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Updated Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:17 am TWN, By Frank Ching, Special to The China Post

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U.S. making SE Asia a major priority in sign of China's rise

This was an allusion to Asia's increasing importance. As Mr. Bader said, “the rise of Asia in the last few decades may not have made as many headlines as other strife-torn parts of the world, but in the long run it will be more consequential.”

In his speech, Mr. Lee painted a picture of a new world order in which Europe, though a large economy, “is no longer a global strategic actor.” China, however, “will have global heft and influence.”

Mr. Lee warned that China's military rise “will mean a high-tech PLA in another two to three decades. A blue-water fleet with aircraft carriers cannot just be to deter foreign intervention in a conflict between Taiwan and the mainland.”

Referring to territorial disputes between China and small Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, Mr. Lee referred to the recent dispatch by China of patrol boats to the area. “Later, behind these small patrol craft will be a blue-water navy,” he said.

“The consensus in ASEAN,” he intoned, “is that the U.S. remains irreplaceable in East Asia.”

While the United States has not openly cited China's rise as a reason for its own decision to play a bigger role in Southeast Asia, the Obama trip to the region is rich in symbolism.

China's president, Hu Jintao, will also be in Singapore to attend the APEC meeting. Mr. Hu will make use of the opportunity to pay official visits to both Singapore and Malaysia.

And the American and Chinese presidents, after their respective forays into Southeast Asia, will meet next week in Beijing when Mr. Obama makes his first visit to China. China has not responded officially to Mr. Lee's remarks in Washington.

However, on the Internet, China's citizens have been vociferous. One wrote: “Lee Kuan Yew's comments reveal that Singapore is but a pawn of the U.S. in countering China.” Evidently, the United States and China, while cooperating on such issues as the global financial crisis, will be competing for influence, especially in Asia.

Frank.ching@gmail.com.

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