Beijing: Defence Minister Christopher Pyne is expected to use a speech in Singapore on Monday to warn that the world can't afford to be divided into Cold War blocs.

His address to an international security forum coincides with reports the Trump administration is seeking to do just that. Australia was likely the first ally to feel the pressure.

Australian Minister of Defence Christopher Pyne reviewing the PLA guards of honour at the headquarters of Defence Ministry in Beijing last week. Credit:Sanghee Liu

On Sunday, The New York Times published an investigation into Washington's campaign against Chinese telecommunications company Huawei that found US allies were being leaned on to exclude the company from their 5G networks: Poland had been warned that accepting Chinese technology in would result in a deal for a US troop base to be called off.

Germany was told using Huawei would risk the NATO alliance.