Donald Trump's Sunday Twitter outburst naming China has continued to send ripples through Chinese media,??? ?? as both state-run papers and social media grapple with what is seen as a huge affront to the large Asian power.
It all started last Friday when Trump spoke on the phone with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen -- an event he boasted about on Twitter after.
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The call was seen as unorthodox, and a break in decades-long diplomatic policy; the U.S. has not recognised Taiwan officially as a nation since 1979. Because China sees Taiwan as a breakaway state, official recognition by the U.S. could destabilise China-Taiwan relations.
SEE ALSO: 'Trumpgrets' is the Tumblr page for Trump supporters who just can't take him anymoreTaiwan does not have United Nations status either.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence tried to diffuse tensions later, saying it was just a "courtesy call."
But Trump posted a clapback, making it clear that he meant to take Taiwan's call.
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Sunday night's tweets
Two days later on Sunday night, the president-elect once again tweeted a string of posts, this time aggressively calling out China.
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The posts criticised China's monetary policy, and prodded at the tension in the South China Sea -- a sore topic for China right now. China has an ongoing tussle with smaller Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, over islands in the South China Sea.
China continues to insist it has historical ownership of the area, although an international tribunal has not recognised its claims.
Chinese media has reacted with fury.
"Trump's reckless remarks...show his lack of experience in diplomacy."
On Monday night, state mouthpiece Global Timespublished an op-ed subtly titled "Trump will in time learn not to cross China."
The author, Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, pointed out that China needs to "step up its vigilance" over Trump's relationship with Taiwan.
"Trump will be bound to comprehend what former U.S. presidents have understood long before -- the Taiwan question is far too sensitive and the bottom line set by the Chinese side can never be crossed."
Another op-ed published on the same day was more blatant:
Trump's reckless remarks against a major power show his lack of experience in diplomacy.
He may have overestimated the power of the U.S. He may have already been obsessed with the power he is about to have a grip on, and wishes the whole world should follow his lead.
He doesn't have sufficient resources to deal with China wantonly, the second largest economy, the biggest trading country and a nuclear power.
Citizens on Weibo were also baffled by Trump's tweets, which have been well-circulated in Chinese over social media.
llxhc2014 said: "Trump is a businessman with no diplomatic experience. He hasn't even assumed office yet but has already recklessly asked for trouble with his speech."
Summer Litchi said: "Let's observe him turn the U.S. upside down. He's really a mad dog."
The White House has tried to reassure Beijing that the U.S. doesn't mean to undermine China.
Reuters quoted a spokesperson for President Barack Obama, Josh Earnest, saying that senior national security officials have reiterated the U.S. commitment to China's stance on Taiwan.
Earnest did note, however, that "some of the progress that we have made in our relationship with China could be undermined by this issue flaring up."
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