Romney puts China squarely in US presidential race

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's threat to get tough with Chinese trade practices has moved China from the background to a potentially significant issue in the 2012 presidential campaign.

Pledging to label China a currency manipulator, Romney sought to outline differences with President Barack Obama and to tap into the U.S. public's rising concern over China's economic and military growth, as the United States remains saddled with an an anemic economy.