Defence experts believe Australia will face growing pressure to join United States-led maritime patrols as tensions rise in the South China Sea.

The US has sent a guided missile destroyer to challenge a 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China has asserted around its man-made islands in the contested waterway.

The move has been tipped to anger the Chinese government, which stated recently that it would never allow any country to violate its territory in the Spratly archipelago.

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The patrol comes just weeks ahead of a series of Asia-Pacific summits US president Barack Obama and Chinese president Xi Jinping are expected to attend in the second half of November.

A US defence official has said the mission marks the start of a series of challenges to China’s territorial claims.

Lowly Institute defence expert Euan Graham said Australia would soon be faced with pressure to join the US in its maritime patrols in the South China Sea.

“This is actually going to usher in several weeks, if not longer, of continuous US air and surface presence around the islands, in which some of the allies might eventually be requested to take part,” Dr Graham told ABC News 24 on Tuesday.

Australian National University National Security College professor Leszek Busynski agreed.

“It won’t go away; it will simply continue… there will be much more pressure upon Australia to get involved on the US side,” he said.

Defence Minister Marise Payne has issued a warning to China that Australia will continue to cooperate with the US on maritime security.

In a written statement, Ms Payne said while Australia was not involved in the current exercise, the government strongly supported freedom of navigation, including in the South China Sea.

“Australia has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” Ms Payne said.

“Approximately 60 per cent of Australia’s exports pass through the South China Sea.

“Australia will continue to cooperate with the United States and other regional partners on maritime security.”

China’s foreign minister Lu Kang said in a statement this week that the US ship “illegally entered” the waters near the islands “without receiving permission from the Chinese government”.

-ABC