PM Lee to stress importance of stable US-China ties at Shangri-La Dialogue

SINGAPORE — Amid a tense trade tussle between the United States and China, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is set to stress the importance of “stable and constructive” ties between the two superpowers for regional security as he opens a high-level forum here on Friday (May 31).

Mr Lee will open the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security summit, where he will also talk about how small states such as Singapore can navigate the present geopolitical shifts, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in a statement on Monday.

The British research institute, which focuses on global security, political risk and military conflict, is the organiser of the summit. It runs from Friday to Sunday.

The institute added: “In a speech that he will deliver in Singapore’s bicentennial year against the backdrop of rising tensions between major powers, Prime Minister Lee will take the opportunity to highlight the potential role of Singapore and other small states in bolstering the multilateral world order.”

Singapore’s bicentennial marks 200 years since Sir Stamford Raffles set foot on the island in 1819.

It comes at a time when the US and China are mired in an escalating trade war.

The US has imposed extra tariffs on US$200 billion (S$275 billion) worth of Chinese goods and placed Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei on a trade blacklist, effectively barring American companies from doing business with the firm.

China has hit back with higher tariffs on thousands of US goods.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, the US and China will be represented by senior government figures.

China’s Defence Minister and State Councillor, General Wei Fenghe, will speak at the forum, the first time in eight years that Beijing has sent its defence minister.

The last time was in 2011, when its then-defence minister, General Liang Guanglie, took part.

General Wei will talk about China’s place in the Indo-Pacific region and take questions after his speech.

The Indo-Pacific region is the maritime zone bordered by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and includes all states within that spectrum.

Meanwhile, Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan will deliver what the IISS described as a “major speech” that will likely assess the key security challenges confronting the Indo-Pacific.

He is also expected to elaborate on the US government’s strategy for the region.

Other government ministers set to attend the event include Japanese Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich.