[Word Of Mouth] - Quotes about politics and the economy in Asia - Brief Article

Business Asia, August, 2001

"The obligation of the US is to put Taiwan in a position to make it not at all palatable or reasonable for China to assume they can settle this cross strait dialogue through force."

SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN JR OF DELAWARE, DURING THE US SENATOR'S VISIT TO TAIWAN, ON THE US' COMMITMENT TO DEFEND TAIWAN FROM ANY MILITARY FORCE FROM CHINA.

"It's their recognition of how bad the economy is. It's better for Korea to do what it can domestically since external factors aren't helping."

LIM JIWON, AN ECONOMIST AT JP MORGAN CHASE AND CO IN SEOUL, ON THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO SPEND 4.9 TRILLION WON ($7.2 BILLION) ON PUBLIC WORKS.

"We're not saying we don't want to negotiate with other countries, the question is whether they want to negotiate with us."

AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER, ON AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS.