Singapore remembers past with Japan but can still move forward to\nforge mutually beneficial relationship: PM Wong<\/p>\n
On his first visit to Japan as Singapore\u2019s prime minister, Mr Wong\nspoke about the importance of maintaining strong relationships with\nother countries amid a more complex geopolitical environment.<\/p>\n
TOKYO: Singapore does not allow itself to be \u201ctrapped by history\u201d but\ncan move forward to forge a mutually beneficial relationship with Japan,\nsaid Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday (Mar 18).<\/p>\n
Singapore and Japan on Wednesday announced the upgrading of ties to a\nStrategic Partnership, with moves to expand cooperation in five\nareas.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister\nSanae Takaichi, Mr Wong said that the historical sensitivities stemming\nfrom the legacy of World War II were mentioned during talks.<\/p>\n
He said that while Singapore remembers the lessons from the Japanese\nOccupation, this does not stop it from moving forward to forge a\nrelationship with Japan, as it has done over the decades.<\/p>\n
Mr Wong, who is also the finance minister, also spoke about the\nimportance of maintaining strong relationships with other countries amid\na more complex geopolitical environment, along with developments in the\nMiddle East.<\/p>\n
He began his first official visit to Japan as Singapore\u2019s prime\nminister on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe relationship we have with Japan is long-standing. It\u2019s mutually\nbeneficial, and the cooperation is wide-ranging, and the elevation of\nthe Strategic Partnership will enable us to do more together,\u201d Mr Wong\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said that Singapore and Japan were strategically aligned in\nsupporting free and open trade and a rules-based international\norder.<\/p>\n
He added that the priority sectors Japan is pushing for are similar\nto those in Singapore, such as AI, quantum space and cybersecurity.<\/p>\n
STRONG, RELIABLE PARTNERSHIPS<\/p>\n
Asked whether historical sensitivities were raised in bilateral\ntalks, Mr Wong said both sides had touched on the issue during\ndiscussions on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s starting point is the desire for a peaceful, stable and\nsecure region in its national interest, Mr Wong said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, we cannot achieve that by ourselves, so we need to do\nthis with partners, and that is why we have long advocated for an open\nand inclusive region with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)\nat the centre,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Japan will be a very important partner for ASEAN with its economic\nand diplomatic clout, and should play a key role in regional\naffairs.<\/p>\n
However, history is important and cannot be forgotten, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will never forget what happened \u2013 the dark, painful period during\nthe Japanese Occupation,\u201d Mr Wong said, adding that this was why\nSingapore marks Total Defence Day annually on the anniversary of the\nBritish surrender to the Japanese in 1942.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we remember the past. We do not forget it, and we learnt the hard\nlesson, which is, no one else will defend Singapore but us\nSingaporeans.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the same time, we do not allow ourselves to be trapped by\nhistory. Remembering the past does not mean we cannot move forward to\nforge a mutually beneficial relationship with Japan, as we have been\ndoing over the decades.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Wong added that this position dates back to 1967, when founding\nPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opened the Civilian War Memorial.<\/p>\n
Referencing the late Mr Lee, Mr Wong said the memorial was not meant\nto \u201carouse old hatreds or to seek settlements for blood debts, or even\nto warn us of another Japanese invasion\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added that the world has changed, and Singapore\u2019s approach is to\nbuild a more secure nation with \u201cas many strong and reliable friends as\npossible\u201d, with Japan being one of them.<\/p>\n
While many ASEAN countries felt the same way, some still felt that\nhistorical issues had not been resolved, he noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSingapore\u2019s position is, we hope Japan can more clearly articulate\nits position on these issues and put to rest these outstanding\nhistorical issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoing so, we believe, will enable Japan to play a larger role in\nregional affairs and to be more active on regional security\nmatters.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that Japan understands this position, with the building of\ntrust and confidence ongoing and moving \u201cat a different pace for\ndifferent countries\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Japan remains an important partner for ASEAN, contributing\nsignificant investments to the region to create new jobs, and financing\ninfrastructure and potentially renewable energy projects on top of the\nASEAN Power Grid, he said.<\/p>\n
TIES WITH JAPAN AND CHINA<\/p>\n
Mr Wong said that Singapore does not view its relations with China\nand Japan as a \u201czero-sum affair\u201d, noting that it is possible to maintain\ngood ties with both, and the United States.<\/p>\n
While Japan\u2019s relationship with China is more challenging, he\nexpressed hopes that both sides would continue to maintain dialogue and\neventually find ways to resolve their differences.<\/p>\n
Mr Wong was also asked how China would respond to his visit to Japan,\ngiven the recent tensions between the two East Asian neighbours.<\/p>\n
He said China was aware of his visit to Japan, and continued to\ninvite him to the Boao Forum in Hainan next week, where he will deliver\na keynote speech.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving good relations with one does not come at the expense of\nanother. We can be friends with both China and Japan and America, for\nthat matter. We want to maintain as many good friends as possible,\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
He said that in today\u2019s world, this can be more complicated because\nof \u201cgreat power rivalry\u201d and more scrutiny over what Singapore does.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I am in one country, the other country may take notice. This\ntime it is Japan. Next week will be China. At some point, when I am in\nAmerica, the same thing will happen, but that is just the reality of the\ncomplicated geopolitical environment that we are in.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut as far as a small country is concerned, it is helpful to have\nmaximum strategic space for us to operate, and that means cultivating\nand maintaining good relations with as many powers as possible as we\ncan,\u201d he<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singapore-remembers-past-with-japan-but-can-still-move-forward-to-forge-mutually-beneficial-relationship-pm-1773892296", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }