The Chinese government has warned Australia to get rid of the Cold War mentality that has crept into its latest defence blueprint.
China is "seriously concerned" about the white paper's characterisation of the South China Sea maritime dispute, a Chinese Ministry of National Defence spokesman told a briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
"We urge the Australian side to cherish the hard-won good momentum of development in bilateral relations, and don't take part in or conduct any activities that may compromise the stability in the region," he said.
That's seen as a reference to speculation Australia may agree to US calls for freedom-of-navigation exercises.
The spokesman said the military alliance between Australia and the US should "get rid of the Cold War mentality" and not target or compromise the interests of any third party.
China's efforts to strengthen its armed forces were aimed at better protecting its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity and to provide a "solid guarantee for the peaceful development of the country," he said.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott is in Tokyo on Friday and will call for Australia to conduct a formal military exercise in the disputed area by flying over or sailing within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands China is creating.
"We should exercise our right to freedom of navigation wherever international law permits, because this is not something that the US should have to police on its own," Mr Abbott will say in the speech.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, while insisting Australia supported and practised freedom of navigation in accordance with international law, has refused to canvass future defence force operations.
The white paper rates the prospects of major conflict between China and the US as unlikely but identified several flashpoints of tension.
These include territorial disputes in the East China and South China seas and respective airspaces, along with international rules dealing with space and the cyber sphere.
