Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is warning of the dangers of the situation in the South China Sea.
It comes after revelations the navy has increased its presence in those waters, some of them the subject of disputed Chinese territorial claims.
It has also been revealed senior Department of Defence officials are working on plans to develop Australian bases in Papua New Guinea and Fiji to counter China's power.
Both those revelations come as a former commander of the US army in Europe has warned the United States and China will very likely be at war within 15 years.
Mr Rudd says there are too many weapons in the South China Sea at the moment and the situation is reminiscent of the start of World War One.
