SINGAPORE (AP) - President George W. Bush took on anti-war and anti-free trade Democrats who won control of Congress in elections last week, saying "America must reject" any tendency toward isolationism.

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"We hear voices calling for us to retreat from the world and close our doors to these opportunities," he said in a speech at the National University of Singapore. "These are the old temptations of isolationism and protectionism and America must reject them. We must maintain our presence in the Pacific.


"We must seize on our common opportunities. We must be willing to confront our common threats and we must help our partners build more hopeful societies in this vital part of the world."


With China on the rise and his own stature weakened at home, Bush also sought to ease any doubts in Asia about the United States' long-term commitment to the region.


"In this new century, America will remain engaged in Asia because our interests depend on the expansion of freedom and opportunity in this region," Bush said.

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