Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is concerned China's claim of an air-defence zone in the East China Sea was done without consultation and could increase tensions in the region.
Similar concerns have been echoed in Washington and Tokyo since the zone, which includes airspace over a small group of islands claimed by both China and Japan, was established on Saturday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) called in the Chinese Ambassador on Monday to convey its issue with China's action.
Speaking to media in Sydney, Ms Bishop said the matter would also be raised when she travels to China in the next couple of weeks.
She said it was Australia's long-standing position there be no coercive or unilateral action to upset the status quo in relation to the East China Sea.
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"This was done without any consultation, as I understand it, and we want to understand China's intentions and why they did it and why they made the announcement," she said on Tuesday night.
Ms Bishop said the timing of the announcement had the potential to increase tensions over an issue already prompting concerns.
"The tensions already exist," she said.
"There's a territorial dispute. Australia doesn't take sides in the territorial dispute but we have an interest as do other countries in the region to ensure stability and peace is maintained in the region."
Ms Bishop will seek clarification from Beijing officials and raise it in discussions in Japan.
