***The US continues to adjust her relations with the East Asian countries and particularly with major countries like China, Japan and India. The US President had announced the new missile defence system, which seems to cause considerable concern throughout the world. With the turmoil in the Far East has now been added the new move by the US. Are we heading towards an unstable world? It is an interesting question to be debated.***

SOME important states in the Par East are in a slate of turmoil. It is to be hoped that it will be possible to settle (he problems before (hey go out ol hand. Indonesia is a major country' of East Asia. After the downfall of long reigning Suharto through people’s power, a relatively smooth transition took place and Abdul Wahid was elected President. I his became possible because (he second largest vote gel ter Sukarnoputri, the daughter of the hero of Indonesian independence struggle Ahmed Sukarno, ient her powerful support to Abdul Wahid. Abdul Wahid had a narrow majority, was physically hail with very' poor eyesight and needed the helpofanaidetowalk.

His rule has been marred by rising street protests lor his alleged corruption. I he National Assembly has turned against him and has voted twice asking him io step

down. President Abdul Wahid has refused to take the parliamentarians' demand seriously and continues to fight lor his political existence. How long this situation will continue is anybody's guess. Against the vote in the parliament President Wahid has made a show of force by rallying thousands of supporters in the streets. In other words a perfectly volatile situation has developed.

Indonesia is the largest Muslim country with a population of around 200 million and an important member of the ASIAN (Association for South East Asian Nations). This large group of Asia has achieved notable successes in the economic field. Indonesia is a rich country with large nat ui al i esources. She is a large producer of gas and oil. has big resources in timber and many minerals. In spite of recent economic difficulties Indonesia is a fairly prosperous nat ion.

Another East Asian country lacing political difficulties is the Philippines. Ihe US stake In the Philippines has considerably diminished since the closure of US naval base there. Situation in the Philippines resembles (hat of Indonesia. In (he Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos ruled for decades and his regime was tainted with massive corruption. Senator Aquino mounted a massive challenge to ihe

regime. He was assassinated at (he Manila airport in the mid eighties by the goons of Marcos. Corazon Aquino, (he widow of (he slain leader picked up (he challenge and Marcos had to flee (he country. Corazon Aquino became the new President.

I he fallout of the Marcos regime has not given much respite to his successors. Meanwhile Marcos has passed away and his high profile wife Mrs Imelda Marcos has fought and won elections, although stories

of corruption are galore. The latest twist in the situation is currently there is a lady President-elect Arroyo. Her immediate predecessor President Joseph Estrada is in jail charged with massive corruption. The supporters of Estrada have taken to the streets in Manila and elsewhere and daily clashes are reported between the forces of law and order and those supporting Estrada. T he situation is extremely

volatile to say the least. Like Indonesia the Philippines is an important member of ASIAN. It is not blest with the kind of natural resources that Indonesia has. Ihe Philippines economy depends heavily on remittances from her nationals working abroad.

The Korean peninsula was divided in the early fifties. South Korea has developed along the western model under (he guidance of (he United States. North Korea has been under communist influence

and has developed along (he Russian model. This situation has continued for half a century. The western media has branded North Korea as reclusive and content to stay in her corner. In other words, North Korea had been completely isolated.

A few months ago an astonishing event took place in Pyongyang, (he capital of North Korea. President Kim Dae Ju ng of South Korea paid an official visit to Pyongyang. President

Kim Jung II of North Korea personally received his South Korean counterpart and an amazing emotional reunion took place. All barriers suddenly collapsed between the two slates and there was euphoric-reunion of the two peoples. The United States, who had masterminded the partition of Korea could only watch in utter amazement. These were the last days of the Clinton administration of the US. No action was taken.

The successor of President

Clinton, President George W Bush has made some pronouncements regarding the Korean peninsula which would lend to slow down the reunification process of the two Koreas. Yet as we have seen in Germany that nothing can slop people') determination to overcome obst*. ties. Indeed the reunification of Germany is one of the great events of our limes.

If some important countries of East Asia are going through a period of turmoil, oiher major countries like China. India and Japan continue to project an image of stability. |( b to be hoped that this situation will continue.

Meanwhile (he US continues to adjust her relations with these countries and particularly with major countries like China, Japan and India. The US President had announced (he new missile defence system, which seems to cause considerable concern throughout the world. Does it mean the end of the ballistic missile treaty of 1972 with the Soviet Union? In any case this latest move by President George W Bush raises numerous questions and needs to be dealt with separately.

With the turmoil in the f ar East has now been added the new move by the US. Are we heading towards an unstable world? It is an interest-ing question to be debated.