Under Obama,US-China ties may face shaky start

China8217;s state broadcaster quickly faded out the audio of its live broadcast,the camera cutting back to a flustered studio anchor.

Then,on Thursday,Obama8217;s choice to lead the Treasury Department,Timothy Geithner,wrote that Obama believes China is 8220;manipulating8221; its currency,which American manufacturers say Beijing does to make its goods cheaper for US consumers and American products more expensive in China.

Geithner8217;s comments could anger Chinese officials,who closely follow US political rhetoric and frequently decry what they consider foreign interference in China8217;s internal affairs. The United States often criticises China about human rights and trade abuses,but Washington and Beijing find themselves increasingly intertwined in a host of crucial economic,military and diplomatic efforts.

A spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not return messages seeking comment on Friday. Selig Harrison,director of the Asia programme at the US-based Centre for International Policy,said it was 8220;very ill-advised for the new administration to confront China as if this were 10 years ago and we were in a strong financial position internationally.8221;