Lets reverse roles and then see what the perception would be in Aus? Let's suppose the China is acting like the USA now and that the USA is acting like China?
What would we think of China? eg: claiming 2 other countries (Canada & Greenland), & claiming the Panama Canal... . bunging crippling import tariffs on the rest of the world etc etc etc?????? Along with the USA and its other western allies, we'd be squaring up for war on China, IMO.