Australian warships are proceeding with their controversial live-fire training exercise alongside Chinese navy ships.
That exercise is being conducted off the southern Chinese port of Zhanjiang and follows earlier training exercises with ships of the Indian and South Korean navies.
Unlike the previous joint Australian-Chinese navy live-fire exercise in 2010 when HMAS Warramunga practised firing her main gun, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Arunta are only firing their 50-calibre machine guns at a floating target a kilometre away.
It also comes in the wake of the latest outbreak of tensions in the South China Sea when a US Navy destroyer exercised its right of freedom of navigation by sailing within 12 nautical miles of an island claimed by China in the disputed Spratly Islands chain.
After leaving China, the two Australian frigates will head south through the South China Sea to Malaysia. They will make a further stop in Indonesia before returning to their home bases in Perth and Sydney.
Nations bordering the South China Sea have made numerous overlapping territorial claims, primarily because of oil and gas deposits. China claims virtually all of the South China Sea.
China inflamed regional tensions when it started building its own islands on disputed reefs, adding airstrips, radar, communications, defence systems and troops.
China insists the 12 nautical mile territorial limit applies. The US says it doesn't for artificial islands.
Australia played no part in the US exercise.
But Defence Minister Marise Payne said Australia had a legitimate interest in maintaining peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
The Lowy Institute said the unfortunate coincidence of this long-planned navy exercise with China and the US freedom of navigation operation placed Australia in a difficult position, potentially hurting the alliance with the US if there was no prompt demonstration of support.
Defence force chief Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin said this was an opportunity to work with regional navies to demonstrate transparency and capability.
"It's a part of the relationship we have with a lot of regional navies. So we shouldn't make it more than what it actually is," he told reporters on Friday.
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