While panelists generally welcomed Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's pledge in October, 1998 to provide US$30 billion in financing to Asian countries and called for its early implementation, some voiced concern that it was "too little, too late."
While a continued U.S. presence was deemed essential for regional security, Washington came under fire for having double standards in its policies and for interfering politically in Asian affairs. The American panelist (Landers) replied that there was a need for the United States to nurture more experts on Asian affairs to allow policymakers to respond more quickly to Asia-related issues.
By controlling the agenda for discussion (i.e. no Taiwan topics and no press freedom topics) and loading the panel with "safe" participants, this particular series and many like it staged by official and semi-official organizations in Japan take on a bland Singapore-like appearance. (26)
