Just as Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on a three-nation trip to the Middle East, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran this week, the US Senate Committee on Armed Services held a hearing on the US' Middle East strategy on Wednesday. In an exclusive interview with the Voice of America later, Senator John McCain, chairman of the committee, scorned China's role in the Middle East and deemed it as part of China's intention to exert its influence across the globe. He said the US will continue to observe China's role on the international stage.

No one would be taken aback by these remarks from the hard-line Arizona senator who has acquired a reputation as a maverick Republican. Although he did not blatantly find fault with China's relations with the Middle East, a hint of questioning and malignity could still be traced in his words. With the Middle East, the US has felt it is naturally superior in culture and the US has many geopolitical considerations, placing its aggressive national interests above those of Middle East nations. When China adopts a different approach and seeks to enhance ties with nations in the region with equality and respect, this apparently upsets McCain.

The hawkish senator has made  China-bashing remarks from time to time. In a recent interview, he accused China of behaving more like a "bully" than a responsible stakeholder and called for renewed thinking about deterrence. A long list of China's wrongdoings was made by him, which includes "cyber attacks, the economic espionage and theft." McCain's portrayal of China is a stark contrast from the country with which many nations in the world hail their friendly relations.

In today's world, as the China-US relationship becomes increasingly important, conspiracy theories about China held by McCain could cater to American public mood but achieve nothing in enhancing the bilateral ties. Ordinary Americans often depend on media reports and remarks by elites such as politicians to help form their perception of China.

McCain is known for having a loose tongue and does not care about taking responsibility about maintaining the positive US-China engagement.

But given the potential implications of comments by these elites, they had better make remarks more discreetly and shoulder their due responsibilities.