Shorten no to unilateral China sea action

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has refused to back his defence spokesman over a call on the Turnbull government to take action to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

Stephen Conroy has accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of being "long on rhetoric and short on substance" over China's territorial maritime claims in the area.

"Australia should be prepared to act to support the international system in the South China Sea, and we should not be shy about our actions and intentions in doing so," he wrote in The Australian on Thursday.

Some observers have taken that to mean Labor wants Australia to take part in US naval exercises aimed at testing China's claims.

Mr Shorten insisted Senator Conroy was stating long-held bipartisan support for freedom of navigation on the seas.

But the "best solution" was to make sure nations in the region sit down and work through issues at international forums.

"That is the long-term passage to peace," Mr Shorten told reporters in Darwin.

Mr Shorten said Labor and the coalition were committed to the peaceful development of the rise of Asia and China.

"And we're very committed to maintaining the security of Australia."

When asked whether he would like to see a unilateral exercise by Australia, Mr Shorten said he was not going to start running the navy.

"I'll leave that to the navy."