'Unpresidented' tweets get under the skin of the Chinese

DURING the American presidential campaign, Donald Trump did not disguise his admiration for the Russian leader Vladimir Putin and now, as president-elect, Mr Trump has nominated ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson, a recipient of Russia's Order of Friendship, as Secretary of State. This suggests that US relations with Russia will improve after the inauguration of the man whom Moscow helped put in the White House.

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump seems to have gone out of his way to be provocative where China is concerned. He spoke on the phone with Taiwan's leader, Tsai Ing-wen, and then suggested that the US may abandon the "one China" policy which has held together bilateral relations between Washington and Beijing since 1979. US relations with Russia are expected to thaw after Mr Trump assumes the presidency. They may remain frosty with China.

Already, there are signs that Beijing realises the implications for itself if US-Russian relations improve rapidly.