US President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday he has chosen former senator David Perdue to be ambassador to China.

"He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders," Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Perdue, 74, served as a US senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021.

He's a member of the Republican Party.

Trump has said he would raise tariffs on goods from China, Mexico and Canada after he takes office in January, threatening a trade war.

China has said there are no winners in a trade war.

Nicholas Burns is the current US envoy to China. He was appointed by US President Joe Biden, a Democrat. (Agencies)