Singapore PM offers blunt assessment of US relationship

[AgentG]

Our world class PM again offer his views to the rest of the world. 

 

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/28/singapore-pm-on-us-china-relationship-we-must-choose-sides.html

 

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong turned heads Tuesday when video of a blunt commentary on his nation's U.S. and China relationships was posted online.
 

Speaking to the BBC, the normally diplomatic Lee hinted that his country's loyalties to both Beijing and Washington could one day be tested.
 

"If America, China relations become very difficult, our position becomes tougher because then we will be coerced to choose between being friends with America and being friends with China," he said. "That's a real worry. Right now we are friends with both — it's not that we don't have issues with either, but we are generally friends with both, and the relationships are in good working order."
 

The prime minister then told the BBC interviewer that he was "sure" the Chinese were committing "close and sustained attention" to their relationship with Washington, but he said that he hopes "they will have that attention" in the U.S. government given its other global concerns.
 

"Unless you focus on this relationship — both the win-win aspects as well as the areas where you're in contention — it can go wrong," he added.
 

Patrick Chovanec, chief strategist at Silvercrest Asset Management, said that it was rare for Lee to speak so bluntly about a trade-off between the U.S. and China.
 

In a December speech, Lee had previously warned Singapore would be "in a very difficult spot" should U.S.-China relations grow tense.
 

Fears of a U.S-China trade war are high and should President Donald Trump act on his campaign promise of imposing tariffs on the mainland, a country he blames for the loss of American jobs, global exports and imports may get hit. Singapore, home to one of the world's busiest ports, stands to particularly suffer as its economy is heavily reliant on international trade.
 

"Singapore is clearly deeply annoyed at the U.S. abandoning TPP," said Chovanec, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that was scuttled by the Trump administration.
 

Before the U.S. presidential election, Lee was "already quite outspoken" in saying that Trump's decision to abandon the deal would hurt the U.S. and its credibility in the region, Chovanec explained.
 

"Singapore is more important than it might seem, at first glance, because of the quiet but strategically important security relationship it already has with the U.S., which relies on Singapore as a regional supply base for naval operations," he said.
 

"If abandoning TPP, along with other moves, cause Singapore and other countries in Asia to see the U.S. an unreliable partner, the implications could be quite serious."

Edited February 28, 2017 by AgentG

[Mustank]

[Blueray]

aiyoo ... 

[Showster]

It's ok. Relax.

 

He used lots of ifs and buts.

[Wt_know]

are we back to love-love relation with AT ... huat until siao?

[2BDriver]

aiyoo ...

No worries, baby dragon turns faster than my car radiator fan speed, as usual... Jiak kuay wa kuay, jiak Ark wa Ark ! 马照跑，舞照跳。

[Still2016]

Every night I pray so very hard that my b o l a can be very BIG like elephant BUT my prayers seem unanswered probably I did not pay my Singtel subscription for my fax line to the MAN upstairs.

 

Why? I wish I am brave enough to send to most of the Mad People (MP) we have in parliament including scholars who make policies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by Still2016

[Benarsenal]

Reading between the lines, it seems like if push comes to shove, PM Lee will side with China. Lots of reasons for this (historical, cultural, geographical etc), but perhaps the push factor is that PM Lee doesn't like Trump.

[Blackyv]

Who like DT..?.. anyway, our door is always open for ahtiong... And has been opened for many donkey years already.... No problem to keep it open...

[Wt_know]

DT is a cunning buainessman ... got money got friend

AT very small gas ... dont play play

AT care other things more than $$$

so better please AT ... DT anytime can win back

Edited February 28, 2017 by Wt_know

[Victor68]

when you have 2 'friends' and 1 is a hooligan, best to stay away from him because he will cause you more troubles than good.

[Vid]

Geographically, China is closer....

[Micb]

远水不能救近火，远亲不如近邻

Far water cannot save nearby fire  

Distant relative cannot compare to good neighbours 

[Kb27]

If I remember correctly LHL undiplomatically go support Clinton and criticize Trump before election.

Dig himself a hole, then now trying to get out.

[DACH]

Reading between the lines, it seems like if push comes to shove, PM Lee will side with China. Lots of reasons for this (historical, cultural, geographical etc), but perhaps the push factor is that PM Lee doesn't like Trump.

Prata continues to flip very fast. This time flipped by a Chinese.

[Kyrios]

Our PM can say all he wants..nobirdy gives a shit about us anyway...

[SS316]

Reading between the lines, it seems like if push comes to shove, PM Lee will side with China. Lots of reasons for this (historical, cultural, geographical etc), but perhaps the push factor is that PM Lee doesn't like Trump.

 

It's not Pinky dislike.....it's the other way .......haizzzzz

[Little_prince]

my 2 cents.

 

the TPP thing really pissed a lot of our big shots up and makes the USA  seems like a unreliable partner. trump needs to start earning some brownie points.

 

Singapore's stand has always been neutral. making us pick sides seems like something that happens in a primary school. 

 

p/s: i love his " no one has a monopoly on wisdom or virtue"