Shanmugam: US risks losing credibility in Asia

It needs mature approach on key issues like trade and China, he says

              

Published on Jun 17, 2015 5:57 AM

      

 

Ricky Lim · Singapore

忠言逆耳。

Frank and honest words hurt.

But it is for the interest of US, China and the rest of the World – as signing the Trade Agreement benefit the majority.

Thought US always champion free trade, free market?

Where is the “free” now?

Doing otherwise hurt US interest more than anyone else.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

US by constantly engaging China - will help both US & China to maintain leverage on one another in trade, finance and prevent the outbreak of war through miscalculation with China.

US cannot leverage with Russia - because both do not have much trade and finance to talk about. Now both have to lock horns using missile, nuclear weapons, army and tanks and fighter planes. One miscalculation by either sides - will means trading bombs and nuclear missiles -- and will start spelling the end of the World.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

In fact, this is the most important decision US Congress must make - so that there will be no miscalculation and turn Asia Pacific into another World hotspot.

US Congress has already 2 plate full - in Middle East hotspot and Europe-Russia hotspot.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

And US Congress by constantly engaging in Asia Pacific - may save the World, the Earth one day - when 3 plates start to overspill - Middle-East hotspot, Europe-Russia hotspot and worst turning Asia-Pac into another hotspot ----- and mark the demise of human mankind.

Staying engage with Asia-Pacific will help US Congress to unwind from danger, in fact unwind the World, the Earth from danger - because of miscalculation through misunderstanding or through misreading of harmless situation and thought was a harmful scenario and trigger a wrong reaction.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

By staying engage and leveraging with China - means mutual influence - and turn both sides to discard bad behavior and embrace good behavior that both Superpowers will benefit themselves as well as the World at large.

By staying away from mutual engagement and mutual leveraging - will be harmful to the World at large.

US have learned the lesson by losing the mutual engagement and mutual leveraging with Russia - and now has heavy burden on the shoulder - dealing with nuclear threat.

Surely US will not like another giant China to rest on its 2nd shoulder and carry 2 heavy burden isn't it?

This is pragmatism and realism.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

Why such frank and honest words that will not pull back punch?

Because the World 3 hotspots have reached a "dangerous" level - and need to cool tension - by doing the right strategic things - to prevent future demise of human mankind - when one another are too obsessed with individual greed and hatred - due to Ignorance of Global danger that is looming.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

Did the World not see all the "danger signs" surfacing and emerging in the 3 World hotspots :-
(1) Middle East hotspot - whole of Middle East engage in sectarian war and war against terrorists IS and MERs epidemic
(2) Europe-Russia hotspot - Ukraine crisis and now turning into nuclear missile and defense shield crisis, not to mention the IS threat
(3) Asia Pac hotspot - South China sea, East China sea

If US is oblivious to the danger, if World is oblivious to the sign that say "danger" - then the World and the Earth is seriously in trouble.

Doing the right long-term strategic actions - is the only way to mitigate tensions from blowing apart.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore

Mr LKY's had passed away.

But Mr LKY's spirit is still around - to forewarn us about the looming and impending dangers that will surface from time to time - and if overlook or doing the wrong thing or not doing the right things or not doing anything at the right time - may spell mammoth danger to mankind.

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