In this year's National Day Rally (NDR), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong talked about how growing tensions between China and the United States can negatively impact Singapore.

He further raised a word of caution to both major powers, saying that China must show restraint in its actions now that it is a major power, and that the U.S. must accept China's rise and pursue a constructive bilateral relationship with China.

These points were similar to what he mentioned on May 31 in his speech at the 2019 Shangri-La Dialogue, which is an annual high-profile security summit that is well-attended by government officials and defence leaders from the region.

The English translation of his Chinese NDR full speech was also published in the Straits Times’ opinion page today.

Here are the points he reiterated in his NDR speech on Sunday, Aug. 18.

1. China is now a major global power

NDR 2019

Since China's opening up to the world, it has developed rapidly, and has now become the world's second largest economy, PM Lee said.

While China's development has brought the world immense benefits, it has also brought about significant change to the international arena, he added.

Shangri-La Dialogue 2019

PM Lee also mentioned China's growing importance in the world in his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue this year too, saying that China has now advanced to the world's second largest economy, and a major power with the second largest defence budget in the world.

2. China should consider the interests & feelings of other countries

NDR 2019

As such, being a global power, China should consider the positions of other countries, and think about their interests and feelings, PM Lee said.

Only then can China coexist peacefully with the rest of the world, and be seen as a country that is magnanimous, as well as a partner that can work together with others for mutual benefit, he added.

Shangri-La Dialogue 2019

Similarly, PM Lee said in his speech back in May that China should resolve its disputes with other countries, such as overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea, using "diplomacy and compromise rather than force or the threat of force".

In addition, China should consider the "core interests and rights" of other countries.

In doing so, China will build a reputation as a responsible power that need not be feared, and can be relied on to support a stable and peaceful region, PM Lee said.

He added that while it is natural for China to want to develop "modern and capable armed forces", and aspire to become "not just a continental power but also a maritime power", it needs to "wield this strength with restraint and legitimacy".

This is so that it can grow its international influence "beyond hard power", he said.

3. Not wise for the U.S. to try to block China's rise

NDR 2019

As the world's top superpower, the U.S. needs to accommodate a China that is growing increasingly influential and powerful China, PM Lee said.

It also has to accept that attempting to prevent China's rise is impossible, and unwise as well, he added.

"What the U.S. needs to do is to pursue a constructive relationship with China that is based on economic interdependence."

Shangri-La Dialogue 2019

PM Lee made similar comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue as well, although he directed his comments at all countries, not just the U.S.

He said that other countries "have to accept that China will continue to grow and strengthen, and that it is neither possible nor wise for them to prevent this from happening".

In addition, he said that although the task might be difficult, it is worth the U.S. forging a new understanding that will integrate China's aspirations within the current system of rules and norms.

4. Expect prolonged tensions between both countries

However, PM Lee said in his NDR speech that it is unfortunate that both countries have yet to find the "elixir" that can resolve the conflict between them.

Such tensions between both major powers will not dissipate in the short term, and will affect the geopolitical situation in the entire world, he added.

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https://mothership.sg/2019/08/national-day-rally-2019/?fbclid=IwAR320C3aJCMRcB2JAe9yNbg888ASkYfNiO_nBAc3GuauSQ8XEbmQkDEB-O4

Top image via Lee Hsien Loong's Facebook