Obama aide criticises Romney tough talk on China

WASHINGTON (AFP) - An adviser to President Barack Obama warned Wednesday that Mitt Romney could set off tensions with China if elected, as the Republican challenger vowed a tough line on issues from trade to human rights.

Representatives from the two campaigns held a debate on China policy ahead of the November 6 election in the wake of charges by Mr Romney that the Democratic president has shown too much deference toward the rising Asian power.

Jeff Bader, who was Mr Obama's top aide on East Asia until last year and serves on a committee of his re-election campaign, attacked Mr Romney's repeated pledge that as president he would immediately brand China as a currency manipulator.

"The idea of doing it on the first day in office I find, frankly, astonishing," Mr Bader said at the debate held by the Committee of 100, a Chinese American group, and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.