"Unless I ran as the Reform Party candidate, Americans would not have a real choice," he told about 60 people Wednesday at a reception in Kansas City.

Buchanan said he differs from the Republican and Democratic candidates on free trade, immigration and the World Trade Organization -- which he says the United States should never have joined.

He said China should not be given permanent normal trade status unless its government "stops persecuting Christians" and drops threats against the United States and Taiwan. Buchanan also suggested that the American troops be pulled out of Bosnia and Kosovo.

"I think it's time we defended the borders of our own country," he said.