Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong , speaking at a dialogue at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said American leadership continues to remain essential.DPM Wong in a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Friday. Seated next to Ms Raimondo is US Ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan.
“We would like very much to work with America on what a new model of globalisation might be; how can we update the rules of the new global order, so that it is fit for our times.” Mr Wong observed that American leadership, which shaped the rules-based order that bestows benefits on all countries, continues to remain essential.
In the hour-long discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies , a prominent think-tank that invites key South-east Asian leaders to talk about pressing issues before Washington-based policymakers and analysts, Mr Wong fielded wide-ranging questions.“From Singapore’s point of view, when we look at this relationship between the US and China, our perspective is that this is not about balancing between America and China.
“The Chinese talk about three phases in their nation-building journey. They want to stand up, they want to get rich, and they want to get strong. And I think they are, in their minds, in the ‘get strong’ phase of their nation-building journey, which means they feel that their time has come,” he said, adding that China feels it needs to take its rightful place in the world.“China has to grow its influence without making other countries feel pressured, coerced or squeezed.