The news that Donald Trump is now the presumptive GOP nominee for the coming US presidential election drew words of caution from China yesterday.

Trump built his campaign, in part, on aggressively anti-China sentiment. On Sunday, speaking at his rally in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Trump furthered this line of rhetoric when he said, "we can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing."

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Now, following a decisive victory in the Indiana primary, Trump stands alone, the general election - and likely democrat nominee Hillary Clinton - his only obstacle to acting on his words.

China responded to the American public's latest affirmation of the polarizing billionaire, warning voters of the economic consequences of electing Trump.

"It's important to point out that the core of bilateral economic-and-trade cooperation is mutually beneficial," said China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei. "We hope all the American people from different sectors view this relationship in a rational and objective way."

Chinese media also detailed the possibility of a trump win in November.

 An article by Xinhua News Agency pointed out the contrast between Trump's momentum and Clinton's struggle against Bernie Sanders, noting that "a number of Americans find [Clinton] stiff and unapproachable...someone who does not understand the needs of ordinary Americans."

Experts in America say that a Trump White House would have the power to economically pressure China, but they warn of danger.

J.W. Mason, economics professor at John Jay College, said of Trump's plan to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, "I think it could be very destructive for the rest of the world."

Trump talked of tariffs of up to 45%, which former opponent Ted Cruz criticized as a tax on American consumers, who would have to pay the difference in the price increase. 

Tagsdonald trump, china, 2016 election, trump nomination, Xinhua News Agency, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz