Bob Carr has blasted suggestions he is inappropriately supportive of the Chinese government as a war of words escalates between the former foreign minister and United States-friendly interests in Australia.

Mr Carr, the director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, says allegations that he was once reprimanded by a senior representative of the US government are false and has called for equal scrutiny of pro-American voices.

"We've got countless think-tanks, it seems in Australia . . . devoted to studying our relationship with the United States, a hugely important relationship for us and worthy of study," Mr Carr, also the former NSW premier, told ABC radio.

"We've got one, maybe two . . . devoted to studying the China relationship. And just as organisations looking at the Australia-US link take generally a positive or upbeat or optimistic view of the relationship, so we are inclined, like the existing federal government, to see potential and hope despite all the challenges in our relationship with China."