The leaders of Japan and Australia, who developed close ties with Bush and backed the invasion of Iraq, rejoiced at his victory, but Malaysia called on Bush to use his mandate to show more commitment in the Middle East.

"I want to develop Japan-US ties further by giving importance to the confidence and friendship I have built with President Bush," Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters.

Koizumi's government, which sent troops to Iraq in a historic step for pacifist Japan, called for international cooperation on Iraq and against terrorism.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who like Koizumi drew domestic criticism for openly backing Bush over challenger John Kerry, telephoned the US president to congratulate him, just one month after his own victory in an election dominated by security issues.

"This is a wonderful personal victory for a person who I like and who I believe has given strong and resolute leadership to his country and through the position he occupies to the anti-terrorist cause and the cause of freedom around the world," Howard told Australian national radio.

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, another Bush ally, said her country stands "forthwith behind America in defending the ramparts of freedom, collective security and the rule of law everywhere."

But Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, while congratulating Bush, said the re-elected president should give his "whole attention" to the Palestinians' plight.

Bush "has always pledged he will continue his war on terrorism. I believe that is what he will do. I do not know if he is going to change his mind or have other plans. We have to wait and see," Badawi said.

Pakistan, which became a frontline US ally after the September 11, 2001 attacks, praised Bush and the bilateral relationship under him but said it wanted "to work towards long-term ties which look beyond the war on terrorism."

The reaction to Bush's victory was measured in China, where on Monday an opinion piece by former foreign minister Qian Qichen in a government-run newspaper chastised an "arrogant" United States for trying to "rule the world."

President Hu Jintao told Bush that by working together China and the United States play "a positive role in promoting peace and development."

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue later said Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province, was a "critical issue."

"We hope the United States will realize the sensitivity and seriousness of this issue and not send any wrong signals," she said.

In Taiwan, which receives arms but not recognition from the United States, President Chen Shui-bian said Taipei and Washington have a "joint goal to seek peace over the Taiwan Strait."

Concerning another Asian flashpoint, South Korea said it would urge North Korea to respond to Bush's re-election by resuming deadlocked six-nation talks on the Stalinist state's nuclear ambitions.