Pacific Rim Sounds Off on Clinton Victory : PACIFIC PARAMETERS

Excerpts of commentary around the Pacific Rim. *

JAPAN

“I think (Bill Clinton) has favorable feelings toward Japan. Therefore, maybe it isn’t necessary to worry so much about it.”

--Nobuo Matsunaga, former U.S. ambassador, Nihon Keizai Shimbun .

“‘I am pleased with the birth of a young leader who has fresh intelligence, and who is full of political power.”

--Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, Yomiuri Shimbun

CHINA

“Any action to attach conditions to (China’s) most-favored-nation status would be unwise and will be opposed by China.”

--Wu Jianmin, foreign ministry spokesman, People’s Daily .

TAIWAN

“Taipei should formally express its willingness to Washington to join the North America Free Trade Agreement.”

--The China Post, editorial

HONG KONG

“ ( Clinton ) still has not explained how his own approach (to China) would be tougher (than George Bush’s).”

--South China Post

SINGAPORE

“Now we don’t have to explain to our Japanese customers where Arkansas is.”

--Tokio Kasuga, Arkansas’ honorary ambassador of tourism, Straits Times

* “The worry is that . . . Clinton may use human rights or environmental issues as fronts for protectionism.”

--Chia Shi Teck, appointed member of Parliament, Straits Times

THAILAND

“Americans expecting miracles from Clinton may be disappointed at the sacrifices he will ask them to make.”

--Editorial, Bangkok Post

NEW ZEALAND

“(He) will have much more important issues to be concerned with than nuclear ships going to a small country in the South Pacific.”

--Editorial, the Dominion Wellington