(CNN) China's foreign ministry slammed White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday following his admission that he cited a nonexistent person in his books to bolster his arguments about Beijing's threat to the US economy.

Navarro, who has been a key player in President Donald Trump's trade talks, acknowledged last week to CNN and others that he made up an alter ego using an anagram of his own name, "Ron Vara," in his books.

"Certain people in the US can do whatever they can think of to contain and smear China without scruple," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in a press conference Tuesday.

The spokesperson went on to say that "such moves will threaten and undermine normal international relations and order."

"The US will hurt its own interests in the end," the spokesperson said.

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