Republican U.S. Senator John McCain’s labeling China as a “bully” and calling on its allies to confront China demonstrates a strong Cold War mentality, an American Studies professor said.

As a guest of the U.S. Studies Center at the University of Sydney on May 30, McCain said China has grown wealthier and stronger, and it seems to be acting more and more like a bully.

McCain’s thinking still lingers on in last century. Lots of his remarks are very harsh and unreliable, Xin Qiang, professor and Deputy Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, noted on May 31.

In his speech, McCain also blasted China for refusing to open more of its economy, stealing other peoples’ intellectual property, asserting vast territorial claims that have no basis in international law, and using its trade and investment as tools to coerce its neighbors.

Xin dismissed McCain’s remarks as ideology, saying the U.S. politician has repeatedly lashed out at Russia and China. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain represents the powerful interests of the military-industrial complex, which feeds on manufacturing massive amounts of military weapons in a world of war. For that reason, fabricating enemies and breaking world peace can help maximize the group’s interest, he continued.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop hasn’t responded directly to McCain’s invitation to join the U.S.-led freedom-of-navigation exercises as of press time.