Singapore Prime Minister: "The US Does Not Fully Understand How Formidable an Adversary China Is"

Toward China: "Must Not Fall into the Misjudgment That Taiwan Invasion Is Possible"
Risk of Southeast Asia Being Swept Up in South China Sea Disputes Also Increasing

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong directly criticized the United States' hardline stance against China, warning that a clash between the two countries would only cause harm to both sides. He also urged the Chinese government to maintain caution, emphasizing that it should not misjudge the possibility of invading Taiwan. This is interpreted as an attempt to mediate amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China, as naval vessels from various countries gather in the South China Sea and the U.S. government begins diplomatic efforts to encourage Southeast Asian nations to participate in containing China.

On the 3rd (local time), Prime Minister Lee stated at the Aspen Security Forum hosted by the U.S. think tank Aspen, "Currently, there is bipartisan consensus in the U.S. on a hardline policy toward China, but it is difficult to be sure if this is the right agreement," and criticized, "The U.S. seems to not fully understand how formidable an enemy China could be if considered as such."

Prime Minister Lee said, "Both the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S. need to pause and think carefully. This is a very dangerous matter," and warned, "The U.S. and China must cooperate to prevent conflict, and both countries should realize that a full-scale clash would be a disaster not only for themselves but for the world."

He also pointed out the military pressure China is exerting on Taiwan. He said, "Taiwan is a potential flashpoint where the U.S. and China could clash," warning, "China risks falling into the misjudgment that an invasion of Taiwan is possible." He added, "Realistically, the U.S. and China must understand that they cannot completely abandon the other side."

Prime Minister Lee's strong warning to both countries is interpreted as a response to the recent significant rise in military tensions in the South China Sea, which has raised the possibility of bilateral conflict. According to CNN, since April, countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Germany have successively announced dispatching naval vessels to the South China Sea, increasing the number of nations joining the U.S. in containing China.

Additionally, the U.S. government announced that Vice President Kamala Harris will tour Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam and Singapore later this month. Earlier, at the end of last month, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Vietnam for the first time to discuss containing China, marking the start of active U.S. diplomatic efforts.