Action against Iraq: The Asian response

(CNN) -- U.S. determination to achieve a "regime change" in Iraq -- and President George W. Bush's apparent willingness to invade Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein -- is straining relations between Washington and Asian governments, who are almost unanimous in their condemnation of such a plan.

Pakistan

Musharraf supported the U.S. during the Afghanistan campaign, but is much cooler when the talk turns to Iraq

Pakistan, whose support for the U.S.-led war on terror and the military strikes in Afghanistan was vital, has ruled out taking part in action further afield.

"We have too much on our hands here internally and regionally," President Pervez Musharraf has said. "We wouldn't like to get involved anywhere outside. I wouldn't like to get involved at all."

"I don't think there is full support for it, even in the European Union and in the other big powers -- like Russia and China being against it," he added.

In addition, Pakistan's military ruler said that since his country has no geographic ties to Iraq, the issue is less pressing for him.

Musharraf said he would maintain his stance even if Bush asked him to join a coalition, because he does not support attacking another Muslim country -- in addition to Afghanistan -- and harming civilians.

India

Ties between India and the United States have warmed in recent years, but New Delhi remains insistent the use of force to change the leadership of any nation is unacceptable.

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"We are very clear that there should be no armed action against any country, more particularly with the avowed purpose of changing a regime," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said.

"There is a consistency in our policy, and it is not going to change in the next few days or weeks."

India is home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations.

Australia

Among nations in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia stands out as the most supportive of the U.S. and its tough military stance on Iraq.

Australian troops were engaged in Afghanistan in the attempt to flush al Qaeda operatives out of the country after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The country maintains a naval presence in The Gulf enforcing U.N-imposed sanctions against Iraq.

But even a U.S. ally as staunch as Australia has expressed some misgivings about supporting or participating in military action in Iraq.

Prime Minister John Howard said he did not want to send Australian troops into Iraq as part of a U.S.-led attack. But he did not rule out doing so if Iraq continued to refuse access to United Nations weapons inspectors.

"I would never want to see that happen [troops sent to Iraq] and I'd have to be completely satisfied it was in Australia's national interest before supporting that happening."

Iraq temporarily halted the importation of Australian wheat in August, insisting trade would not resume until Canberra dropped its support for a U.S. strike on Iraq. Though contracted shipments are proceeding, future exports are still in doubt.

Japan

Japan, pilloried in some quarters for its inaction during the last Gulf War, is a key U.S. ally but is hobbled by a pacifist constitution and also concerned about the effect of military action on its oil supplies.

A government advisory panel in September said the country should be cautious in deciding whether to back a U.S. attack on Iraq.

Polls published in the Japanese press have indicated there is almost no public support for strikes against Iraq.

China

Tang with Sabri. China is pushing to play a 'positive role' in diplomatic mediation between Iraq and the United States

Beijing has voiced opposition to proposed attacks on Iraq but has been reluctant to back up those words with stern action.

A new mandatory U.N. Security Council resolution is in the pipeline that would demand Iraq unconditionally re-admit weapons monitors or face the military consequences. Analysts say that based on its past record China, a permanent member of the Security Council, would likely abstain.

Saddam's top officials have visited China in a bid to rally support against a U.S. strike.

Beijing has indicated it prefers differences between Iraq and the U.S. be resolved by diplomatic means, with the U.N. playing a pivotal role in mediation efforts.

"Using force or threats of force is unhelpful in solving the Iraq issue and will increase regional instability and tensions," China's official Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan as saying in a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri in Beijing in August.

New Zealand, Indonesia

New Zealand's government has said military action would not be justified unless Iraq posed an immediate threat to the United States.

"What would have to be demonstrated, and hasn't been demonstrated, is that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and there is a direct, likely and immediate threat that such weapons would be employed," Foreign Minister Phil Goff said

Meanwhile, Indonesia would be unlikely to publicly support U.S. attacks on Iraq as it would be hard-pressed to contain the subsequent anti-American protests.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and a strike on Iraq would likely inflame the country's small, radical Islamic groups.

It would also cause plenty of unease among the moderate Muslim majority in a country already under pressure to do more in the U.S.-led war on terrorism.