After the Global Times published an editorial criticizing Australia for hurting China's sovereignty, it is astonishing how quickly and fiercely Canberra has bounced back, claiming Beijing is attempting to "bully" Australia, while hyping a possible war between the two over the South China Sea.

The Australian media is intentionally creating misdirection in the public opinion field, portraying Beijing as having a combative role in the region that is provoking a war against Canberra. The Global Times editorial raised "warn and strike," but there was a precondition - it was talking about the South China Sea issue, a matter of China's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, which Beijing will firmly safeguard. We believe the Chinese military won't fire the first shot. But China won't be shy to launch a counterattack resolutely if its sovereignty is infringed upon.

China's stance is firm in terms of the South China Sea. That is because a certain nation is trying to harm China's maritime sovereignty with the help of other major powers. Beijing values its ties with Canberra for the reason that a friendly relationship is favorable to both parties, not because China is begging for Canberra's favor. China is the last one to wish for turmoil on the doorstep. It has spelled out clearly that war is not the answer to the current disputes. Even Washington, the one who hyped up the case, knows where to stop and has no intention to actually engage in a war against China. Yet Canberra, an outsider in the case, seems to be short-tempered lately. In the end, it has almost turned itself into a match in the tinderbox of the South China Sea.

Over the years, it's been a tough task for Australia to follow the US while trying not to jeopardize its relations with Beijing. Unfortunately, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has made quite a few harsh remarks toward China over the South China Sea in recent months. Yet during Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's high-profile visit to China this April, not a single word was mentioned over the waters. The two politicians mirrored the two sides of Australia's mentality.

China has attached great importance to joint works with Australia in the fields of politics, economy, education and culture in recent years. Bilateral collaboration has been gradually deepening. It is Canberra's own business to choose its allies, but it is hoped that Australia can play a more important role in regional cooperation, rather than blindly following the US steps of containing China.

Escalating regional tension, dragging China further into a possible outbreak of war is never a wise choice for anyone. Beijing will not fall for it. The question now becomes, how does Australia see China now?