Trump taunts China as he picks former rival Carson as housing secretary

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has fired off another Twitter broadside, attacking China over alleged currency manipulation and foreign policy, as he elects retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a presidential rival-turned-supporter, to serve as the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Meanwhile, Trump was expected to announce his pick for the vital role of secretary of state on Dec. 5.

America's friends and foes alike are keenly awaiting Trump's choice for the top diplomat role, hopeful that it will offer clues to the direction U.S. policy will take after he is sworn in on Jan. 20, 2017.

Based on Trump's Twitter activity on Dec. 4, relations with America's top trading partner may be headed for a downturn, with the businessman-turned-politician accusing Beijing of expansionism and of fiddling the exchange rate.

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency [making it hard for our companies to compete], heavily tax our products going into their country [the U.S. doesn't tax them] or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea?" he demanded, adding: "I don't think so!" 

The taunt came two days after Trump provoked a rebuke from China by accepting a call from the president of Taiwan - the first such call in around four decades.

China regards self-ruling Taiwan as part of its own territory awaiting reunification, and any U.S. move implying support for independence is gravely offensive to Beijing.

Washington does not formally recognize Taipei, and officially cleaves to a "One China" policy that says Beijing is the legitimate government.

In practice, the island enjoys many of the trappings of a full diplomatic relationship with the U.S.

Trump...