Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was speaking at the UOB 2h2022 Investment Forum on Friday, saying that Singapore’s 4G leaders will be inheriting a world that is more hostile and challenging that their predecessors.
More walls will be built
He explained that this bipolar world will require countries to choose a side, either the US or China, according to The Straits Times.
According to Yahoo, Goh said that “instead of building more bridges, I’m afraid more walls will be built,” as he outlines his pessimism of the world’s future.
Support of Singaporeans
He said that the 4G leadership needs a strong mandate from Singaporeans in order for Singapore to be successful in a more unstable and dangerous world.
They can then avoid the situation in which foreign leaders don’t take them seriously, by having the support of the people.
China would win in war over Taiwan
Touching on the China-Taiwan issue, he said that if war does indeed break out over Taiwan in the South China Sea, China would win (against the US) despite having lesser nuclear weapons and military strength, as they have the upper hand in the South China Sea and Taiwan.
However, he did say that if the war extended beyond Asia, the US would claim victory because they have 5,500 nuclear weapons to China’s 300.
Goh also added that he feels there will be “no good outcome” in the US looking to deepen its ties with Taiwan.
The US will not cede their dominance to China, while China will not allow the US to restrict its rise, with both countries seeing each other as long term existential threats.