How the non-European nations are supporting the US coalition

Russia

It is not difficult for Russia to proffer full support to the United States in response to the suicide attacks on New York and the Pentagon that led to mass slaughter.

President Vladimir Putin has long spoken of a joint effort by Moscow and Washington against "international terrorism".

The purpose of this from the point of view of the Kremlin is that it would enable it to ensure that there is no international sympathy for rebels in Chechnya. It might help to divert the US from developing an anti-missile defence system. It also allows Moscow to play the role of the superpower it used to be in Soviet times.

In practical terms, Russia probably does not have much intelligence information which the US needs. It can, however, put pressure on the Taliban from the north through the anti-Taliban alliance of regional powers. However, their chosen military instrument, Ahmed Shah Masood, of the Northern Alliance, was badly injured or killed by a bomb on Sunday.

Russia would probably be prepared to offer military facilities to America but it would be surprising if the US military needs them.

Patrick Cockburn

China

"China is ready to strengthen dialogue and co-operation with the US and the international community in combating all manner of terrorist violence," President Jiang Zemin reportedly told George Bush on Wednesday.

But Chinese diplomats hasten to clarify that Mr Jiang means co-operation through a multilateral forum such as the UN, not support of American unilateral retaliation or retaliation by Nato.

A better option, they suggest, may be China's own Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, a recent gathering of four Central Asian republics, Russia and China, that is designed to revive Silk Road commerce and clamp down on the Islamic terrorist problem in Xinjiang, China's largest province.

It should not be forgotten that, in the Cold War, China saw itself as the champion of the developing world and still preserves relations with many of America's worst enemies.

The 1999 bombing of China's Belgrade embassy marked the latest chapter of fraught relations with the West. One Western diplomat said yesterday: "The Chinese government has a problem, a psychological challenge, in seeing the US as a victim."

Calum MacLeod

Japan

Japan is now a key ally and trading partner of America, but yesterday it appeared equivocal in its attitude towards US retaliatory action.

The country has for years argued that its postwar constitution bans it from aiding allies when they are attacked.

The Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, who believes the ban should be dropped, said he supported the US stance towards terror. "Justifying terrorism can't be allowed," he said. "I think it is appropriate that Bush is taking the stance of finding the culprits and taking decisive action against them."

He added that Japan was ready to provide any necessary aid or co-operation. But when Yasuo Fukuda, the senior government spokesman, was asked what Japan's backing meant, he replied: "Although we say we will support [US action], that does not mean we will do everything."

Mr Fukuda stressed that any action taken by Japan would be within the bounds of the constitution. But some observers expect Japan to provide at least logistical support in the event of military action.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said that about 100 Japanese nationals were unaccounted for in America.

Kathy Marks

Australia

After brief prevarication, Australia – one of America's closest allies – threw its weight yesterday firmly behind any action taken in retaliation for this week's terrorist outrages.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, who was on an official visit to Washington at the time of the attacks, said Australia would provide any support requested by the US government.

Speaking as he cut short his visit, Mr Howard said: "This is an occasion where we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Americans, because this is not just an assault on America, it's an assault on the way of life that we hold dear in common."

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, expressed outrage at the terrorist attacks and said that Australia's security council was considering activating a clause in its military treaty with the US – the 1951 ANZUS treaty – that equates an attack on one nation with an attack on both.

Australia does not wield much military might, but the US government – seeking support from all corners of the globe – is likely to welcome its backing. Nine Australians, including several who were on the hijacked flights, have so far been confirmed dead in the United States, and another 85 are still missing.

Kathy Marks