Senate should probe port deal: Xenophon

China would not agree to a foreign company with military ties controlling one of its ports, says independent senator Nick Xenophon in a call for an inquiry.

He wants the senate to probe the long-term leasing of the Port of Darwin to China's Landbridge group, which has rejected reports it has ties to China's ruling party and military.

"To put it in perspective, I can't imagine the Chinese Government would approve a foreign company with military ties to its own government being permitted to control the port of Shanghai, or indeed any Chinese port, strategic or otherwise," Mr Xenophon said on Saturday.