China responded with "ironic" to US concerns about China listening to Trump's personal phone, which was cited in a New York Times report.
China has made some suggestions for Trump's management, whether it fears being eavesdropped on the president's iPhone, advising him to use the Chinese-made Huawei phone or severing relations with the outside world altogether.
"If they are very worried about Apple phones being eavesdropped, they can change to Huawei," said Hu Chun Ying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, at a news conference Thursday.
The response came after the New York Times quoted current and former US officials as saying that Chinese intelligence men often used US President Donald Trump's uninsured mobile telephone when talking to his old friends.
The newspaper said Wednesday that Beijing is using what it expects in these calls to influence US policy.
"I feel as I read this report that there are some people now in the United States who are doing their best to win an Oscar for the best screenplay," Ying told the paper.
"These reports are proof that the New York Times is spreading false news," she said, referring to Trump's management of the proposals.
