Australia will consider a renewed push to establish an informal naval coalition with the United States, Japan and India that would stoke fears in Beijing of a "containment" strategy. 
The commander of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Harry Harris, revived calls this week for the "quadrilateral dialogue" between the region's major democracies - an idea floated a decade ago but abandoned amid diplomatic protests by China.
Defence Minister Marise Payne kept the door open to reviving talks when asked about Admiral Harris' remarks.
"The Australian government has a range of formal and informal mechanisms to consult with close partners and we maintain an open mind about possible new consultative arrangements," Senator Payne said.
"As stated at the release of the Defence white paper, Australia's security and prosperity is directly tied to the stability of our region and maintenance of a stable rules-based global order."
Admiral Harris, speaking in New Delhi on Wednesday, said the US, Australia, India and Japan should be "ambitious" by aspiring to operate "anywhere on the high seas and air space above them" - an apparent reference to China's recent efforts to exert dominance over the South China Sea.
The naval commander, who is known for his forthright language on China, went on to say that the four-way dialogue was "an idea to consider".
The coalition - which would begin with talks on maritime security but would naturally extend to naval drills and operations - is a deeply sensitive issue for Beijing because it sends the signal of major democracies banding together in a ring around China.
"It goes to the encirclement question doesn't it?" said Euan Graham, head of the Lowy Institute's international security program.
The four countries formed not just a united front of democracies but also an actual geographical chain.
The four-way coalition would send a signal to China of opposition to its assertiveness in the region's seas in a way that groupings of two or three countries could not, Dr Graham said.
Australia has long been receptive to the idea, it is understood.