Republicans say US ready to take on China, North Korea

President George W. Bush Republican party warned the United States would not tolerate aggression from North Korea or any Chinese military moves against Taiwan. On day one of their national convention, the party adopted a tough-talking platform that hailed Bush's war on terrorism and vowed no let-up in his efforts to realign global priorities and push for democracy around the world. In the section on Asia, the Republicans took special aim at China, expressing "profound disagreements" on human rights, over Taiwan and on Beijing's "outdated path" of seeking to develop advanced weaponry. "We deny the right of Beijing to impose its rule on the free Taiwanese people. All issues regarding Taiwan's future must be resolved peacefully and must be agreeable to the people of Taiwan," the party said. "If China violates these principles and attacks Taiwan, then the United States will respond appropriately," it warned. "America will help Taiwan defend itself."  [more ]