SECRETARY OF LABOR CHAO MEETS SINGAPORE FM GEORGE

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018
TAGS: ELAB PREL PGOV OVIP SN
SUBJECT: SECRETARY OF LABOR CHAO MEETS SINGAPORE FM GEORGE
YEO

Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA L. HERBOLD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (U) August 30, 2008; 11:30 a.m.; Crowne Plaza Hotel.


2. (U) Participants

United States

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao,
Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold,
Associate Deputy Secretary of Labor Anna Hui,
Dr. James Chao,
Jennifer Coxe, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, Office of
Public Affairs, and
Senior Political Officer Dan Jassem (note-taker.)

Singapore

Foreign Minister, George Yeo,
Ng Teck Hean, Director, Americas Directorate, MFA,
Chivy Lee, Special Assistant to Minister Lee, and
Cheryl Lee, Country Officer, Americas Directorate
(note-taker.)

Summary
--------------


3. (C) Singapore is focused on the continued strengthening
and development of ASEAN, and due to its member countries,
strategically important location, ASEAN wants to be friendly
with everyone, Singapore Foreign Minister (FM) George Yeo
told Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao in an August 30th
meeting. Singapore seeks a strong U.S. presence in Asia as a
friendly counter-balance to a resurgent China, although ASEAN
members are generally ambivalent about China,s resurgence,
given that China has historically wielded considerable
influence in Southeast Asia, FM Yeo said. Georgian President
Saakashvili made a grave error antagonizing Russia, FM Yeo
emphatically stated. The West has mismanaged relations with
Russia over the past several years, and Russia,s actions in
Georgia should be seen as a stern warning to Ukraine, FM Yeo
asserted. FM Yeo suggested that the U.S. economic situation
would likely worsen over the next year. End Summary.

Singapore's Foreign Policy Goals
--------------


4. (C) During a lunch meeting on August 30th with Singapore
Foreign Minister George Yeo, Secretary Chao inquired about
Singapore's foreign policy goals. The FM replied that
Singapore is focused on the continued strengthening and
development of ASEAN. Noting that ASEAN's member states sit
astride the strategically important Straits of Malacca, FM
Yeo said it is in the organization's interests to remain
strong, unified and neutral. &We want to be friendly with
everyone,8 FM Yeo commented. FM Yeo said that Singapore
seeks to maintain a strong U.S. presence in Asia, as a
friendly counter-balance to a resurgent China. Northeast
Asian countries, particularly China and Japan, are very
hierarchical societies, and both countries tend to treat
their Southeast Asian counterparts as being of less than
equal stature, FM Yeo suggested.

The Rise of China
--------------


5. (C) Secretary Chao asked how Singapore views the rise of
China. FM Yeo replied that ASEAN countries tend not to view
the rise of China with as much anxiety as Western countries.
FM Yeo noted that throughout much of history, a strong China
has interacted with and exerted influence on Southeast Asia.
Highlighting China,s historical influence, FM Yeo described
the voyage of Chinese Admiral Zheng He, who led a massive
fleet of over sixty of the world's largest vessels and more

SINGAPORE 00001014 002 OF 002


than 30,000 sailors on a show-of-strength tour through and
beyond Southeast Asia at the beginning of the 15th century.
Southeast Asian countries generally know what to expect from
a resurgent China and, while they do not necessarily welcome
it, neither do they fear it, FM Yeo asserted.

U.S. ) Russia Tensions
--------------


6. (C) Secretary Chao asked for FM Yeo's opinion on the
current crisis in Georgia. Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili made a grave error antagonizing Russia, FM Yeo
emphatically asserted. FM Yeo said he &hoped the United
States didn't give the Georgians false hope.8


7. (C) FM Yeo commented that over the past few years, the
West had made some critical mistakes in its relationship with
Russia, notably over Kosovo. &Russia is a proud country,
with a rich history ) you kicked them when they were down,8
he claimed. FM Yeo told Secretary Chao that prior to
Kosovo's independence declaration, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov had confided in him and several other foreign
ministers that the secession of Kosovo from Serbia would set
a bad precedent, and that Russia would likely test that
precedent. FM Yeo stated that Russia,s actions in Georgia
should be seen as a stern warning to Ukraine. Russia,s
founding and history is inextricably linked with Kiev, and
Russia will never allow Ukraine to truly leave Russia,s
influence, FM Yeo added.

U.S. Economy
--------------


8. (SBU) FM Yeo commented to Secretary Chao that he feared
the U.S. economic situation would likely worsen over the next
year. Secretary Chao disagreed, noting the resilience of the
U.S. economy, and highlighting that U.S. 2nd Quarter GDP
growth had been revised upward to 3.3 percent. The U.S.
economic situation would likely turn around by next spring,
Secretary Chao asserted.


9. (U) Secretary Chao's party cleared this message.

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD