Chinese owned Port of Darwin hosts a US SSN & US Submarine Tender

Since the preceding article Guam based Virginia-class USS Minnesota (SSN-783) and US submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) docked [1] in late March 2025 (or are still docking) at Kuru Wharf. Kuru Wharf (see a Canberra-class LHD docked at it below) is outside the breakwater within HMAS Coonawarra Naval Base at Port of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Inside the breakwater (above) of HMAS Coonawarra only patrol boats or other craft with a draught of 2m maximum (in any tide) can dock. [2] 

The Port of Darwin is Chinese owned and run [3] [4].

Two days after my March 31, 2025 report of the presence of USS Minnesota and USS Emory S. Land within the Chinese owned and run Port of Darwin Australian Government owned ABC News reported, April 2, 2025 [5]:

“US nuclear submarine docks in Darwin Harbour despite Chinese port concerns

Over recent days, increased security measures have been put in place around Darwin Harbour for the arrival of a US nuclear submarine which has docked near the [Chinese company] Landbridge-owned port.

On the weekend, Defence Minister Richard Marles toured the USS Minnesota while it was in the Northern Territory capital but declined to say if the Trump administration had expressed any concerns about the continuing Chinese lease."

Then on April 4 Australian Prime Minister Albanese for the first time revealed a new plan for the Port of Darwin. [6] This plan is for an Australian-owned company to take control of Port of Darwin away from China, or for the port to return to being an Australian government asset. All coincidence? You be the judge :)

[1] https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4137812/emory-s-land-arrives-in-darwin/

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Coonawarra#Facilities_and_operational_units

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Darwin#Privatisation 

[4] https://en.as.com/latest_news/us-nuclear-submarine-emerges-within-meters-of-a-controversial-chinese-lease-not-one-of-our-partners-n/

[5] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-02/pm-more-to-say-about-china-darwin-port-lease/105129244

[6] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/04/anthony-albanese-says-chinese-lease-port-of-darwin-should-return-to-australia