Australia to speed up purchase of sea mines amid China expansion in Pacific

Canberra to buy ‘a substantial number’ of marine weapons from European supplier

Anthony Albanese met Chinese leader Xi Jingping at the G20 last year (AAP Image)

Australia says it will accelerate plans to buy advanced sea mines to protect its maritime routes and ports from “potential aggressors” amid China's plans to increase its influence in the Pacific region.

The so-called smart sea mines are designed to differentiate between military targets and other types of ships, a defence department spokesperson said in a statement.

“(Australia) is accelerating the acquisition of smart sea mines, which will help to secure sea lines of communication and protect Australia's maritime approaches,” it said. “A modern sea mining capability is a significant deterrent to potential aggressors.”