1. Law and HA Minister is going to lodge, or had lodged, a police report against the social political site The States Times for falsehood and fabrication about his non-existent comments on Eurasian EP candidacy at an ISP Close-door Seminar.
I have to agree to with him if the comments were fabricated and totally false! Social political sites have to be responsible for any comments that may incite the feelings and emotion of people on language, race and religion, and take the full consequence if they are untrue!
Personally on the issue of EP debate, it is old hat and should be bury long ago. In fact, the government even cancelled one of the REACH forum scheduled on this due to 'insufficient attendees' and NOT due to the possible presence of a Mr Adrian Tan, aka Doctor Tan Chin Bock, ex-MP and ex-almost EP.
From this particular incident that upset Minister Shanmugam probably shows that the EP, if still required, should be a Merit-based instead of a Race-based thingy. After all, we did have Eurasian President in the past and surely the Eurasians are educated and can have qualified candidates on merits to contest the EP, if they want to.
A puzzle for me still this EP thingy!
2. Prof. Wu I think is the author of this piece and was quoted by ex-Minister x-BG George Yeo as a good piece to reflect on Singapore relationship with PRC (China)
After more than 20 years of friendly relationship, it is becoming a bit iffy and restless. PM Lee's propensity to speak at the 'wrong places' on the South Sea issue at the state banquet, big deal big face to Singapore, and at the Future of Asia seminar in Tokyo after meeting PM Abe and, more importantly the Emperor and Empress of Japan, another big deal big face event, must have contributed to these 'unhappiness' by PRC with Singapore.
Of all places, to tell PRC what to do in the White House and in Tokyo. Hmm. A bit lack of sensitivity or surely deliberate acts. You guess how the PRC will read it!
Personally I feel that when the international tribunal/court 1st passed the South Sea ruling, Singapore can speak, and we did, that as a small nation we rely on international laws for international dispute resolutions. There is no need, and not in our place, to tell PRC what to do.
PRC does not like to be told what to do. Not even by the only super power in the world, the USA. Though I very much doubt how long can the USA hangs on to this position without a just cause to lead the world. A very different proposition from 30 years ago when most ordinary folks would have readily agree that the USA tries to be fair and just when it intervene in somebody's internal affairs, oil interests excepted.
Putin's Russia does not play ball with the USA. PRC will not play ball with the USA IF it perceived that it's face and authority in the international stage are damaged, or even just being challenged. So, the USA has not many friends to help it 'contains' or 'isolates' PRC.
Of course, militarily the USA STILL has far superior weapons. Trouble is, the USA has never had to fight a war in the USA itself. It already could not handle the small IS and other terrorists attacks. It cannot have a war where its enemies can strike USA with long range missiles like PRC and Russia.
Mis-perception by the PRC on Singapore? Maybe it was deliberate. Surely they know Singapore is a sovereign nation. It's fate is tied to international laws and orders and trades given its small consumer market and lack of natural resources. It is primarily very focus on economy development and WILL support whoever can provide economic development opportunities to it.
So, not an issue really. State our small nation's position on international laws. Then just get along with the big boys as they will push and pull Singapore constantly. Let them do it as long as our arms and legs are not pulled apart!
I have to agree to with him if the comments were fabricated and totally false! Social political sites have to be responsible for any comments that may incite the feelings and emotion of people on language, race and religion, and take the full consequence if they are untrue!
Personally on the issue of EP debate, it is old hat and should be bury long ago. In fact, the government even cancelled one of the REACH forum scheduled on this due to 'insufficient attendees' and NOT due to the possible presence of a Mr Adrian Tan, aka Doctor Tan Chin Bock, ex-MP and ex-almost EP.
From this particular incident that upset Minister Shanmugam probably shows that the EP, if still required, should be a Merit-based instead of a Race-based thingy. After all, we did have Eurasian President in the past and surely the Eurasians are educated and can have qualified candidates on merits to contest the EP, if they want to.
A puzzle for me still this EP thingy!
2. Prof. Wu I think is the author of this piece and was quoted by ex-Minister x-BG George Yeo as a good piece to reflect on Singapore relationship with PRC (China)
After more than 20 years of friendly relationship, it is becoming a bit iffy and restless. PM Lee's propensity to speak at the 'wrong places' on the South Sea issue at the state banquet, big deal big face to Singapore, and at the Future of Asia seminar in Tokyo after meeting PM Abe and, more importantly the Emperor and Empress of Japan, another big deal big face event, must have contributed to these 'unhappiness' by PRC with Singapore.
Of all places, to tell PRC what to do in the White House and in Tokyo. Hmm. A bit lack of sensitivity or surely deliberate acts. You guess how the PRC will read it!
Personally I feel that when the international tribunal/court 1st passed the South Sea ruling, Singapore can speak, and we did, that as a small nation we rely on international laws for international dispute resolutions. There is no need, and not in our place, to tell PRC what to do.
PRC does not like to be told what to do. Not even by the only super power in the world, the USA. Though I very much doubt how long can the USA hangs on to this position without a just cause to lead the world. A very different proposition from 30 years ago when most ordinary folks would have readily agree that the USA tries to be fair and just when it intervene in somebody's internal affairs, oil interests excepted.
Putin's Russia does not play ball with the USA. PRC will not play ball with the USA IF it perceived that it's face and authority in the international stage are damaged, or even just being challenged. So, the USA has not many friends to help it 'contains' or 'isolates' PRC.
Of course, militarily the USA STILL has far superior weapons. Trouble is, the USA has never had to fight a war in the USA itself. It already could not handle the small IS and other terrorists attacks. It cannot have a war where its enemies can strike USA with long range missiles like PRC and Russia.
Mis-perception by the PRC on Singapore? Maybe it was deliberate. Surely they know Singapore is a sovereign nation. It's fate is tied to international laws and orders and trades given its small consumer market and lack of natural resources. It is primarily very focus on economy development and WILL support whoever can provide economic development opportunities to it.
So, not an issue really. State our small nation's position on international laws. Then just get along with the big boys as they will push and pull Singapore constantly. Let them do it as long as our arms and legs are not pulled apart!
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