China's controversial construction of militarised artificial islands in the South China Sea – dubbed the "great wall of sand" – has been self-defeating, says the US Navy commander whose sailors would be on the front line of any serious conflict.

US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift told Fairfax Media the "angst" China has generated has led East Asian nations from Australia to Japan to fortify their own defences and also to seek much deeper US military engagement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China has a stake in the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Credit:AP

But the Admiral dismissed speculation that either Australia or the US were seeking new "bases" or "infrastructure" in Darwin or Fremantle.

"As the Pacific Fleet commander I currently see no value of new bases," said Admiral Swift, saying they would be costly and unnecessary because so many countries were willing to open their facilities to his ships. "We don't need more infrastructure from a navy point of view."