China will force a “showdown” with the US if Washington dares to challenge it, Chinese media warned on Friday as it expressed alarm over Donald Trump’s appointment of hawkish economist Peter Navarro to his administration.

"The US can no longer push China around today,” the state-run Global Times told Washington in an editorial questioning the president elect’s appointment of Mr Navarro as the head of a new White House National Trade Council.

"If Washington dares to provoke China over its core interests, Beijing won't fear setting up a showdown with the US, pressuring the latter to pay respect to China," said the newspaper, which often publishes provocative editorials.