Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called on countries in Asia to buttress United States leadership in the region and warned China that smaller powers will unite against it if it tries to bully neighbours.
In a much-anticipated keynote speech to a major security meeting in Singapore on Friday night, Mr Turnbull expressed confidence the US would remain engaged in Asia despite international despondency in the wake of its Paris climate pact withdrawal.
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Keeping Australians safe from terrorism
Intelligence and law-enforcement agencies must remain agile and well resourced to counter terrorism, says Malcolm Turnbull.
But in a clear nod to US concerns that allies and partners need to do more, Mr Turnbull told the Shangri-La Dialogue that the region needed to "find new sources of leadership to help the United States shape our common good".
The Prime Minister said China understandably would play a larger role in the region but warned that if its expression of newfound power meant upsetting the rules and laws that have underpinned stability for decades, China itself would lose out.
"China has gained the most from the peace and harmony in our region and it has the most to lose if it is threatened," Mr Turnbull said.
"A coercive China would find its neighbours resenting demands they cede their autonomy and strategic space and look to counterweight Beijing's power by bolstering alliances and partnerships, between themselves and especially with the United States."
He said it could build up trust by using its leverage to rein in rogue state North Korea. And he issued a clear warning against Beijing's island-building in the South China Sea, saying the region needed "cooperation, not unilateral actions to seize or create territory or militarise disputed areas".
The high-level meeting is taking place in the the shadow of President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement, a move that - after also pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal - is being widely seen as a major victory for the isolationist voices in his inner circle.
This has added to fears the US will back away from its traditional leadership role under Mr Trump's "America first" philosophy.
But Mr Turnbull's speech appears to be pushing back strongly against the more pessimistic voices, while also signalling to Washington a recognition that it cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of Asian regional stability on its own. This is seen as a key message to avoid vindicating the isolationist voices in Washington.
Importantly, US Defence Secretary James Mattis will address the meeting on Saturday with a speech that will be closely watched for indications of the new administration's Asia policy. Both Mr Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson - regarded as traditionalists who want to keep the US engaged in the world - will visit Sydney on Monday for the AUSMIN talks.
Mr Turnbull said Australia would not use the US alliance to "abrogate our responsibility for our own destiny".
He also said he was confident that the Trump administration would "recognise that the United States' own interests in the Indo-Pacific demand more US engagement, not less".
He also urged the region to "reject the de-globalisation impulse" - an apparent reference to US trade protectionist sentiments - and commit to economic integration.