Singapore happy for China to ‘play positive role, within rules-based framework’

SINGAPORE — The Republic is happy for a prospering China to play a “constructive and positive role” in the region, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a recent interview with Australian station ABC Radio National.

“We hope that this will be within an international framework where all countries can prosper, big and small, in a rules-based international order,” he said. “But it is quite hard to do because when you have a major shift in the strategic balance like this, it is easy to have anxieties, nervousness and pushbacks. I think that is something which China has to be conscious of and is conscious of.”

In response to the journalist Geraldine Doogue’s comment that China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) project has “captured a lot of attention in Australia”, Mr Lee reiterated that Singapore supports the initiative, as well as the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). “I think many countries, including Singapore, see the Belt and Road (project) as positive.

China’s influence is growing, it is natural that they want to integrate more, do more business with countries around them, and the Belt and Road is a constructive way in which they can do so,” Mr Lee said. 

He added: “(There are) many opportunities for the countries from Chinese investments, from trade with China, from projects to be done, from financing, and that is why Singapore supports (the OBOR and the AIIB).”

During the interview, which was recorded on Jun 3, Mr Lee fielded questions on a wide range of topics, such as relations between United States and China, the threat of jihadism, and the Singapore economy.

When asked about Singapore’s relations with US and China, Mr Lee reiterated that the Republic maintains “good relations with many countries”. Nevertheless, he noted that unlike Australia, Singapore is not an ally of the US.

“We have to keep our relationships up to date, at the same time, maintaining a certain rationality, consistency and predictability in our positions. Because our interests do not change so suddenly,” said Mr Lee.

He cited security, stability, cooperation, regional integration, peace and prosperity as the “enduring interests” shared by countries in the Asia Pacific.

Mr Lee stressed that the US continues to have a major role in the region. “Their new administration is setting a new direction... still defining a new direction for itself. We should work with it and hope that they will be able to work something out which will be in the long term interests of the US and of the region,” he said.