VISIT BY SEN. CLINTON TO SINGAPORE (JULY 5-7)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 002073

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SN
SUBJECT: VISIT BY SEN. CLINTON TO SINGAPORE (JULY 5-7)

Classified By: Amb. Franklin L. Lavin. Reasons 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (C) Summary: Singapore's senior leadership discussed the
challenges of combating Islamic terrorism, the need for
moderate Muslims to speak out, and the importance of success
in Iraq in meetings with visiting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
(D-NY). GOS leaders told the Senator that cross-Strait
relations were calmer than last year. While China did not
want a collision with the United States, it could not allow
Taiwan to pursue independence. At the same time, they urged
the United States to continue to play a major role in Asia
since it was the only country capable of balancing China's
rising power. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong encouraged the
U.S. military to be more engaged with its regional
counterparts. PM Lee also reviewed Singapore's border
controls and immigration policies. End Summary.


2. (U) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) visited Singapore
from July 5-7. She was accompanied by staff member Huma
Abedin. The Senator met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan
Yew on July 5. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) also participated
in the three meetings.

Islamic Radicalism and Iraq
--------------


3. (C) The problem of Islamic terrorism would not be easily
extirpated, observed MM Lee. While Muslims in Southeast Asia
were traditionally moderate and tolerant, they had been
affected by radicalism emanating from Middle East and the
spread of wahhabism from Saudi Arabia. Singapore's Muslim
leaders were rational and educated in English and the GOS
kept a limit on madrassah-based education. He stressed that
moderate Muslims had to be encouraged to stand up and speak
out against radicalism. They needed confidence that they
could win. We could get to the tipping point, noted MM Lee,
but he didn't know how long it would take.


4. (C) MM Lee said Islamic terrorists would continue to use
violence until shown that their methods would not succeed.
If they were successful in Iraq, they would try to topple
secular governments in other countries, such as Indonesia.
PM Lee said Singapore supported U.S. efforts in Iraq; it was
important to get the Iraqi government working, with a
security force that could take over from U.S. forces and fend
for itself.


5. (C) Asked by Rep. Rangel how organized terrorists were
internationally, MM Lee responded that orthodox Islam was a
powerful force capable of recruiting volunteers for terrorist
groups. He noted Singapore's experience in 2001 and 2002 in
dealing with Jemaah Islamiyah's terrorist plots in Singapore
and characterized Islam as a "venomous religion."

Democracy and Islam
--------------


6. (C) SM Goh told the Senator that democracy and Islam were
compatible. It was necessary, however, to first carry out
economic and social reforms to prepare the ground for
democracy -- such as empowering women and encouraging
education. Democracy was not just elections. He noted that
some Middle Eastern countries had been looking at Singapore
as a model for economic development. Many of these countries
also preferred the "Singapore model" of democracy to that of
the United States, given the ruling People's Action Party's
consistent electoral success. MM Lee questioned the wisdom
of pushing hard for greater democracy in Egypt. He urged a
more gradual political opening to avoid ending up with a
government like in Iran. Do not be dewy-eyed about the
situation, he admonished, since one man, one vote would put
the radicals in charge of Egypt.

Cross-Strait Relations
--------------


7. (C) SM Goh commented that cross-Strait relations were
calmer than last year, due to the joint U.S.-Japan security
statement in February, China's Anti-Secession Law, and the
visits by Taiwan opposition leaders to China. The PRC
leadership had become more flexible and subtle in its
approach to Taiwan, SM Goh argued. President Hu Jintao was
more patient about Taiwan and was willing to put the issue
aside for a decade or more.


8. (C) China had no interest in a collision with the United
States, according to MM Lee. The PRC wanted peace and
stability so it could concentrate on promoting economic
growth, which was critical to the regime's legitimacy. The
one issue they could not overlook was Taiwan. While China
supported the status quo, the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
would continue its build up to dominate the Taiwan Strait to
deter the United States from getting involved in any
cross-Strait conflict.

U.S. Role in Asia
--------------


9. (C) All three GOS leaders urged the United States to
continue to play a major role in Asia. MM Lee commented that
the United States was the only power capable of balancing the
rising power of China. SM Goh observed that India had to
become more involved in the region as well to balance China.
Singapore wanted all outside powers to be active in Asia so
that "no dominant country could call the shots for its
neighbors."


10. (C) Noting that he had attended the Army Command and
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, PM Lee urged the
U.S. military to be more engaged with its counterparts in the
region, especially Indonesia and Pakistan. The Indonesian
Armed Forces (TNI) had been cut off for a long time. The
United States was fortunate to have invested in the right
friend in President Yudhoyono, according to PM Lee.

Regional Situation
--------------


11. (C) The regional situation had improved over the last
year, according to SM Goh. Indonesia had conducted
successful elections and President Yudhoyono understood the
West and could reach out to it. He was a decent man who was
taking action against corruption, but the problem was endemic
in Indonesia. In Malaysia, the change in prime minister was
for the better. SM Goh commented that former PM Mahathir
enjoyed fighting with everyone. The long-term problem was
what type of Islam would dominate in Malaysia. He expressed
concern that a more radical version of Islam was gaining
ground and forcing moderates to take more extreme positions.

Border Controls and Immigration
--------------


12. (SBU) Asked about Singapore's border control system, PM
Lee said it helped that Singapore was an island. While some
people were able to sneak into the country, it was far easier
to control than the Rio Grande. Rep. Rangel noted that
Singapore's sanctions for illegal immigrants were different
than in the United States and PM Lee noted that they were
caned and then deported. Employers and landlords of illegal
immigrants also faced sanctions. The GOS was experimenting
with biometrics to speed up the entry process, especially for
the tens of thousands of people entering from Malaysia every
day.


13. (SBU) While unemployment was 3.9 percent, there were many
jobs that Singaporeans no longer wanted to do, such as in
construction and domestic positions, observed PM Lee. The
GOS allowed in some 200,000 workers in these fields. The
GOS, however, did not want these workers to "establish roots"
in Singapore and encouraged turnover. At the same time, the
GOS was trying to attract skilled workers, notably scientists
and engineers, to come and stay in Singapore. They were
needed to help offset Singapore's low birth rate and to help
the country develop new industries, such as its emerging
biotechnology sector.
LAVIN