Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had some harsh words about China's economic conduct in his acceptance speech at the GOP national convention on Thursday night.

"We are going to enforce all trade violations, including through the use of taxes and tariffs, against any country that cheats," Trump said in the speech, which made its way through various media outlets on Thursday afternoon. The Trump campaign also released excerpts of the speech.

"This includes stopping China's outrageous theft of intellectual property, along with their illegal product dumping, and their devastating currency manipulation," he said. "Our horrible trade agreements with China and many others will be totally renegotiated. That includes renegotiating NAFTA to get a much better deal for America - and we'll walk away if we don't get the deal that we want."

Trump also teed off on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (of which China is not a part), accusing presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton of supporting it.

"The TPP will not only destroy our manufacturing, but it will make America subject to the rulings of foreign governments," Trump wrote. "I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers, or that diminishes our freedom and independence. Instead, I will make individual deals with individual countries.

"My opponent … has supported virtually every trade agreement that has been destroying our middle class. She supported NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement), and she supported China's entrance into the World Trade Organization. – another one of her husband's colossal mistakes."

Immigration and terrorism were major themes in the speech; corporations and the media also were targets.

"We are going to build a great border wall (along Mexico) to stop illegal immigration, to stop the gangs and the violence, and to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities. "To make life safe in America, we must also address the growing threats we face from outside America: we are going to defeat the barbarians of ISIS," Trump says. "Once again, France is the victim of brutal Islamic terrorism.

"Big business, elite media and major donors are lining up behind the campaign of my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place," Trump said. "They are throwing money at her because they have total control over everything she does. She is their puppet, and they pull the strings."

"We can't have the next four years be like the last eight years," Jason Chung, director of Asian Pacific American Initiatives for the GOP, told China Daily earlier on Thursday.

Although it appeared Republicans would leave Cleveland on a somewhat discordant note after Texas Senator Ted Cruz unapologetically did not endorse Trump on Wednesday, most of the faithful are expected to rally behind him, united by their disdain for Clinton.

Republicans were no fan of Clinton's husband, Bill — the nation's 42nd president— and that antipathy has carried over to his wife's campaign as she seeks to become the first woman president. The GOP also sees a Clinton victory as a proxy for a third term for President Barack Obama, whom Trump also criticizes in the speech.

"President Obama has doubled our national debt to more than $19 trillion, and growing," Trump says. "Yet, what do we have to show for it? Our roads and bridges are falling apart, our airports are in Third World condition, and 43 million Americans are on food stamps," Trump said.

"The media tends to overplay mistakes," Tom Mechler of Amarillo, Texas, chairman of the Texas delegation, said. "I would like him to talk more about being a leader and having the courage to make the tough decisions a president must do."

GOP National Committee member George Leing from Colorado, a first-generation Chinese American, said Republicans' message must differ from the Democrats'.

"A lot of people are worried about terrorism, and we need to speak about making our country secure," Leing said. "We have a focus on this issue that is different from the last eight years."

While the Cruz controversy may have projected a divided image to those outside of the party, Nevada delegate Lee Hoffman said the GOP will be more practical when it comes to the election. Trump, who has never held elective office, was looking to get a boost in opinion polls as Democrats prepare for their own, more scripted convention next week in Philadelphia.

The speech also raises the specter of crime, saying gun violence is raging in many cities and that 180,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records "are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens".

Trump tells Americans he will speedily address the violence that has dominated headlines, such as the shooting deaths of five Dallas police officers earlier this month.

"I have a message for all of you: the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored," the transcript said.

Trump said he would roll back federal regulations that he said cost the country $2 trillion a year, providing new wealth that will allow spending to repair roads, bridges, airports and tunnels.

On the Supreme Court, Trump says: "We are also going to appoint justices to the United States Supreme Court who will uphold our laws and our Constitution.

"The replacement for Justice Scalia will be a person of similar views and principles.

"This will be one of the most important issues decided by this election. My opponent wants to essentially abolish the Second Amendment. I, on the other hand, received the early and strong endorsement of the National Rifle Association and will protect the right of all Americans to keep their families safe."

Reuters contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at wanglinyan@chinadailyusa.com