New US battle guidelines partly designed to counter the military challenge from China are attracting strong criticism at home and abroad as unnecessarily provocative to one of America’s strongest economic partners.

The AirSea Battle fighting “concept” aims to maintain military dominance in strategically important areas as the US reconfigures its global outlook more towards Asia. It is being gradually unveiled by the Pentagon, which has been viewing China’s military build-up in the past couple of decades with concern.

Yet as Washington struggles to strike the right balance between competition and co-operation in its relationship with Beijing, there are warnings – even from within the military – that the?new?doctrine will unnecessarily aggravate China.