SM Lee watched playthroughs of popular Chinese game 'Black Myth: Wukong', but doesn't think he could win

Have you heard of the popular Chinese video game, "Black Myth: Wukong"?

Well, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has.

Responding to a question on online games at the 15th FutureChina Global Forum on Oct. 18, SM Lee said — to applause from the crowd — that he'd heard of the game.

He added that he'd even watched playthroughs of the game.

Learning Chinese

The moderator asked, in Mandarin, if he thought if computer games would help students in Singapore better learn Chinese.

She further asked if he'd encourage his granddaughter to play such games.

"This is a difficult question to answer. I think it can help, but it must be done in moderation," SM Lee said.

Listing "Black Myth: Wukong" as an example, he explained that he had watched playthroughs online, but did not think he would be able play the game himself.

"The movements were very fast, so fast that I couldn't see clearly what [the player] was doing. Before I could figure it out, he had already lost the game," SM Lee recounted.

He added that if he tried to play the game, there would be "no hope at all", and that it was best to leave it to the pros.

Learning about culture

Nevertheless, he said that games have a role in helping students to learn Chinese.

This is because such games are also a way for them to learn about Chinese culture and traditions, he explained.

Once again referencing "Black Myth: Wukong", he said that when children grow up without knowing Sun Wukong or the story of "Journey to the West", and who instead only memorise idioms, learning Chinese "becomes meaningless and boring".

"You must understand the story, and then those idioms will become clear," SM Lee explained.

"So if you can play 'Black Myth', and become interested in watching 'Journey to the West', and even read Wu Cheng'en's book [that the show was based on] — that would be best."

"I hope we can encourage students not just to learn Chinese, but to also learn about Chinese culture through these other, softer channels."

Addressed other things

SM Lee also addressed other, more serious topics at the dialogue.

He said that as China's heft, influence, and interests have shifted over the years, accommodations must be made — both by China itself, and by other developed countries.

These other countries, he added, must get used to the new, more powerful China, and accommodate their legitimate interests and concerns.

He also spoke about the phenomenon of "Singapore-washing", in which Chinese companies move to Singapore to purportedly sidestep US-China geopolitical tensions.

Singaporeans work for companies belonging to all kinds of shareholders, and "on that basis, you are welcome in Singapore", he said.

"But of course, we would like to know where you come from and what your antecedents are," he quipped.

"Because if it turns out that you are not the one we think you are, we also would like to make a few more inquiries."

Related stories:

Top image from Black Myth: Wukong/YouTube and Prime Minister's Office/YouTube