AUSTRALIA has supported a US decision to flex its navy muscles amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea.
Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne strongly backed freedom-of-navigation rights in the area after the destroyer USS Curtis on Saturday steamed close to a manned Chinese outpost where Beijing is trying to restrict international shipping. 
"The US has publicly declared its policy of conducting freedom-of-navigation operations globally consistent with international law," Ms Payne said yesterday.
"It is important to recognise that all states have a right under international law to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, including in the South China Sea." The federal government and the US have both become increasingly alarmed as China has asserted its claims to more islands and other land masses in the South China Sea, including among the Spratly and Paracel island chains.
The seaway is crucial for Australia because about 60 per cent of its exports pass through the region.
"Australia has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight," Ms Payne said The US warship travelled within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island without providing prior notification to China.
The exercise was conducted on the basis of "innocent passage" - a legal concept in which ships can pass through another nation's territorial waters as long as they don't conduct threatening activity.
The federal government's National Security Committee of Cabinet has been briefed on a possible freedom-of-navigation exercise and show of strength by an Australian warship to dispute Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.
However, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has not -decided whether he supports such an exercise, nor what form it would take.It is believed Mr Turnbull discussed the issue of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea with US officials during his recent official visit to Washington.