International Business: ASIA

THE U.S. FLEXES ITS MUSCLES IN ASIA

-- President Clinton has two carrier battle groups patrolling the seas near Taiwan

-- An accord to maintain U.S. troops will dominate the agenda when Clinton meets Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in Tokyo in mid-April

-- The Pentagon insists U.S. troop levels in Asia will not fall below 100,000

-- Defense Secretary William Perry has suggested a meeting of Asian and U.S. defense ministers

DATA: BUSINESS WEEK