Originally posted by robertteh:
[b
...As for our relationship with China, they are learning to respect
our position. Last time our old administration has struck a certain
common understanding with Mao and Deng and they saw our needs and
aspirations as a multi-racial country. May be now is the time to
build such mutual trust. If we go in and poke finger at their
sensitive policies, without in-depth understanding of their major
goals and policies, we may end up not the wiser.
Our strengths is that China may find our people trustworthy to do
certain things but to help them build up their infrastructures and
commerce. To use our strengths, it is crucial to exercise our
foreign policies towards China with quiet low-profile helpfulness
and mutual respects.
[/b]
Yr posting is sensible and worth reading, better than many of
those senior members on this board.
Our old administration struck common understanding with Deng and Li
Peng and we established diplomatic relationships while Starlight
Operation continued in Taiwan. There were mutual trusts among the
old leaders. As years went by, both sides went through leadership
changes. On our side we change from LKY to GCT and now LHL. In
China, from Li Peng to Zhu Rong Ji and now to Wen Jia Bao.
The relationship went on peacefully until LHL visited Taiwan. The
Chinese needed to know if there were any changes in our position or
has the new leadership taken the mutual trust for granted? Making
noise was just part of their condemnation of any move that could
undermine their one china policy. Such noise was necessary for both
the international and their local audience, including Taiwan, and
it is more important now than became because of ah bian.
Now months have gone past and what actually happened as a result?
Not much, except for cancellations of some trips, and I expect
normal relationship to resume soon. Such is the maturity of the
relationship and the leadership of both governments. This certainly
put to shame who were involved in anti-China and anti- Singapore
bashing.
What is of real of concern is that from these anti china bashings,
including many on this forum, we saw how little many singaporeans
know about China and Taiwan. These two places are near to us in
locations and close to many of us in ethnicity. Many Singaporean
even spoke like the Americans commenting on democracy and freedom
for China and Taiwan.
If anybody want to take on China, calling it big bully or
communist, or "poke your finger at their sensitive .." part, it is
better to learn from the Chinese proverb, "know your enemy know
yourself, a hundred battles a hundred victories." This will benefit
us not only in business and in foreign relationship, it save us
from exposing our ignorance.
Your call for "greater in-dept understanding" is therefore most
laudable.
