Five key takeaways from third Republican US presidential debate

Five Republican presidential candidates in the United States have clashed in their latest debate over a host of issues, including the war in Gaza, immigration and their difficult quest to win the nomination against former President Donald Trump. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Tim Scott sparred on the stage of the third debate of the campaign in Miami, Florida on Wednesday. Despite Biden's unwavering support for Israel, including pushing for more than $14bn in additional aid to the country, Republican candidates tried to outdo the Democratic president in backing the US ally. The candidates also displayed hawkishness towards Iran as US troops face attacks from Tehran-allied groups in Iraq and Syria amid the war in Gaza. Haley was quick to reject Ramaswamy's position, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping would be "Salivating at the thought that someone like that could become president" of the US. The former US ambassador linked the conflict in Ukraine to the war in Gaza. Amid the intensifying US competition with China, the candidates appeared to be in agreement over prioritising the Washington-Beijing rivalry. The US imports more goods from China than any other country.