The race for the Republican presidential nominationmoved this week to the southeastern United States.Florida, the state with the fourth largest population,will hold its Republican primary electionon January thirty-first.But first comes the South Carolina primary next Saturday.The results could show whether anyonehas a serious chance to keep Mitt Romneyfrom becoming the Republican candidate for president.Mr. Romney is the first Republicanin more than thirty years to win both the Iowa caucusesand the New Hampshire primary in a competitive race.On Tuesday, he won nearly forty percent of the votein New Hampshire.He owns a house there and was the governorof a neighboring state, Massachusetts.In his victory speech, he called on South Carolina votersto help make him the candidate to defeat President Obama.MITT ROMNEY: "And tonight, we're asking the good people of South Carolinato join the citizens of New Hampshireand make two thousand twelve the year he runs out of time."Mr. Romney has the support of South Carolina's governor, Nikki Haley.She is a favorite among supporters of the conservative Tea Party movement.Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished second in New Hampshire.That state's official motto is "Live free or die."He won support with his strong belief in individual freedomsand a pullback of American troops from around the world.RON PAUL: "We've had enough of sending our kidsand our money around the world,to be the policeman of the world.It's time to bring them home."Jon Huntsman, a former Utah governorand ambassador to China, finished third.JON HUNTSMAN: "I'd say third place is a ticket to ride,ladies and gentleman!"Former House speaker Newt Gingrichand former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum each got just under ten percent of the vote.Mr. Santorum calls himself the "true conservative."He finished eight votes behind Mr. Romney last week in Iowa.Texas Governor Rick Perry gave little attention to New Hampshire,but has been spending a lot of time in South Carolina.Other candidates were also visiting that stateeven before the primary in New Hampshire.Chris Gladieri is a political scientistat St. Anselm College in New Hampshire.He explains why South Carolina is so important.CHRIS GALDIERI: "To the extent that folks like Rick Santorumand Jon Huntsman were focusing all their attentionon really early states like Iowa and New Hampshire,that was time and money and effortthat they weren't putting into South Carolina.So, everyone else who is not Romney is going to be playing catch-up."Primary elections will continue across the country.The general election is in November.At around the same time, the top leaders of Chinaare all expected to retire following a Communist Party Congress.Political considerations could test the complex relationshipbetween China and the United States in twenty-twelve.China now has the world's second largest economy.Its trade policies and military spendinghave been issues of concern for the United States.One test of the relationship could comefrom Taiwan's presidential election on Saturday.China considers the island its territoryand has threatened to use force if Taiwan declares independence.China held military exercises around the islandbefore elections in nineteen ninety-six.To help defend Taiwan,President Bill Clinton sent two aircraft carriers to the area.This time, the Chinese government has avoided public comments.Alexander Huang is a professor of strategyat Taiwan's Tamkang University.He thinks the United States and China are seeking to avoid tensions.ALEXANDER HUANG: "Both China and the United Stateswould like to see the continuity of stabilityand peace across the Taiwan Strait,because both China and the United Stateswill have a very busy political agenda this year."And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.Listen Monday for more about the Republican presidential raceon THIS IS AMERICA.