Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will meet with their US counterparts in Washington this week.

It is expected Australia will be asked to join increased US naval missions to push back against China’s militarisation of disputed territories in the South China Sea.

Ahead of the meeting, Senator Payne played down the risk of a miscalculation or mistake by either side during the joint military exercises, which could spark a heated conflict.

“We expect all participants and all present in the South China Sea waters – and anywhere else, frankly – to behave and to act in a way that is responsible and sensible and contributes to safety and security,” she told ABC radio.

“Avoiding miscalculation and avoiding those sorts of issues is a very important part of the way that a responsible military force behaves.”

Labor deputy leader and defence spokesman Richard Marles said with 60 per cent of Australian shipping trade passing through the South China Sea, freedom of navigation was critical.

However, he said it was not in Australia’s interests to engage in territorial claims in the contested waters.

“We’ve got core national interests at issue in terms of navigating the South China Sea,” Marles said.

“As a matter of principle that (freedom of navigation exercises) does need to be on the table.”

-AAP

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