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Singapore Prime Minister Encourages U.S. Role in AsiaLee Hsien Loong says U.S. forces ‘a key factor for peace and stability in the region
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivers his opening address at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2015 in Singapore. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
By
TREFOR MOSS
May 29, 2015 11:22 a.m. ET
SINGAPORE—Singaporean Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong made the case for a sustained U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region on Friday, saying American forces were “a key factor for peace and stability in the region.”
With tensions rising in Asia over Chinese efforts to build a series of artificial islandsin the South China Sea, Mr. Lee said the U.S. plays a “benign role” in Asia, and only involved itself in regional affairs with the aim of promoting Asia-Pacific stability.
His words, at the opening of an annual security summit in Singapore, amounted to a small public relations victory for the U.S. at a time when Beijing is seeking to cast Washington as a divisive force in the region. Although Singapore has long maintained close ties with Washington, like many countries in the area it also relies heavily on commercial ties to China, and generally seeks to avoid taking sides in conflicts between the two larger powers.
Mr. Lee’s speech opened the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is attended by senior military officials from across the U.S. and Asia, including China. The event has taken on more importance than usual because of the deepening dispute over the South China Sea islands, which are in areas also claimed by countries including the Philippines and Vietnam that want to see an expanded U.S. military presence.
China criticized “external countries…busy meddling in South China Sea affairs”—an apparent reference to the U.S.—in a newly-released white paper, and has warned rival claimants against “provocative actions” in waters which China claims as sovereign territory.
The U.S. has said it will stand up for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in Hawaii earlier this week that “the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as we do all around the world,” and would defy any Chinese orders to stay out of certain areas of the disputed South China Sea.
On Friday, U.S. officials revealed thatAmerican surveillance had discovered artillery on one of the islands which China is constructing, further raising the stakes at this weekend’s summit.
Singapore Prime Minister Encourages U.S. Role in Asia - WSJ
I thought Singapore was Pro China since the majority are Chinese. Well at least their on the the winning side the US, Philippines, Japan and Vietnam.
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