Australia risks "incinerating" its relationship with China in a bid to impress an unpredictable United States, former foreign minister Bob Carr says.
He warned the federal government to discuss concerns with China behind closed doors.
"I don't know why we feel we have to impress Washington by almost incinerating our relationship with China," Mr Carr said in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop recently released a white paper that was described as "positive" on Australia's relations with China.
But the Chinese government, through its foreign ministry spokesman, criticised the white paper's remarks about China's actions in the South China Sea as "irresponsible".
Mr Carr said discussions about China's activities in the South China Sea should be discussed behind closed doors, along with the challenges presented by US President Donald Trump's unorthodox approach to international politics.
"The next President could be Bernie Sanders, a left-wing isolationist. America is not going back to normal," Mr Carr said.
Ms Bishop last week said Chinese officials were "upbeat and positive" about the two countries' relationship.
"The feedback that I have had from senior Chinese officials is that they respect the stand we've taken in the white paper," she said.
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