Romney's attacks on currency and trade 'irresponsible'

BEIJING - The Foreign Ministry said on Monday that attacks by leading US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Chinese trade and currency practices were "irresponsible".

Romney last week threatened trade sanctions against China if the world's No 2 economy does not halt what he claimed was currency manipulation, unfair subsidies and rampant intellectual property theft.

Romney's tough stance came as he has sought to stake out differences with President Barack Obama and tap into the US public's rising concern over China's economic and military growth.