was praised for its quiet diplomacy.The fate of Australian citizen Yang Hengjun presents a far tougher test.Detained in China since 2019, Yang was sentenced earlier this year to a suspended death penalty — a ruling that has drawn strong criticism from human rights advocates and the Australian government."The Albanese government raises it at every opportunity," said Raby."They are focused, and committed to pursuing it without megaphone diplomacy. And I think they will keep doing that — carefully and persistently."Posted 43m ago43 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 9:46pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesThree dead after India strikes nine Pakistan sites, officials sayLIVEIndia claims targets in Pakistan were 'terrorist infrastructure'BREAKINGPhoto shows pakistan KasmireCourt orders release of 'vicious' CCTV footage after three-year legal battleTopic:CrimePhoto shows External images of Reiby Youth Detention Centre.Who won the election culture wars? 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