While China is keeping a close eye on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, parallels shouldn't be drawn over the communist giant's ambition to control Taiwan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
Delivering a major foreign policy speech at a Lowy Institute forum on Monday, Mr Morrison said the situation between Russian and Ukraine, and tensions over Taiwan, are different.
The situation in the Taiwan Strait remains tense but unchanged, he said.
"I wouldn't want to alert or concern Australians that assumedly because of what's occurring in the Ukraine, then B will follow A on these things. I don't believe that," he told the forum.
"I think these situations are entirely different and the responses that would be expected in the Taiwan strait would be completely different to what has occurred in Ukraine."
Mr Morrison used the speech to point the finger squarely at China, accusing the country of tacitly supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"The crisis that is in Europe heralds a choice for China's government and leadership," Mr Morrison said.
"The world has heard China's words about its commitments to global peace and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity so it's now up to China and its leaders to demonstrate that these are more than just words, but I fear the early signs are not good."
Mr Morrison said Beijing had thrown Moscow an economic lifeline by relaxing trade restrictions on Russian wheat and referred to reports of China potentially supporting a payment system in Russia as sanctions cripple the economy.
"No country would have a greater impact right now on Russia's violent aggression towards Ukraine than China joining the rest of the world in denouncing Russia's aggression and applying the same sanctions that we have," he said.
"So far they have not."
The prime minister added that the relationship between Russia and China was instinctive and opportunistic rather than strategic.
"There does seem to be some alignment to the world order they would prefer, rather than one in place since the end of the Second World War," he said.
"There has been a convenient 'fellow travelling' - that's how I would describe (the partnership)."
The prime minister also outlined Australia's determination and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Using the speech to draw a line in the sand against "a new arc of autocracy" challenging the world, Mr Morrison said Australia continued to monitor how China used its strength to bully, intimidate and coerce.
"The challenge from more surreptitious malign activities - espionage, disinformation, cyber-attacks, foreign interference, and economic coercion - is mounting daily, " he said.
Mr Morrison says Australia will continue to increase its resilience against foreign powers and expand and harders its defence and capabilities.
"Australia seeks to work with all countries to ensure a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region," he said.
"However, we're not naive, and nor can we be."
