When the latest earthquake hit the Indian Ocean early this week, the region had just marked the fourth month after the deadly tsunami that claimed as many as 300,000 lives last December. Since the catastrophe, there has been intense diplomatic maneuver on the part of a number of major countries to enhance their international images for all kinds of reasons and purposes.

Some are more vocal than others in spelling out their objectives, and even naively and whimsically so. Taiwan, for one, made no attempt to conceal the hope of increasing 'its international visibility' and shoring up diplomatic support by pledging US$50 million to the tsunami-stricken countries.

Others have been, of course, rather discreet. Germany and Japan, with securing a permanent seat on the UN Security Council in mind, have been profusely active in the post-tsunami reconstruction. Japan, in particular, is a deep pocket and a complaisant paymaster that the US - from the Iraq war to the aftermath of the tsunami disaster � can ever rely on. The 'generosity' of the Koizumi administration has come to some fruition, as Kofi Annan has allegedly thrown his weight behind Tokyo's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.