Vladimir Putin just cannot stay away from manly pursuits.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s appeal to China came after talks with Australian officials alongside US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, which focused on bolstering military ties between the allies amid worries over Beijing’s growing clout in the Pacific.

Clinton, who is nearing the end of a two-week Asian tour, said the United States had a “very robust dialogue with China”, calling for the emerging giant to use its new-found power responsibly.

“As China becomes more of a player in regional and global affairs, then we expect that China will be a responsible player and will participate in the international framework of rules that govern the way nations behave and conduct themselves,” Clinton told a news conference.

The visit by Clinton and Gates coincides with a trip by President Barack Obama to India, kicking off a four-nation tour as the United States looks to extend its presence in an increasingly strategic region.

“The United States has a long presence in the Asia-Pacific. We’ve been there for 100 years,” Clinton said.

“We’ve been here, we are here and we will be here. The US is both a Pacific and Atlantic power and if there were any question or doubt about our intentions, I hope that the last 20 months of the Obama administration has put those finally to rest.”

Both sides expressed concern over a recent territorial dispute which sparked an angry diplomatic row between historic rivals China and Japan, calling for a code of conduct for the South China Sea.