Defence Minister Stephen Smith says he will attempt to allay Chinese concerns over Australia's strong bond with the United States when he meets officials there this week.
In a speech in Singapore on Saturday, Mr Smith spoke of the "positive impact" the US was having on regional security in the Asia-Pacific, just hours after the Pentagon announced it was shifting more navy ships to the region.
The move could increase tensions with China, whose leaders have expressed unhappiness at any larger US presence in the Asia-Pacific.
Shortly after arriving in Perth on Sunday, Mr Smith, who is due to fly to China on Monday, said he would assure officials that Australia's 40-year relationship with China would not be adversely affected by the US alliance.
"The point I will make to Chinese friends is that Australia has had a growing relationship with China ... We now have a comprehensive relationship, very strong economically. We also have a growing military-to-military and defence-to-defence relationship which we continue to enhance," he told ABC Television's Insiders
program.
"None of that has been affected by our over 60-year alliance with the United States."
In April, Australia welcomed the first rotational deployment of 250 US marines to Darwin and northern Australia.
Eventually about 2500 will train in Australia, under the program of enhanced defence co-operation, as outlined by US President Barack Obama during a visit to Australia in November.
