US Senator John McCain created a stir at the ongoing Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Saturday by tearing into Chinese vice-minister of foreign affairs Zhang Zhijun for China's abysmal track-record on human rights in general and the "repression" of the Tibetans in particular. McCain, who was the Republican presidential nominee in the 2008 US elections against Barack Obama, did not stop at that. Backed by applause, he went on to sharply criticize Chinese Navy's "aggressive behaviour" in international waters, especially in the South China Sea. A visibly upset Zhang, who was part of the panel discussion on "America, Europe, and the Rise of Asia" with McCain and others, mounted a long defence, touting his country's economic and social achievements over the last three decades. "Tibet is an integral part of China...We are very resentful to any kind of lecturing on how we should manage our own affairs," he said, stressing that life expectancy as well as education had sharply improved in the Tibetan plateau. "We do not want people to interfere in our affairs. We have no intention of interfering in other people's affairs," said Zhang, even taking some potshots at the Dalai Lama. It failed to cut much ice with the audience. McCain sharply retorted that there was no getting away from the hard fact that several Tibetans - mostly Buddhist monks and nuns - had self-immolated themselves in recent days in support of the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. "Most of all, people want to choose their own leaders. When you have free and fair elections in China, I think you will have much less interference in your internal affairs," he said. It was ultimately left to Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd to play the peacemaker by taking the middle path. India is completely missing in action during the high-profile MSC, with no visible official participation and not finding much mention even during discussions on the ``Rise of Asia''. National security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon has represented India at the conference.