The government has played down reports that US supersonic long-range B-1B bombers could soon conduct training exercises from an RAAF base in Australia's north.
Neither Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull nor Foreign Minister Julie Bishop denied this would happen or commented on a possible reaction from China.
Mr Turnbull said US forces rotated through Australia all the time under the close defence relationship.
Ms Bishop said Australia was transparent about arrangements with partners and allies and held open and frank discussions on strategic issues with China.
Media reports on Tuesday quoted the commander of US Pacific Air Forces General Lori Robinson as saying B-1B bombers and tanker aircraft would regularly rotate through northern Australia rather than exercise in Australia on an ad hoc basis.
US forces have stepped up their training in Australian under the enhanced Australia-US defence cooperation program announced by former prime minister Julia Gillard and US President Barack Obama in November 2011.
That includes growing numbers of US Marines who use Northern Territory military training areas and US combat aircraft including B-52 bombers flying from RAAF bases at Darwin and Tindal and dropping real bombs on the Delamere air weapons range.
B-1B Lancer bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, have visited Australia previously, including to participate in air shows.
Mr Turnbull said Australia had a close relationship with the US and that was hardly a secret.
He wouldn't comment on any particular element of the relationship.
"Everything we do in this area is very carefully determined to ensure that our respective military forces work together as closely as possible in our mutual national interests," he told reporters in Whyalla, South Australia.
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Ms Bishop said Australia was transparent about arrangements with partners and allies.
"We have ongoing discussions with China and other countries in our region," she told reporters in Sydney.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the US-Australian alliance was a bedrock policy of both Liberal and Labor.
"Strategic US bombers have visited Australia in the past and there are vigorous and rigorous protocols in place for such visits," he told reporters on the NSW central coast.
