The midfielder, capped 27 times, has a shoulder injury and was not considered on that basis.
Coach Ricki Herbert is disappointed to have lost the experienced midfielder but, with the All Whites tour reduced to one match, believes Brown needs time to recover.
“Tim requires surgery on his shoulder and he’s not physically able to play,“ Herbert says.
The 30-year-old Brown missed the All Whites 2010 FIFA World Cup adventure in South Africa after being injured in a warm-up match with Australia last year.
Brown’s absence opens the door further for the likes of fellow midfielder Aaron Clapham, who travelled to South Africa as part of the squad but did not make it onto the field, and the uncapped Marco Rojas to see some action against China.
Defender Ivan Vicelich may also be asked to play a holding midfield role as he did at the World Cup.
Joining Brown on the absent list are West Ham United defender Winston Reid, who misses out because of suspension, and injured Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund.
The mercurial Rojas, new Major League Soccer goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and J-League fullback Michael Fitzgerald are the newcomers to the All Whites fold.
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