Singapore-China ties 'stable, in good state', PM Lee says after prominent visit

XIAMEN — Relations between Singapore and China are "more than stable" and "in a good state" after a rough patch last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (Sept 21) as he wrapped up a prominent three-day official visit where he held talks with the top Chinese leaders.

Speaking to the Singapore media after wrapping up his trip in the southeastern city of Xiamen, Mr Lee was asked whether ties between both countries had turned the page after disagreements over a regional maritime dispute and the seizure of several of the Republic's military vehicles by the Hong Kong authorities.

"I think bilateral relations are stable, more than stable. They are in a good state. We had some issues to deal with last year. But this year, there have been many exchanges," Mr Lee said in reference to several recent high-level visits by Chinese leaders, including one in May by Mr Zhao Leji, a Politburo member who heads the ruling Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Organisation Department.

There were signs of diplomatic tensions between the two countries last year, despite their deep and substantive ties.

For one, Beijing was said to be upset with Singapore over the Republic's stance on the importance of rule of law in the dispute over territorial claims in the South China Sea, through which about US$5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.

China claims most of the disputed waterway, where it has reclaimed islands and built military installations on them. But there are overlapping claims by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has invalidated Beijing's claims in the waterway and found that Beijing had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights there. China has disregarded the ruling.

Beijing has also taken issue with Singapore's long-standing relationship with Taipei. In November last year, Hong Kong authorities detained nine Singapore Armed Forces Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles that were being shipped back to Singapore after military exercises in self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.

China made representations to Singapore, calling on it to adhere to the One-China policy. Beijing said it opposes countries that have diplomatic ties with it to have "any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, including military exchanges and co-operation".

In addressing those episodes, Singapore leaders have said that differences in perspectives would arise from time to time, but that both countries should not allow any one single issue to hijack the broad Sino-Singapore relations.

Mr Lee reiterated that point on Thursday, saying: "That there will be issues from time to time is to be expected. Partly, it's because we are two different countries, and never will you see interests perfectly aligned."

He added that Singapore, despite being seen by the Chinese as having "the most cultural affinity" with their country, is a multi-racial society and not a Chinese one.

"So for us to take advantage of that cultural affinity, and at the same time to be able to maintain the distinct identity and be quite clear that we are multi-racial and that we are not a Chinese society, I think that is something which we will have to continue to manage, and continue to have to try to maintain in China," said Mr Lee.

To that end, the Prime Minister said he has always tried to include non-Chinese ministers or appointment holders when he visits China to "visibly show that we are different but friendly". Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Parliamentary Secretary (Home Affairs and Health) Amrin Amin were part of the Singapore delegation that visited China with Mr Lee this week.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was among the senior Singaporean leaders who have visited China this year.

When asked about the inclusion of several fourth-generation Singapore leaders in this week's China trip, such as Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister in Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, Mr Lee said the Republic's relationship with China is one that "needs to be nurtured and cultivated continually" over the generations.

"It is important for us to keep up to date and know what is happening (in China)…to renew our ties and our exchanges with the leaders at many levels. And it has to be also taken forward from generation to generation. So this time I brought along younger ministers with me," he told the Singapore media.

During his visit, Mr Lee held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, legislative chief Zhang Dejiang, and anti-corruption czar Wang Qishan.

The Chinese leaders reaffirmed the two countries' deep friendship and efforts by successive generations of leaders in sustaining ties at a high level, with Mr Xi urging both countries to seize fresh opportunities in this "new historical period" to further bilateral relations and mutual collaboration.

But Mr Lee noted that China is now in a different phase of development, and Singapore must be able to continue adding value to the relationship.

He added: "In the old days, China was in a different place. Singapore was able to play a different role because China had not yet opened up, and we were able to help them in this process. Now…(China has) many more links with the all the major players.

"Singapore needs to continue to be able to add value to China in order for the relationship to be worthwhile for both sides. And that is what we are trying to do."

Citing the government-level Sino-Singapore collaborations over the decades as examples, Mr Lee noted how the Suzhou Industrial Park, started in the early 1990s, focused on industrial development and investments while the Tianjin Eco-city initiated in 2008 centred on sustainable development and the environment.

The latest Government-to-Government project in Chongqing - launched in November 2015 and focusing on developing financial services, transport, logistics and information technology in the city -has been touted as one that could help accelerate western China's development.

"(Each) new project doesn't just repeat the old one, but actually tries to meet what is the current need of China at that time," he said.

Beyond economic co-operation, both sides are working together on social management, leadership exchanges, as well as collaboration on legal and judicial matters.

Private sector partnerships are also on-going, said Mr Lee, noting how Singaporeans and Singapore companies have been venturing into new parts of China.

"This is the way it has to go. It won't be one single master plan. But on many fronts, we are probing, we are exploring, and whenever something looks promising, we go ahead," said Mr Lee, who returned to Singapore on Thursday.