An Australian warship has been seen in the contentious Taiwan Strait

The HMAS Melbourne passed through the Strait only weeks after the US did

Chinese officials denounced the United States for sailing through the area

A senior US official suggests the warship proves Australia and America's alliance

Australia has risked enraging China after a Navy warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

In a move viewed as evidence of Australia's alliance with the United States, the HMAS Melbourne, an Australian Navy Vessel armed with guided missiles, passed through the Taiwan Strait in September last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The voyage, which was revealed on Friday, happened only weeks after China vehemently opposed the same path taken by two US warships.

Guided missile frigate HMAS Melbourne (pictured) was reportedly seen in the Taiwan Strait

The United States and China have been embroiled in tension for months, heightened last July when the USS Mustin and USS Benfold passed through the Taiwan Strait.

China's intense desire for international recognition of their claim to Taiwan makes them very protective of the Strait.

Click here to resize this module

Security experts say the continual movement of HMAS Melbourne through the Taiwan Straight could displease Beijing, particularly in the midst of their tense standoff with the US.

Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, Euan Graham, told The Australian the move was likely to be indignify China.

'Sailing through the Taiwan Strait is not a [freedom-of-navigation operation], but neither is it an everyday occurrence. It always attracts negative attention from the PRC (People's Republic of China),' he said.

A senior US official suggests the Australian warships passage proves strength is the Australian and United States' alliance

A senior US official discussed the Australian warship, suggesting the US and their allies were rallying against China's claim on Taiwan, according to the publication.

Their protectiveness flared again earlier this week with China protesting the docking of a navy research ship in the nation's southern port on Wednesday.

Taiwanese officials said the ship was part of an international research project, which also involved researchers from Australia.

ADVERTISEMENT

Australia last month condemned China after a Chinese warship nearly collided with a US destroyer.