Genoa, Jan. 29, 2021 – The U.S. and China should build a constructive relationship, which will be a challenge for the new U.S leadership, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday.
“I think if you see China as a threat, that is going to be a very big problem because then you are creating a threat and the struggle will continue.
“China is not going to collapse the way the Soviet Union did. China should be seen as an issue where you have to develop a constructive relationship.
“You will compete, disagree maybe on rights issues, but you will also have other areas where you do have to work together,” Loong said in his address to the Davos Agenda virtual event as part of the World Economic Forum.
According to the prime minister, Washington considers China to be a challenger because, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. was the world’s single hyper-power, making it difficult for the U.S. to adjust its policy towards the Asian country, Loong said.
“To persuade the other side is one challenge, but to persuade all people (of the U.S.) — the population, Congress, intelligence — it takes leadership of a very high order,” the official added.
At the same time, Loong said China should also recalibrate its policies in order to make its influence in the world accepted by other countries and be seen as a legitimate state that is benefiting other nations.
Relations between Washington and Beijing fell to the lowest point under the presidency of Donald Trump, who started his term with a so-called trade war with the Asian country by slapping steep tariffs on Chinese goods.
The former U.S. leader also repeatedly blamed Beijing for failing to stop the coronavirus pandemic from spreading around the world.
In response, the Chinese authorities introduced reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods and traded hostile statements with senior officials of the Trump administration.
With Joe Biden’s administration taking office, the White House may try to reverse Trump’s open hostility against China. (Sputnik/NAN)
