ESM Goh Chok Tong.
Mr Goh noted that while some commentators have argued that the US is a nation in risk of decline because of its fiscal situation, the US will remain the dominant global player for many more decades.
"No major issue concerning international peace and stability can be resolved without US leadership, and no country or geopolitical grouping can yet replace America as the dominant global power," he said.
Mr Goh added that many of the reasons were economic in nature.
"The US remains a huge market for most economies and there is no viable alternative to the US dollar as an international reserve currency in the short to medium-term. US leadership in ideas and innovation in many fields remain unmatched," he said.
"Thus, the US has a critical role to play in leading and managing the transition from one international system to another."
However, he cautioned against characterising the global economic shift as "Asia rising, and the West declining", as the changes in the distribution of power that are occurring are relative and not absolute.
"It is not as if a Western system will be replaced by an Asian system," Mr Goh said. "The Asia that is growing is an Asia that has been profoundly shaped by centuries of contacts with the West and from which it adapted best practices.
"Indeed, much of Asia, including Singapore, owes a debt to the West. The West has played a significant role in providing technical assistance, market, capital and investment that have been crucial to Asia's development."
"Moreover, Asia has a strong interest in a Western economic recovery simply because it is now coupled with the West in a globalised economy," said Mr Goh.
However, he said the last decade has shown that the US cannot effectively exercise power alone and must negotiate coalitions, such as the G20, to manage the international economy.
Mr Goh said the US engagement is, and should continue to be, multi-faceted.
The US can play a constructive role in its engagement with regional organisations and vehicles, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit, as well as Free Trade Agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Mr Goh made these points in a keynote address, "Present State of the World", at the 30th Annual Plenary Meeting of the Inter Action Council in Tianjin, China on Thursday.
He also spoke at length on the US-China relationship, stressing that it is the most important bilateral relationship in East Asia, as it sets the tone for the whole region.
He warned of any rhetoric of "containment", saying that it was dangerous.
He stressed that any attempt by the US to contain China will not work, nor will countries in the region want to take sides.
Mr Goh said relations between the US and China must not be a zero-sum game, and explained why engagement is a better alternative strategy than "containment".
"The rise of China does not imply the decline of the US. Conflict should and can be avoided, if competition and rivalry take place within a stable international framework," Mr Goh said.
"It is good that China and the US are working together to ensure that their relationship is one based on cooperation and not confrontation, engagement and not containment."
He said such cooperation will be necessary to manage challenges which are not in either country's interests, such as those involving the nuclear programmes of North Korea and Iran.
"While some stresses and strains are to be expected, and will be further complicated by domestic politics and geostrategic considerations, I believe that the world and Asia are large enough to accommodate both the interests of China and the US," Mr Goh added.
He said given the indispensable role of the US and the growing economic and geopolitical weight of China, the Sino-US relationship will undoubtedly define any new international system.
He said some degree of competition between an incumbent super power and an emerging one is expected and inevitable.
Mr Goh pointed out that China's growing economic clout has been accompanied by a growing defence budget, which passed US$100 billion for the first time this year.
Though this is only one-seventh of the US defence budget, it has led to anxiety for some countries, especially in Asia, over China's growing military power.
Mr Goh noted that the US' moves to station Marines in Darwin, Australia, and talks over an increased military presence in the Philippines are seen as part of a larger strategy to "contain" China.
He also noted that the media have made much of the US' "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific, but he said the US has long played a major role in East Asia, providing the foundation of the stability that has led to more than 30 years of growth and prosperity.
Mr Goh said it would be a mistake to focus only on the US military presence in East Asia to the exclusion of other dimensions of US policy.
He cited ASEAN as an example of how countries can build a more peaceful world, based on fostering understanding and constructive co-operation, much like what the European Union did earlier.
Mr Goh said its member countries are taking gradual but careful steps to integrate their countries with one another, the ASEAN region with East Asia and East Asia with countries across the world.
- CNA/wm
Compelling reasons for US to continue engaging Asia
Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said there were compelling reasons for the United States to continue engaging the Asian region to bring mutual benefits to both sides.
ESM Goh Chok Tong.
Mr Goh noted that while some commentators have argued that the US is a nation in risk of decline because of its fiscal situation, the US will remain the dominant global player for many more decades.
"No major issue concerning international peace and stability can be resolved without US leadership, and no country or geopolitical grouping can yet replace America as the dominant global power," he said.
Mr Goh added that many of the reasons were economic in nature.
"The US remains a huge market for most economies and there is no viable alternative to the US dollar as an international reserve currency in the short to medium-term. US leadership in ideas and innovation in many fields remain unmatched," he said.
"Thus, the US has a critical role to play in leading and managing the transition from one international system to another."
However, he cautioned against characterising the global economic shift as "Asia rising, and the West declining", as the changes in the distribution of power that are occurring are relative and not absolute.
"It is not as if a Western system will be replaced by an Asian system," Mr Goh said. "The Asia that is growing is an Asia that has been profoundly shaped by centuries of contacts with the West and from which it adapted best practices.
"Indeed, much of Asia, including Singapore, owes a debt to the West. The West has played a significant role in providing technical assistance, market, capital and investment that have been crucial to Asia's development."
"Moreover, Asia has a strong interest in a Western economic recovery simply because it is now coupled with the West in a globalised economy," said Mr Goh.
However, he said the last decade has shown that the US cannot effectively exercise power alone and must negotiate coalitions, such as the G20, to manage the international economy.
Mr Goh said the US engagement is, and should continue to be, multi-faceted.
The US can play a constructive role in its engagement with regional organisations and vehicles, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit, as well as Free Trade Agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Mr Goh made these points in a keynote address, "Present State of the World", at the 30th Annual Plenary Meeting of the Inter Action Council in Tianjin, China on Thursday.
He also spoke at length on the US-China relationship, stressing that it is the most important bilateral relationship in East Asia, as it sets the tone for the whole region.
He warned of any rhetoric of "containment", saying that it was dangerous.
He stressed that any attempt by the US to contain China will not work, nor will countries in the region want to take sides.
Mr Goh said relations between the US and China must not be a zero-sum game, and explained why engagement is a better alternative strategy than "containment".
"The rise of China does not imply the decline of the US. Conflict should and can be avoided, if competition and rivalry take place within a stable international framework," Mr Goh said.
"It is good that China and the US are working together to ensure that their relationship is one based on cooperation and not confrontation, engagement and not containment."
He said such cooperation will be necessary to manage challenges which are not in either country's interests, such as those involving the nuclear programmes of North Korea and Iran.
"While some stresses and strains are to be expected, and will be further complicated by domestic politics and geostrategic considerations, I believe that the world and Asia are large enough to accommodate both the interests of China and the US," Mr Goh added.
He said given the indispensable role of the US and the growing economic and geopolitical weight of China, the Sino-US relationship will undoubtedly define any new international system.
He said some degree of competition between an incumbent super power and an emerging one is expected and inevitable.
Mr Goh pointed out that China's growing economic clout has been accompanied by a growing defence budget, which passed US$100 billion for the first time this year.
Though this is only one-seventh of the US defence budget, it has led to anxiety for some countries, especially in Asia, over China's growing military power.
Mr Goh noted that the US' moves to station Marines in Darwin, Australia, and talks over an increased military presence in the Philippines are seen as part of a larger strategy to "contain" China.
He also noted that the media have made much of the US' "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific, but he said the US has long played a major role in East Asia, providing the foundation of the stability that has led to more than 30 years of growth and prosperity.
Mr Goh said it would be a mistake to focus only on the US military presence in East Asia to the exclusion of other dimensions of US policy.
He cited ASEAN as an example of how countries can build a more peaceful world, based on fostering understanding and constructive co-operation, much like what the European Union did earlier.
Mr Goh said its member countries are taking gradual but careful steps to integrate their countries with one another, the ASEAN region with East Asia and East Asia with countries across the world.
- CNA/wm
ESM Goh Chok Tong.
Mr Goh noted that while some commentators have argued that the US is a nation in risk of decline because of its fiscal situation, the US will remain the dominant global player for many more decades.
"No major issue concerning international peace and stability can be resolved without US leadership, and no country or geopolitical grouping can yet replace America as the dominant global power," he said.
Mr Goh added that many of the reasons were economic in nature.
"The US remains a huge market for most economies and there is no viable alternative to the US dollar as an international reserve currency in the short to medium-term. US leadership in ideas and innovation in many fields remain unmatched," he said.
"Thus, the US has a critical role to play in leading and managing the transition from one international system to another."
However, he cautioned against characterising the global economic shift as "Asia rising, and the West declining", as the changes in the distribution of power that are occurring are relative and not absolute.
"It is not as if a Western system will be replaced by an Asian system," Mr Goh said. "The Asia that is growing is an Asia that has been profoundly shaped by centuries of contacts with the West and from which it adapted best practices.
"Indeed, much of Asia, including Singapore, owes a debt to the West. The West has played a significant role in providing technical assistance, market, capital and investment that have been crucial to Asia's development."
"Moreover, Asia has a strong interest in a Western economic recovery simply because it is now coupled with the West in a globalised economy," said Mr Goh.
However, he said the last decade has shown that the US cannot effectively exercise power alone and must negotiate coalitions, such as the G20, to manage the international economy.
Mr Goh said the US engagement is, and should continue to be, multi-faceted.
The US can play a constructive role in its engagement with regional organisations and vehicles, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit, as well as Free Trade Agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Mr Goh made these points in a keynote address, "Present State of the World", at the 30th Annual Plenary Meeting of the Inter Action Council in Tianjin, China on Thursday.
He also spoke at length on the US-China relationship, stressing that it is the most important bilateral relationship in East Asia, as it sets the tone for the whole region.
He warned of any rhetoric of "containment", saying that it was dangerous.
He stressed that any attempt by the US to contain China will not work, nor will countries in the region want to take sides.
Mr Goh said relations between the US and China must not be a zero-sum game, and explained why engagement is a better alternative strategy than "containment".
"The rise of China does not imply the decline of the US. Conflict should and can be avoided, if competition and rivalry take place within a stable international framework," Mr Goh said.
"It is good that China and the US are working together to ensure that their relationship is one based on cooperation and not confrontation, engagement and not containment."
He said such cooperation will be necessary to manage challenges which are not in either country's interests, such as those involving the nuclear programmes of North Korea and Iran.
"While some stresses and strains are to be expected, and will be further complicated by domestic politics and geostrategic considerations, I believe that the world and Asia are large enough to accommodate both the interests of China and the US," Mr Goh added.
He said given the indispensable role of the US and the growing economic and geopolitical weight of China, the Sino-US relationship will undoubtedly define any new international system.
He said some degree of competition between an incumbent super power and an emerging one is expected and inevitable.
Mr Goh pointed out that China's growing economic clout has been accompanied by a growing defence budget, which passed US$100 billion for the first time this year.
Though this is only one-seventh of the US defence budget, it has led to anxiety for some countries, especially in Asia, over China's growing military power.
Mr Goh noted that the US' moves to station Marines in Darwin, Australia, and talks over an increased military presence in the Philippines are seen as part of a larger strategy to "contain" China.
He also noted that the media have made much of the US' "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific, but he said the US has long played a major role in East Asia, providing the foundation of the stability that has led to more than 30 years of growth and prosperity.
Mr Goh said it would be a mistake to focus only on the US military presence in East Asia to the exclusion of other dimensions of US policy.
He cited ASEAN as an example of how countries can build a more peaceful world, based on fostering understanding and constructive co-operation, much like what the European Union did earlier.
Mr Goh said its member countries are taking gradual but careful steps to integrate their countries with one another, the ASEAN region with East Asia and East Asia with countries across the world.
- CNA/wm
RELATED NEWS
