SINGAPORE TAKES NOTICE AS CHINA BECOMES MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000166

SIPDIS

EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA,
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN CN SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE TAKES NOTICE AS CHINA BECOMES MORE
ASSERTIVE

Classified By: CDA DANIEL SHIELDS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B +D)


1. (C) Summary: A recent editorial about tensions in U.S.-
China relations in the Government-influenced Straits Times
was intended to curry favor with a more assertive China,
Singapore analysts told PolChief. China has emerged from the
economic crisis emboldened and will likely follow through on
its threat to enact some sort of sanctions against U.S.
companies, analysts said. Singapore hopes the United States
will not back down in the face of Chinese pressure because
that would encourage China to become increasingly assertive
in its dealings with other countries on issues such as its
claims in the South China Sea. However, Singapore also fears
a continued escalation of tensions between the United States
and China, which Singapore believes would only be bad for the
region, analysts said. End Summary.

The Unabashedly Pro-China Editorial
--------------


2. (C) The Government-influenced Straits Times newspaper
published a slew of articles during the week of February 8th
concerning recent tensions between the United States and
China. While most of the articles presented a balanced
assessment of the reasons for tensions and postulated that
they would likely blow over soon, one editorial put the blame
for the rise in tensions squarely on the United States. The
editorial stated that the recently announced U.S. arms sales
to Taiwan were "ill-conceived, almost provacative...and that
it is not credible to expect Chinese support or acquiescence
in denying Iran a nuclear capability if it is at the expense
of China's old linkages with Tehran."


3. (C) Straits Times Senior Writer William Choong told
PolChief that an editorial such as this with no byline is
considered the official position of the newspaper, and that
the paper's Senior Editor is responsible for vetting its
content and message. Articles in the Straits Times,
including unattributed editorials, generally support the
Government of Singapore's position on issues. "The article
does not represent Singapore's view on China, but it does
represent some in Singapore's view," Choong said.
Acknowledging that most of the articles on the issue
(including his own) did not take a "pro-China" stance, Choong
suggested that the reason the newspaper put out this kind of
editorial was to acknowledge an emerging view in Singapore of
a more assertive China and the subsequent need for more
"balanced" reporting on China issues. Choong said that as an
experiment that he would try to write a more pro-U.S.
editorial and see if the Senior Editor would allow it to be
published.

The Rise and Influence of China's Bloggers
--------------


4. (C) Singapore was surprised by the vociferous negative
reaction of China's blogger community to remarks made by
Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew during an April 2009
visit to the United States in which he said the United States
should maintain a robust presence in Asia in order to balance
a rising China, East Asia Institute Professor Lye Liang Fook
told Polchief. Given the blogger community's negative
reaction, the GOS was grateful that the Government of China
did not also publicly criticize LKY's comments, Lye said.
Recounting the downturn in Singapore-China relations brought
about by the Government of China's negative response to then
Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Taiwan in
2004, Lye said Singapore is beginning to conclude that it
needs to tread more carefully on issues that China considers
part of its core interests. The rise of China's blogger
community and Beijing's perceived need to pander to an
increasingly nationalistic domestic audience mean it is
unlikely that Beijing would again turn a blind eye to
comments it perceived to be anti-China, Lye said.

China More Assertive
--------------


5. (C) While China has always wanted the United States to be
more sensitive to and respectful of its core interests, such
as Taiwan and Tibet, China feels it is now in a stronger
position to change the traditional calculus in its relations
with the United States, Lye said. China wants to let the
United States know that it now has the ability to impose
tangible penalties, he said. Lye speculated that China would
go through with its threat to enact at least some form of

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sanctions against U.S. companies, even temporarily, if only
to allow it to ease tensions by eventually removing the
sanctions.


6. (C) Singapore has noted the change in China's attitude
and is closely watching developments in U.S.-China relations,
said Lye. Despite China's new assertiveness, Singapore hopes
that the United States will not back down, by putting off a
meeting with the Dali Lama, for example, as that would only
embolden China in other areas, Lye said. Singapore is
concerned that if China's new assertiveness causes the United
States to back down, China might take a harder edge in its
dealings with individual ASEAN countries, especially in its
effort to press its claims in the South China Sea. Lye
added, however, that Singapore hopes the United States can
protect its interests without further escalating tensions,
which he believed would be bad for the region and for
Singapore.
SHIELDS

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