The Chinese government and state-controlled media have been relatively restrained about Mr Morrison's high-profile official visit to Washington. While the high-stakes trade war remains a focus, for the time being Beijing's attention is turned inward as it prepares for a massive military parade and celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1.

However, the obvious takeaway from the weekend's official visit is that Mr Morrison backs Mr Trump's hardline stance on trade and that would have been an irritant to China. Professor Yu said Australia's "obsession" with its US military alliance would hurt the smaller nation's economy.

"Australia will have to use a lot of resources to buy helicopters and submarines to safeguard this regional military hegemony which has little meaning to the country. The US alliance will create a tense relationship between Australia and neighbouring countries and Australia will be isolated," he wrote.

Mr Trump said on Friday his trade war with China might not be resolved before the presidential elections in November next year but Australia should not worry because its economy was thriving regardless.

Mr Trump's latest remarks on China, coupled with reports that Chinese officials cancelled a planned goodwill visit to US farmers scheduled for this week have dampened expectations of a breakthrough when senior trade negotiators meet again in early October.

Mr Morrison said in the news conference with Mr Trump that China needed "to be obviously playing to the same rules as those other developed nations".

Mr Morrison's red carpet welcome in Washington over the weekend comes as the length of time between visits by an Australian Prime minister to China continues to extend. While Mr Morrison spoke to president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka in June, an Australian prime minister has not visited China since September 2016.