China outraged by Obama's 'disrespectful' gum-chewing act

US president Barack Obama is once again at the centre of a controversy, after he was seen chomping gum during his recent visit to China, where chewing gum is viewed as a sign of disrespect.

Obama was slammed by Chinese bloggers for his unsightly habit, with some saying that he looked like a "hip hop artist" while others condemning his action, calling it a sign of disrespect.

News.com.au reported Charles Krauthammer on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor called it a sign of his "amateurism and arrogance" which was out of step with the Chinese "deference to diplomacy."

He said that in China, chewing gum was a sign of disrespect, adding that Obama's action showed the combination of arrogance and amateurism of a President who in year six at an important summit in China shows this kind of disrespect and disregard.

This is not the first time the US President's gum chewing habit has landed him in a rather messy situation.

Obama's medical report shows that he has been dependent on nicotine gum since he quit smoking.

The outrage comes amid the joint announcement of a climate change pledge by Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.