China signals ambitions for a greater naval presence further from its shores with the unveiling of a new military strategy white paper.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, a spokesman for China's Defence Ministry, Yang Yujun, denied the timing of the paper's release had any connection with the ongoing spat with the United States, which flew a surveillance plane last Wednesday over the reef and rock formations where China is carrying out extensive land reclamation and building in the disputed waters.

The paper also indirectly cites Australia's strengthening military alliance with the US as an issue of concern, in the context of the US continuing to enhance its military presence and alliances in the Asian region as part of its "rebalancing" strategy toward the Asia-Pacific.

Australia's own defence white paper, expected to be released in the next month, will be closely watched in Beijing for its language on the South China Sea as well as the East China Sea, where China is involved in a dispute with Japan over the sovereignty of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

Australia's own defence white paper, expected next month, will be closely wached in Beijing