India, July 3 -- Social media users in China have backed Elon Musk, celebrating him for challenging US President Donald Trump amid rising tensions between the two. The tech billionaire has stirred up online excitement in China after he criticised Trump's sweeping tax and spending legislation and threatened to launch his own political platform.

As Musk vowed to challenge lawmakers backing the bill - which has now passed the Senate and is projected to increase US national debt by $3.3 trillion - Chinese netizens were quick to rally behind him. Their reaction has turned the public fallout between Trump and Musk, once close allies, into a hot topic online.

On Wednesday, following the bill's passage, the hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaPar...