Despite the constant soundbites of Asian Values and Asian Economic Miracles, one thing has become clear during the escalating political tension between China and Taiwan - there are no real statesmen in this region.
Asian leaders have been totally conspicuous by their absence during this incident.
Fidel Ramos says calm down, Lee Kuan Yew says everything will be alright, hardly comments which will bring stability and confidence.
Other Asian leaders seem to be keeping their heads down, or perhaps they hope to gain more business from the fallout of current tensions.
No doubt the US will come in for a lot of criticism from the usual Asean gang for coming into the region with a show of force, but the US is showing what it takes to be a world leader. That is, you must stand up and not hide as all of our Asian neighbours seem to be doing.
In my eyes this proves what a one-dimensional caucus Asean really is. Their lack of intervention in a dispute which could drag the whole region down shows a total lack of foresight, unity and strength.
