Asia must be ‘moderate voice’ in US-China rivalry, and help them to be frenemies: Singapore’s Goh Chok Tong

The region’s smaller countries must encourage Washington and Beijing to be ‘frenemies’, says the Lion City’s former prime minister

He says this is the best of three scenarios. The others are ‘all out conflict’ and ‘unbridled strategic conflict’

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Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong. Photos: Zakaria Zainal

Published: 2:09pm, 15 May 2019Updated: 12:02pm, 16 May 2019

Asia’s smaller countries must avoid taking sides in the intensifying United States-China rivalry and instead urge the two world powers to “moderate their positions”, Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong has said.

Goh, who boosted the Lion City’s ties with both Washington and Beijing during his 1990-2004 stint in power, said regional countries needed to band together to be a “moderate voice” and help avert a “catastrophic clash between the US and China”.

“This ‘moderate voice’ is not a bloc or new grouping, but simply the voice of moderation,” Goh said in a keynote speech at a conference in Seoul on Tuesday. A transcript of the former prime minister’s speech was published on the Singaporean foreign ministry’s website.

“As many countries as possible should play a part in this, especially Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand,” Goh said.

“It is in our interests to encourage the US and China to moderate their positions and consider the interests of global peace and stability,” he said.

The veteran politician said the “moderate voice” nations needed to do three things.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer after meeting Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Beijing. Photo: EPA

First they need to “throw out the negative shackles of history” and hold regular retreats among leaders.