- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
- Messages
- 36,768
- Points
- 113
SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has lauded Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang's speech during the budget debate this week on the rise of China, saying it demonstrates how Singaporeans must be united in dealing with other countries.
Writing on Facebook on Saturday (March 3) evening, PM Lee noted that Mr Low had spoken on how Singapore must respond as China grows in prosperity and influence.
"He pointed out that Singapore, a small multi-racial country in Southeast Asia, must be alive to the opportunities and challenges – not just the economic implications, but the political economic ones too," Mr Lee wrote, adding that Mr Low's speech could have been delivered by a People's Action Party Member of Parliament.
"Mr Low's speech was cogent and balanced, firmly based on Singapore's interests and perspectives."
During his 11-minute long speech in Parliament on Feb 28, Mr Low had said that Singapore had done well over the years in positioning itself ahead of others in sharing its economic know-how with China.
"But I'm afraid this advantage is now irrelevant," said Mr Low, adding that the "kinship advantage" between Chinese Singaporeans and the Chinese nationals is also fading fast.
He added that many overseas Chinese are now concerned about the intention of China, and whether its rise as a global power would lead it to "turn the tables on its experience with European imperialism and become an imperialist power itself".
"This is not far-fetched if you consider how the Japanese did just that in the first half of the 20th century," said Mr Low, a graduate of Nanyang University.
"Will China revive its old tributary empire and use sharp power to compel small states to submit to its will and pay the equivalent of tribute today? How China behaves will have serious implications on small states in the region like Singapore in the near future."
Mr Low said he is "personally wary" of the political ambitions of China as it emerges as a global superpower.
"I'm worried that if we are not careful, and if we fail in our economic strategy to become a global Asia node, we will become the pawn on the chessboard of great power games in South-east Asia."
Commending Mr Low's speech, Mr Lee said it was "a dispassionate assessment, by a Chinese-educated Singaporean, of the rise of China."
"It illustrates how domestic politics must stop at our shores, and we must all take a unified national position dealing with the external world," he added, reiterating a point that he and other leaders have previously stressed - that Singapore must not bow to other powers and Singaporeans must put the country before their own ethnic ties.
"Singaporeans have to understand our core interests. When we are put to the test we will stay united and back the Government. Then we can stand our ground and defend Singapore's interests as one single, cohesive country," he said at a People's Action Party event last November.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan also said in Parliament this week that Singapore's foreign policy must be underpinned by a domestic consensus on what are the country's national interests, as he commended the Workers' Party MPs for their constructive comments on foreign policy issues.
"In fact I listened to you very carefully and couldn't find anything to disagree with you, and I am sure our foreign partners will notice that there is bi-partisan support for our approach to foreign policy, and indeed as a small open state we need the bipartisan support."
Dr Balakrishnan added that Singapore must preserve its ability to make independent sovereign decisions based on its own national interests, and must not become a vassal state.
"We are not for sale, and we are not going to be easily intimidated," he said.
"I will continue to work with all Members in this House to reach out to Singaporeans, to build a deeper appreciation of the fundamental truths, the hard truths, that underpin our foreign policy, and to develop a shared national instinct against external attempts to pressure, influence, or divide us.
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/pm-lauds-lows-parliamentary-speech-china
