In his enthusiasm to please China at the FutureChina Global Forum yesterday (July 14), Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke in fork-tongue saying that Singapore is not an ally of the United States and that they are just “security cooperation partner”.
“Singapore’s relationship with Washington is one of friendly cooperation. We are not an ally. But we are a security cooperation partner. We believe that America has a significant role in ensuring the security and stability of the Asia Pacific.”
Singapore has been allowing the US military to base their operations in Changi Naval Base to conduct surveillance on China’s movements in the South China Sea. PM Lee Hsien Loong also rejected the One China Policy and continue to conduct joint military training with Taiwan, in preparation for a future Chinese conflict.
Despite Lee Hsien Loong distancing himself from the US, China is unlikely to be so gullible in taking in the dictator’s lies.
PM Lee Hsien Loong also slammed local businessmen who criticised him for offending China and said that Singaporeans should understand him instead:
“If a government takes a perspective like a businessman does, I think that will be as unsuccessful as the businessman taking the perspective of the government. We have to understand that it is our job to make sure that we have stable relations with as many countries as possible. Businesses should understand what the government is trying to do and why is it doing things this way.”
The Singapore dictator also refused to admit any wrongdoing in his recent diplomatic gaffes which resulted in China expressly sidelining Singapore for the lucrative One Belt One Road (OBOR) project:
“We work on the basis that the world will progress, countries will prosper and our role will have to change. As they grow more prosperous, capable, and open to the world, what we used to do and what they used to find us useful for will change. Yet, Singapore has to maintain a consistent position in its dealings with other countries, including the superpowers like the United States and China. I cannot be on one side speaking in English and on another side speaking in Chinese.”
Just a day before, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean tried to hard sell Singapore’s capabilities to China, hoping to get a role in the OBOR project. China was notably unfazed and did not make any response.