Opinions differed sharply across Asia yesterday on US President George W. Bush’s re-election, but one common theme that emerged was for him to soften his perceived unilateralism to help solve crises across the region.

Bush himself promised deeply divided Americans on Wednesday to work to earn their support and trust after beating Democratic Sen. John Kerry to win another four years in the White House.

Reactions from India to Australia and Japan to Indonesia homed in on whether Bush’s focus would shift to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and how he would now handle the war on terrorism, trade, relations with the Islamic world and ties with
China. Yet it was as much about Bush’s approach as substance.

Beyond the official blandishments about stronger ties and positive effects on crises from Afghanistan to Indonesia, there were some clear messages for the president.