BRITAIN
The Times, London, April 20: The Bush administration had, until this week, demonstrated a deep reluctance to be drawn into the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. That era of silence may now be ending. Gen. Colin Powell's intervention does suggest that, with little enthusiasm, the administration has concluded that it cannot permit the conflict between the two sides to reach the point where not merely the present version of a peace process but any form of dialogue becomes impossible to sustain.
The United States is not in a position to eliminate the distrust that Israelis have acquired towards Mr. Arafat or prevent Hamas from exploiting Palestinian resentment in the street. It can, however, and should engage in damage limitation.
Realistic framework: It will be months, possibly years, before the peace process is again in the sort of condition where Americans need concern themselves with being caught in administrative detail. What the process needs now instead is a new and more realistic framework. The United States is uniquely placed to press the parties towards a fresh formula. It is a thankless task, but neither the EU nor the United nations could undertake it.
SWEDEN
Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm, April 24: The proponents of an independent Montenegro did not get the clear mandate they had hoped for in last Sunday's parliamentary election. But President Milo Djukanovic, who has been a strong force for separation, on Monday spoke about forming a government that will work for an "independent, democratic and pro-European Montenegro."
Conciliatory tone: He hopes to achieve the goal through negotiations, not through the violence we have seen all too much of in the Balkans. And one would have expected this conciliatory tone would be supported by the outside world. The process could, if nothing else, serve as an example that borders in the Balkans can be established without people having to lose their lives or be expelled. But the European Union is not particularly pleased about Montenegro's demand for independence. The scenario is that a free Montenegro could trigger a chain reaction in what still is a very unstable part of the world.
SWITZERLAND
Der Bund, Berne, April 25: With his decision over the supply of weapons to Taiwan, George W. Bush has shown proof of sound judgment -- as he did earlier with his reaction to the ramming of a U.S. spy plane. He has shown that he doesn't only listen to the hawks in his government but also to Secretary of State and former General Colin Powell -- who is a dove in that environment.
There is a clear link to be made between these two incidents -- and its more or less that Bush wants to keep the atmosphere good for the return of the plane and for future relations with Beijing, so he is withholding from Taipei the warships fitted with the Aegis missile defense system (while Japan is getting them).
Controversy: The Aegis destroyers are also controversial in Taiwan because of the delay in delivery and the high cost. Bush's decision means the island can buy a number of other defense systems -- against which Beijng is also protesting.
The fact that the foreign ministry in Beijing has adopted a restrained tone leaves room for hope of moderation in the future. However, in order to defuse the longstanding situation in the Taiwan Strait, the People's Liberation Army should withdraw the missiles which are threatening the island. Otherwise, Taiwan can still hope to be included in the U.S. missile defense. Bush has left that possibility open.
But for the time being, all three sides have the chance to drag the question of "one China" from the military to the political stage.
JAPAN
Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, April 24: The installation of the new leadership has renewed hopes for a quickening of Vietnam's seemingly glacial march toward a free market economy.
A political report adopted at the party convention admitted the sorry state of the party, saying that corruption among the top brass and rank-and-file members has "incurred wrath of the people and undermined their confidence in the party," Pointing to intensifying international competition, the report emphasized the urgent need of reform, saying "we will even further behind economically unless we move ahead."
The rhetoric couldn't be better, but it makes little difference as long as it remains only hot air. The country's new leadership needs to implement the report's proposals to stamp out corruption, including the publication of assets of party executives and their families.
Tough questions: If the party tries to ram through market reforms, it will face the tough question of how to deal with the diversification of values among the people. Sooner or later, the country will have to embark on the hard road toward democratization. The rest of the world will be watching closely to see how Vietnam's new leadership will map the nation's future.
KOREA
Korea Times, Seoul, April 25: Economically beleaguered Korea is facing an uphill battle on the diplomatic front with the advent of a hard-line rightist leader in Japan, in the wake of the inauguration of the conservative administration of President George W. Bush in the United States.
As far as the future relations between Korea and Japan are concerned, there loom delicate problems requiring more diplomatic endeavors for mutual benefits.
First of all, the Korean government will find it difficult to measure the true nature of the new Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, and his administration of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Koizumi won the LDP's presidential election by portraying himself as a dedicated reformer who will bring about political and economic reforms, but is viewed as uncertain and amateurish insofar as his diplomatic capability is concerned.
Korean relations: As for his foreign policy goals, he underlined the friendly relationship with the United States, saying that on this basis he would maintain friendly ties with Asian neighbors. Yet, he has not touched on the relations with Korea, despite the fact that mutual relations are strained over the question of the Japanese government's authorization of distorted history textbooks.
In addition, the new Japanese prime minister is faced with a more staggering question of how to resuscitate the decade-long economic slowdown. Still unclear is what foreign economic policies he will pursue, a crucial question that could have a significant impact on Korea-Japan economic cooperation in the context of the new Japanese government's global strategy.
As matters stand now, the advent of the Koizumi government cannot be viewed in a favorable light. From this standpoint, the Korean government and people will be keeping a close watch on the policy formation process of the Koizumi administration.