Indonesia's regional neighbours responded positively to Gen Suharto's resignation yesterday, while urging stability and peaceful continuation of economic reforms. Relief that Gen Suharto had surrendered power before there was more bloodshed was qualified by anxiety, among the more authoritarian regimes, that no parallels should be drawn with their own situations. The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto, said that Japan would continue to help Indonesia carry out reforms. Japan is the largest contributor to the IMF-led bail-out programme for Indonesia, having pledged a $5 billion contribution to the $43 billion package.
The Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, said yesterday that he "will co-operate fully with Mr Habibie's administration as we have in the past co-operated with the former President Suharto's administration - as we will co-operate fully with any future Indonesian administration." He welcomed "the fact that the changes are within the framework of the constitution".
China's reaction was muted, with Beijing calling for calm but refusing to comment directly on Suharto's resignation.
"As a friendly neighbour of Indonesia, the Chinese side sincerely wishes for the maintenance of social stability and the restoration of normal economic development," a Foreign Mininstry spokesman, Mr Zhu Bangzao, said.
China did not comment on the resignation itself, saying that it was an internal matter for Indonesia. Mr Zhu said he hoped the country could protect its influential Chinese ethnic minority, heavily targeted by looters in recent weeks.
The Singapore Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, said: "I am relieved that political transition in Indonesia has taken place peacefully and constitutionally. In deciding to step down in the interest of the nation and the Indonesian people, President Suharto has acted in a responsible, dignified and honourable manner." Mr Goh added that Gen Suharto had made great contributions to Indonesia and to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"I believe Indonesia can work out its problems through the constitutional process as everyone favours a peaceful transition," the Thai Prime Minster, Mr Chuan Leekpai, said. Outgoing President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines said that Indonesia's experience held a lesson for other ASEAN members struggling with harsh economic conditions brought on by the region's economic crisis. "The right approach perhaps. . .is to stay on the track of reform in consultation with our people and the leaders of various sectors," he said.
The New Zealand Prime Minister, Ms Jenny Shipley, called the resignation a "wise and statesmanlike move," but added that the change in political leadership was overdue.
In Taiwan, Mr Parris Chang, a lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, said that "by ousting Suharto the Indonesian people have taken the first step toward democracy". Gen Suharto's resignation could serve as a warning to Chinese leaders that "authoritarian rule is not the way to deal with public discontent," Mr Chang said.