SENATOR LIEBERMAN AND PM LEE DISCUSS THE REGION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000619

CODEL
NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE PASS SENATE FOR SENATOR LIEBERMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR OVIP SN
SUBJECT: SENATOR LIEBERMAN AND PM LEE DISCUSS THE REGION,
TERRORISM, AND CHINA

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Singapore is prepared to stand up and say
that the United States has a role to play in Southeast Asia,
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Senator Joseph Lieberman
on May 30. Although there are no "burning issues" on the
bilateral agenda, PM Lee hopes that the next U.S.
Administration will increase its engagement with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Muslim
communities in the region, especially on combating terrorism.
Southeast Asia is less concerned with China's military reach
than with how it uses its growing economic clout, PM Lee
said. The United States does not need to match China in
every way in the region, but should stay similarly engaged.
End Summary.

A Comparable World View
--------------


2. (C) Senator Lieberman thanked Singapore for being a good
friend and partner of the United States. PM Lee concurred,
citing the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) as a clear
symbol of the extent to which Singapore and the United States
view the world in comparable ways. Our two countries enjoy a
"very good" strategic partnership -- ranging from
counterterrorism cooperation to collaboration in multilateral
fora such as APEC. Singapore is prepared to stand up and say
that the United States has a role to play in the region. PM
Lee expressed his hope that the United States will not
neglect its interests and friends in Asia.

Self-Radicalization a Worrying Trend
--------------


3. (C) PM Lee said that there are no "burning issues" in the
bilateral relationship, but he hoped that the next U.S.
Administration woul increase its engagement with ASEAN and
predominantly moderate Muslim communities in the region,
particularly in combating terrorism. Senator Lieberman and
PM Lee both expressed concerns about the self-radicalization
of Muslims through the internet and other media. Singapore's
own experience with Jemaah Islamiya (JI) terrorist
organization detainees (all of them previously employed and
educated members of their community) supported the conclusion
that terrorism is driven more by ideology and less by
socio-economic conditions, PM Lee said. Fortunately, Muslim
leaders in Singapore are willing to speak out against
terrorists and support for terrorism in their communities.
This has not been the case in Indonesia, for example, where
the government does not "officially acknowledge" JI's
existence, he said.

Middle East Matters to Region's Muslims
--------------


4. (C) The United States needs to continue engaging Muslims
in Southeast Asia to improve its standing, PM Lee said. He
held up the U.S. relief effort in Indonesia's Aceh Province
after the December 2004 Tsunami as an example of how our
efforts here can generate considerable good will. However,
to succeed fully, the United States must also address the
difficult issues that plague the Middle East, most
importantly the Israel-Palestine conflict. In Iraq and
Afghanistan, the United States needs to be patient and seek
sustainable solutions to stabilize these countries.

China
--------------


5. (C) PM Lee noted that successive U.S. Administrations
have sought improved relations with China, achieving positive
results. China understands that it needs constructive
relations with the United States in order to stay focused on
its economic development. Issues like human rights need to
be addressed, but they should not define the relationship.
Senator Lieberman agreed that the current Administration's
China policy has yielded benefits, but growing public
sentiment in the United States against free trade, especially
with China, could undermine this progress. Americans are
apprehensive about what China's economic rise means for them,
especially in terms of jobs. PM Lee said that Singapore
faced similar protectionist issues stemming from concerns
among many Singaporeans that they are losing good jobs to
foreign guest workers (approximately 750,000 out of a
population of 4.6 million),including those from China.

SINGAPORE 00000619 002 OF 002



Southeast Asia Wants More Than One Friend
--------------


6. (C) Asked about China's military buildup, PM Lee said
Singapore lacks inside information, but it is apparent
China's modernization efforts are motivated by the Taiwan
issue and a more general need as a continental-size power to
enhance its defensive capabilities. He doubted that China
aims to challenge the United States in other parts of the
world. However, China wants to ensure it has the capability
to prevent the United States from intervening on Taiwan's
behalf.


7. (C) Southeast Asia is less worried about China's military
reach, at least in the medium term, but keeps a close eye on
what China does on the economic front, PM Lee said. The
Chinese exhibit increasingly sophisticated diplomatic skills
as they seek more friends and influence in the region through
trade and investment. The United States does not need to
match China in every way, but should stay similarly engaged.
Southeast Asia wants to be friends with China but also wants
more than one friend, PM Lee concluded.


8. (U) Codel Lieberman cleared this message.

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