‘Screw ‘em,’ says Trump adviser on China

UNITED STATES: Donald Trump should not worry about insulting China and if Beijing objects to him speaking to Taiwan, then ‘‘screw ‘em’’, an economic adviser to the US president-elect has said.

Stephen Moore, chief economist of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said Trump was right to risk the displeasure of China by speaking on the phone with the president of Taiwan, which the Chinese regard as a breakaway province.

He said: ‘‘Too many nambypamby people in the foreign policy shop are saying ‘Oh my gosh we can’t do this, we might insult the Chinese’. I don’t care if we insult the Chinese.

‘‘Taiwan is our ally. That is a country that we have backed because they believe in freedom. We ought to back our ally, and if China doesn’t like it, screw ‘em.’’

Moore added: ‘‘We see what’s happening in China the way they’re sabre rattling out there in the East. It’s about time we do what Reagan did, we stand up to these bullies.’’

His comments came after Trump stoked a diplomatic row by accusing Beijing of currency manipulation and flexing its muscles in the South China Sea.

The White House said Trump’s Taiwan phone call could ‘‘undermine’’ US relations with China.

Josh Earnest, President Barack Obama’s spokesman, said efforts had been made to reassure Chinese officials.

It came as Trump, who once claimed climate change was a hoax invented by the Chinese, appeared to reverse course dramatically on that issue, as he met with Al Gore, the environmental activist and former US vice-president.

Gore, who has targeted climate change, praised the businessman for what he called a ‘‘sincere’’ discussion. - Telegraph Group