Preface
A "Singaporean" with a Chinese face has attracted widespread attention, and he is Singapore's third prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
On May 15, Beijing time, Lee Hsien Loong stepped down as Singapore's prime minister.
Prior to that, he had been in power for 20 years, and he had been instrumental in Singapore's development.
However, on the occasion of his resignation, he expressed his true thoughts in the interview on topics such as China's Taiwan Strait issue and Sino-US relations.
So what exactly did Lee Hsien Loong say? Will the relationship between Singapore and China change when the next Singapore Prime Minister takes office?
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has officially stepped down
Following Putin's assumption of the presidency of Russia, Singapore has also ushered in a change of prime minister.
On May 15, Lee Hsien Loong officially stepped down as Singapore's third prime minister, ushering in Singapore's fourth "era".
China News Network——2024-05-16——"International Knowledge Bureau: Lee Hsien Loong officially stepped down! An era is over in Singapore
To this day, however, Lee Hsien Loong's inauguration 20 years ago is still fresh in the minds of many people, who have dedicated himself to Singapore's economic development for decades.
Now 73 years old, Lee Hsien Loong has stepped down from his post as prime minister, but he is still committed to Singapore's political sphere.
Lee Hsien Loong's ability is indeed very powerful, and looking back at his political achievements, when he first took office, Singapore's economic aggregate was pitifully small, less than 100 billion.
However, under his leadership, it has directly quadrupled, and the total economic output has reached 500 billion, which is already a pretty good result for a small country.
Jiemian News——2024-05-15——"What "political legacy" did Lee Hsien Loong leave behind after 20 years in charge of Singapore? 》
On top of that, Singapore has a population of less than six million, which is not even as large as any provincial capital compared to some large countries.
But that's it, Singapore's GDP will reach more than $500 billion in 2023.
With the improvement of Singapore's economy and international status, it has also attracted more and more entrepreneurs and wealthy people to flock to Singapore.
Perhaps it was because of Lee Hsien Loong's wholehearted dedication during his administration that when he stepped down, he was able to say words that he did not regret.
Take a look at the news - 2024-05-15 - "At the moment of leaving office, Lee Hsien Loong talks about his 20-year governing career: no regrets!" 》
At the May 1 Labor Rally, it was also the last meeting Lee Hsien Loong attended as prime minister.
It is not difficult to see from the scene and the people's reactions that everyone is full of support and gratitude to him.
When looking back on his governing career, Lee Hsien Loong also bluntly said that he has no regrets, and he has done his best.
After leaving office, he may go to some interest classes, such as photography and AI operation.
It can be seen from the interview that Lee Hsien Loong participated in that he was also reassuring reporters.
At the same time, Lee Hsien Loong also answered some questions from China and expressed his thoughts bluntly.
Lee Hsien Loong's "China Edge"
When Lee Hsien Loong's resignation was approaching, many media in Singapore paid close attention to Lee Hsien Loong and conducted many interviews with him.
When asked by a reporter about the danger in China's Taiwan Strait and Sino-US relations, Lee Hsien Loong expressed his own views.
Straight News——2024-05-12——"On the eve of leaving office, Lee Hsien Loong talks about China-US relations, the Taiwan Strait crisis, 996, and Internet celebrity ......"
Lee Hsien Loong said that China's relationship with the United States was problematic at first.
But they can still cooperate with each other, but now the relationship between China and the United States is becoming more and more tense.
And the contradiction between the national positions and interests of China and the United States is likely to last for a long time.
I have to say that the Sino-US relations mentioned by Lee Hsien Loong are also quite in place.
However, as Singapore's attitude towards other countries, Lee Hsien Loong also sincerely expressed his thoughts that Singapore's relations with China and the United States are very good.
Singapore has also developed a number of projects in cooperation with China, and hopes to continue to cooperate with China for more.
But this is based on the interests and relations of the two countries, not because of racial identity.
From Lee Hsien Loong's remarks, he said that Singapore did not "take sides", but was willing to engage in friendly exchanges with many countries.
The reason why Lee Hsien Loong is relatively friendly to China is also inseparable from his fate with China.
Shangguan News - 2024-05-14 - Lee Hsien Loong's "China Edge": 12 Years of Chinese Education from a Child, 14 Visits to China During His Term of Office
What many people may not know is that Lee Hsien Loong is a Singaporean.
However, his ancestral home is in Guangdong, and although he was born in Singapore, he has received 12 years of Chinese education.
So Lee Hsien Loong speaks Chinese very fluently, and Lee Hsien Loong's father, Lee Kuan Yew, has been committed to developing Singapore-China relations.
During his administration, he visited China more than 30 times alone.
Lee Kuan Yew also became Singapore's prime minister who has visited China the most during his tenure.
Based on this background, he attaches great importance to Lee Hsien Loong's education, especially Mandarin.
In this way, Lee Hsien Loong has experienced 12 years of Chinese school education, he learned Chinese, understood Chinese culture, and became a bilingual talent, which played a very important role in the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China.
In his daily life, he also has a strong interest in Chinese music and literature.
Lee Hsien Loong has never been just talking, because in terms of education, he also attaches great importance to the Chinese education of his grandchildren.
At home, he even communicates with his family in Mandarin, and practices in promoting Mandarin.
Not only that, but in his 20 years in power, Lee Hsien Loong has visited China 14 times.
Except for special reasons during the epidemic, he has to come to China for in-depth exchanges almost every year.
Whenever I visit China, I am not only interested in exchanging views on Singapore's cooperation with China.
You will also experience China's customs and national development.
For example, in 2010, Lee Hsien Loong visited China and came to a "special forces" style check-in.
In just eight days, he crossed Chongqing, Changsha, Shanghai and other provinces in China to the greatest extent.
From the recording of China's entertainment variety shows, to the development of China's high-speed rail, to China's various history museums, Lee Hsien Loong has never tired of it.
Even when he was interviewed by the media, he could "pop up" a few ancient poems from time to time.
Netizens joked that this is more Chinese than Chinese.
However, with Lee Hsien Loong's departure, Singapore has a new prime minister, Lawrence Wong.
At the same time, there is a lot of concern about how this new generation of Singaporean leaders will lead Singapore's development. How do you view Singapore-China relations?
What kind of relationship will Singapore and China fall into next?
Perhaps many people don't know about Wong, compared to Lee Hsien Loong, he does not have a father like Lee Kuan Yew.
It is precisely because of his childhood life experience that he has also formed a very people-friendly governing style.
Beijing Daily News——2024-05-15——How can the new generation of leaders "take over the baton" and lead Singapore to move forward? 》
Wong's outstanding work ability was deeply appreciated and trusted by Lee Hsien Loong.
Under the leadership of Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore was handed over to Lawrence Wong in a relatively good state, and Lawrence Wong's cabinet adjustment was not large.
But Lawrence Wong still needs to face issues in the domestic and international environment, such as how to keep inflation on the horizon and how to continue to lead Singapore to the top of the curve driven by the new wave of technology.
At the same time, the Chinese side is also very concerned about how Lawrence Wong handles relations with China.
Xinmin Evening News——2024-05-14——"How will he handle relations with China when he succeeds Lee Hsien Loong?" 》
China's Taiwan Strait issue has also been a matter of great concern in the international community, and after Wong took office, he also expressed his stance on the Taiwan Strait issue, saying that Singapore will adhere to the "one China" policy for a long time.
Given that the United States has always wanted to meddle in political decision-making between the mainland and Taiwan, Lawrence Wong also made it clear that Singapore and the United States are not allies, but that Singapore's interests are the primary position.
Luzhong Morning News——2024-05-10——"Singapore is neither pro-China nor pro-American, and will never allow itself to be used by 'Taiwan independence'"
As Singapore's prime minister, Lawrence Wong's attitude towards China-US relations and relations across the Taiwan Strait is basically the same as that of Lee Hsien Loong.
That is, Singapore will not choose between China and the United States.
Rather, it is to cooperate with major powers in combination with Singapore's own interests, so it is a partner with both China and the United States.
Moreover, with the imminent assumption of the post of the leader of the Taiwan region, Lai Ching-te's request to the mainland to be "the ruling party to the ruling party" has also made the atmosphere on both sides of the strait delicate.
On the Taiwan Strait issue, Lawrence Wong bluntly said that Singapore and the vast majority of countries in the world follow the one-China principle.
Therefore, as far as Taiwan is concerned, Singapore absolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence".
In addition, on the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai-Singapore Cooperation Council, that is, this year.
The Consul General of Singapore in Shanghai also said in an interview that the relationship between China and Singapore has always been that of China's reform and opening up.
It can be seen that China and Singapore will continue to move forward under the leadership of Lawrence Wong, and at the same time, it is hoped that the cooperation between the two countries can get better and better.