In an interview broadcast Sunday, Trump said the U.S. would not necessarily be bound by the One China policy, the diplomatic understanding that underpins ties between Washington and Beijing, unless it could “make a deal,” potentially on U.S.-China trade.

The remark elicited an angry response from Beijing, with the Foreign Ministry expressing “serious concern” and a Party-controlled newspaper calling the president-elect “as ignorant as a child.” By appearing to treat Taiwan as just a bargaining chip for trade deals, he may also have irked Taipei, experts said…

A Monday editorial in the the Global Times, a newspaper known for its strident nationalism, suggested Trump ought to read some books on U.S.-China ties. It also warned that if the U.S. abandoned the One China policy, Beijing would have no reason to “put peace above using force to take back Taiwan.”

“China needs to launch a resolute struggle with him,” the editorial said. “Only after he’s hit some obstacles and truly understands that China and the rest of the world are not to be bullied will he gain some perception.”