Australia's moves to contain covert Chinese interference have "woken up" the world, according to a senior official in the Pentagon.

"I think it's woken up people in a lot of countries to take a look at Chinese activity within their own borders," the top official for US defence policy in Asia, Randy Schriver, told Fairfax Media.

A lot of countries are expected to look at Chinese activity within their own borders after Australia took action. Credit:Bill Hinton Photography

"I think Australia has done us a great service by publicising much of this activity and then taking action. I know Australia has taken steps to change its campaign finance laws, for instance."

He said that the US would be increasing scrutiny of Chinese influence programs on its university campuses, among other activities.