The federal government made no promises to the United States that Australia would support it in any future conflict over Taiwan in exchange for American nuclear submarines, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles.
As part of the first stage of the AUKUS security pact, Australia will get three US-made Virginia-class submarines while it builds up to eight nuclear-powered submarines of its own.
Speaking on the ABC's Insiders, Mr Marles was asked if access to the three subs came with a commitment from Australia to support the US in any potential future conflict with China over Taiwan.
"The answer to that is of course not. Of course not. And nor was one sought," he said.
"I've listened to that conjecture from a number of commentators. It is plain wrong … I couldn't be more unequivocal than that."
The defence minister reiterated that, once in possession of them, Australia would maintain sovereignty and control over the submarines.
"I want to make it really clear that the moment that there is a flag on the first of those Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s is the moment that that submarine will be under the complete control of the Australian government of the day," he said.
"And again, no-one would have expected that to be any different. That is obviously the basis upon which this is happening."
The AUKUS submarine deal, which will cost up to $368 billion over the next 30 years, also involves billions to support production lines and improvements to shipyards in the US and UK.
Subs key to protect trade
Mr Marles also said securing future submarine capability under AUKUS would give Australia the ability to safeguard key sea lanes in the Indo Pacific region used for trading.
While he would not say if China was a threat to those sea lanes, he noted that China's creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea was not consistent with United Nations conventions.
"A lot that have trade goes to China, but all of our trade to Japan, all of our trade to South Korea, two of our top five trading partners goes through the South China Sea," he said.
"The only point to make here is that the maintenance of the rules-based order, as we understand it, freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, is completely in Australia's interests, and we need to make sure that we have a capability which can back up that interest, and that's why we have to walk down path that we are.
"Now in saying all of that, we want the best relationship with China that we can have, and we are working very hard to stabilise that relationship, and we value a productive relationship with China."
Federal trade minister Don Farrell said he did not think the AUKUS deal would set back negotiations with China to restart some trade with Australia.
China described last week's nuclear submarine announcement as one that fuels arms races, hurts peace and breaches nuclear non-proliferation treaties.
Over the last few years, China has also placed steep tariffs or banned a number of Australian goods like wine, barley and lobsters.
Mr Farrell told Sky News he was confident he would still be able to visit China and continue trade negotiations.
"We want a stable relationship with China we want a mature relationship with China, of course at the same time we want to make sure that everything we do is in our national interest and dealing with the issues of our national security," he said.
