The bully of Asia

US senator urges Australia to join freedom of navigation operations in South China Sea
By Jamie Smyth in Sydney

US Senator John McCain speaking in Sydney on Tuesday.

Senator John McCain has accused China of acting like “bully” in the Asia-Pacific region by using its economic strength to coerce neighbours and making territorial claims in the South China Sea that are not backed up by international law. 
In a speech during a visit to Australia on Tuesday, the US senator suggested Canberra should join the US in taking part in freedom of navigation operations in the disputed South China Sea.
He also acknowledged US partners around the world had concerns about the administration of Donald Trump but called on them to have patience and stick with America in the face of a resurgent China and Russia. 
“The challenge is that as China has grown wealthier and stronger, it is acting more and more like a bully. It is refusing to open more of its economy so that foreign businesses can compete fairly.”
“It is stealing other peoples’ intellectual property. It is asserting vast territorial claims that have no basis in international law. And it is using its trade and investment as tools to coerce its neighbours.” 
Mr McCain, who is chairman of the US Senate’s armed services committee, said he did not envisage conflict with Beijing but said it was better if Australia and the US dealt with the strategic challenges posed by China together with other partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr McCain is due to attend a major defence summit in Singapore this week where he is expected to reach out to allies in the Asia Pacific region which are nervous about US policy. 
“I realise some of Trump’s actions and statements have unsettled America’s friends. They have unsettled many Americans,” he said.
“[But] I believe that Australia, and our other allies and partners can still count on America.” 
Mr McCain acknowledged the US was going through a “rough patch” and there was a real debate under way in the US about what kind of role America should play in the world. 
“Frankly, I don’t know how this debate will play out. But I do believe — and I don’t think I’m exaggerating here — that the future of the world will turn to a large extent on how this debate in America is resolved.” 
During his trip to Australia Mr McCain said he believed Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, was a bigger threat than Isis following the country’s attempt to interfere with the US election. 
Mr McCain’s visit to Australia comes at a sensitive time for Australia’s 65-year-old military alliance with the US.
Trump’s election victory and a difficult first phone call with Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, which the US president described as his “worst call by far”, has caused some politicians to call for a recalibration of the relationship.
Public support for the alliance is at a near-decade low. 
There is concern in Canberra that it could become caught in the middle of a tug of war between the Trump administration and China, Australia’s largest trading partner.
So far the government of Mr Turnbull has not performed a freedom of navigation operation within one of the 12-nautical mile boundaries set by China by means of its territorial claims to disputed islets in the South China Sea. 
Mr McCain said it would be unfair to ask Australia to choose the US at the expense of China. 
“That is a false choice. The real choice, the real question, is whether Australia and America are better off dealing with China’s strategic and economic challenges together, or by ourselves.”