ASIA is bracing for the Trump-Vance administration's occupation in the White House, after threats to inflict sweeping tariffs on China, reports London's Financial Times.

The Republican president-elect has proposed blanket tariffs of more than 60 per cent on all Chinese imports and ending the country's most favoured nation trading status, moves that would hit China's faltering economy and send shockwaves through global supply chains.

Trump's first term in office sparked an unprecedented US-China trade war, spurring a rush to shift supply chains to south-east Asia, India and other parts of the region.

His unorthodox approach to regional security also raised concerns among US allies in Asia over Washington's defence guarantees, leading to a sharp increase in arms spending.

If Mr Trump implemented the toughest measures against China touted by his supporters including former US trade representative Robert Lighthizer, "that would create a very hard time for US-China trade relations and the entire relationship," said Ma Wei, associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think-tank in Beijing.