THE US State Department is finally getting a senior official in charge of Asian affairs - following bureaucratic delays and controversy over Democratic fund-raising.
Stanley Roth, a former senior Congressional aide and White House foreign policy adviser, has been named by President Bill Clinton as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian affairs. But aides were careful to ensure there was no way Republicans could try to link him to some of the Asian political donors who were the subject of recent investigations.
East Timorese activists have also campaigned against his appointment, claiming his policy towards Indonesia while on the National Security Council ignored human rights in Jakarta.
Mr Roth's nomination could be challenged by Senate Foreign Relations chairman Jesse Helms, who favours another candidate.
