Trump hits out at China in series of tweets

US President-elect Donald Trump. Photo / AP

United States President-elect Donald Trump has today gone on the offensive against China, days after a call with Taiwan's leader broke tradition and caused a stir among foreign policy experts.

Taking to his favourite communication medium, Twitter, Trump said:

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into.. their country (the U.S. doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!"

The move followed criticism by political pundits on Twitter after Trump broke with four decades of diplomatic protocol by speaking to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing Wen.

The US formally recognised the government in Beijing as representing China in 1978 and endorses the idea that there is only "one China".

China's Foreign Ministry lodged a complaint with the US over the Taiwan call.

Some critics portrayed the move as the thoughtless blundering of a foreign policy novice, but other experts say it appears more calculated, planned in advance to signal a new, robust approach to relations with China.

The call looks like an attempt to test the waters of a new approach before Trump becomes president, experts said: After the inauguration, a similar move would have had more serious diplomatic ramifications.

Trump's immediate response was to tweet:

"The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!"

And: "Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call."

Today's tweets drew further criticism.

Former British Labour Party leader Ed Miliband commented: "Trump railing against China on Twitter like it is a Celebrity Apprentice feud is not funny, but deeply, deeply worrying for the world."

Political analyst Ana Navarro tweeted: "Trump & Fam manufacture tons of cheap crap in China. How about if instead of hypocritical tweeting, they make products "Made in the USA"?

Slate political writer Jamelle Bouie tweeted: "Donald Trump is going to tweet us into a military confrontation, isn't he?"

Political scientist Ian Bremmer said: "It's almost as if Trump was looking to kick off China relations as badly as possible."

Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 4, 2016

their country (the U.S. doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 4, 2016

- Herald Online, Washington Post