China warns Trump of ‘crushing his own toes’ on Taiwan

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After fierce criticism of the move, he upped the ante, taking to Twitter to ask why he should not be allowed to speak to Tsai, then attacking Chinese foreign and economic policy.

On Sunday, he went a step further, saying he did not see why Washington must “be bound by a One China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade.”

The remarks were a step too far for Beijing, which had initially seemed resigned to taking a wait-and-see approach to the president-elect.

Trump’s comments also earned a rare rebuke from the White House, with spokesman Josh Earnest warning the president-elect that Taiwan is not a “bargaining chip”.