<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned of China's "worrying" military build-up, and pledged to keep pushing back on "destabilising and dangerous" conduct by Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, just days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travels to meet President Xi Jinping.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking to the Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia said the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific were "on a scale that exceeds expectations".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But we also see opportunities – here in the Indo-Pacific, the most dynamic region in the world," she said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/false-botox-virals-found-prompting-urgent-health-warnings/6eabffb7-eb4f-4e5d-a082-f983337659fc" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>False Botox virals found, prompting urgent health warnings</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And I am confident in our region's ability to meet these challenges."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong acknowledged the Trump administration was seeking to play "a different role" in the world, but said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific was vital.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But to shape an "open and peaceful" region, Wong said, would require an "unprecedented application of our national power".</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/penny-wong-warning-on-china-ahead-of-anthony-albanese-visit/a8aa1b6e-7de7-4abc-85b4-0a1395360c1f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-sharks-spear-fisher-close-encounter-with-great-white-shark-off-sydney-caught-on-gopro/09e32331-86bc-413b-ac02-2d745f5b2dc7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Spear-fisher's close encounter with great white caught on GoPro</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The United States' presence in our region remains critical to the Indo-Pacific's strategic stability and reinforces the ability of all its countries to make choices in their own sovereign interests," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And as a great power, China can also wield its strength in a way that contributes to its security and economic resilience."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong said Chinese involvement was vital in helping solve worldwide challenges, including the fight against climate change, global health, and trade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jane-birkin-original-hermes-bag-sells-at-auction-for-whopping-86-million-euros/c2ae1a37-feee-47ac-9247-5731ea5f8b39" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Most famous handbag of all time' sells for $15 million</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But she also sounded a note of warning about Beijing's ongoing projection of strength into the Indo-Pacific, along with the "worrying pace" of China's nuclear and conventional military build-up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong said Australia was "realistic" about China's power in the region and its bid to grow that power.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"None of us, including the United States, seeks military confrontation with China - in the South China Sea, the East China Sea or across the Taiwan Strait," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What we do seek is a balance of power, where no country dominates and no country is dominated."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong's comments came just days before Albanese travels to China for a six-day trip.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That visit will include Albanese's fourth meeting with President Xi Jinping.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese has had less success in securing face-to-face time with US President Donald Trump, though the two leaders have spoken by phone and Trump has praised Albanese in the past.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nonetheless, several major issues currently bedevil the long-standing Australia-US relationship, including the Trump administration's tariffs on imports, a shock review of the AUKUS agreement, and demands Australia increase its defence spending.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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