Lee Kuan Yew: If China Becomes a Western-style Democracy, It Will Collapse

Lee Kuan Yew: If China Becomes a Western-style Democracy, It Will Collapse
Mar 31, 2015 By eChinacities.com

Editor's Note: This translated articles outlines the recently deceased first Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew's views on China. The author takes Lee Kuan Yew's viewpoints from two of his books on China, and the world. Lee believed that China was an important rising power and that the West should not force its own ideals onto the Chinese leadership.

Cultural and political exchanges between China and Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore began around the 1970s. Singapore became an ASEAN member nation in 1967 and the two nations continued to establish official diplomatic relations until 1990. Lee Kuan Yew maintained close ties with China and was in contact with China's 21st century leaders as well. 

As China's economy gained ground, Lee Kuan Yew noted that it was important for Western countries to “recognize China as a leader.” He spoke many times with the media on China, giving his own unique perspective on geopolitical issues between the East and West. We've taken his views on China from his two books: “One Man's View of the World,” and “The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World.”

1) Conflict and Competitive Military Spending

It has been calculated that in three or four decades, China will be able to improve its economic system, and make a steady transition to a market economy. However, these years must be peaceful and quiet. China must avoid the mistakes that Germany and Japan made. In the 20th century, power conflicts and competition over natural resources brought Japan and Germany into two wars. Russia, also spent too much on its military and lacked non-military technological advancements, and therefore the nation's economy collapsed. Lee believed that the Chinese leadership understands that if they begin an arms race with the United States, it is basically a kiss of death.

2) Peace and Stability

Once, a 70 year old Chinese leader asked Lee if he believed that China could have a peaceful rise. Lee replied that the Chinese people have faced war and hardships like the “Gang of Four,” but also triumphs like the Reform and Opening Up Policy. Lee said that if China wants to continue to develop smoothly there must be internal stability and external peace.

3) China Will Make Its Own Way

For 5,000 years, the Chinese people have believed that the nation can only be secured by a strong central state. If the central state is weak, then there will be chaos and turmoil. Lee said that this is the fundamental principle of China. He said the some want China to become a traditional Western democracy, but this will not happen. China is a huge country with 1.3 billion people. Its culture and history has been influenced by the West, but China has its own way of governance. Lee added that he believes that if China somehow became a Western-style democracy, it would collapse. He said that there will never be a revolution to achieve Western democracy in China.

4) Challenges for China

China has had many brilliant achievements, but Lee said that the nation has many obstacles and weaknesses to overcome as well. Governance issues still remain in China, especially local corruption and uneven rule of law. China's system of thought also tends to stifle imagination and creativity and reward obedience. It is also extremely difficult for foreigners to learn Chinese and to study freely in Chinese society. It is still a challenge for China to attract foreign talent.

5) A World Power with Purchasing Power

China now has the strength of a world power. Other governments, especially China's neighbors must understand this. Lee said that other governments must re-adjust and not violate China's core interests. They must assume that there are certain consequences for crossing China. There are 1.3 billion people in China, which equals a ton of purchasing power. Lee said that China now is able to impose economic sanctions by simply banning foreign products from the Chinese market. If other countries or companies do not recognize China's status or respect it, they may be ejected from the nation's market.

6) Southeast Asia Strategy

Lee said that China's strategy in Southeast Asia is very simple. China told the countries in the region to follow China's lead and work to achieve common development goals. China's leaders want to show that China's rise is inevitable and other countries must decide whether to be China's friends or enemies.

7) The China-US Relationship

When the US Congress and human rights organizations criticize China, they ignore the cultural and historical differences between China and the United States. Lee said that the US's aggressive approach may turn China into the United States' long term rival. The United States is not very sensitive towards China and needs to know more about Chinese cultural in order to strength the bilateral relationship between the two countries. China also needs to maintain friendly relations with the United States in order to ensure continued access to the United States market, investments, technology and universities, said Lee. Therefore, there is no reason for the two countries to be rivals or enemies.

8) Tensions in the Asia-Pacific Region

According to Lee, a balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region can only be achieved by creating a balance of power between the United States, Japan, and China. Japan and the United States make up one side of the conflict, while China is on the other side.

9) Two Theories on China's Rise

Lee said that one theory is that China will quietly become powerful and expand its influence but will still have some incidents where it will be seen as a bully, internationally. Another theory is that China will display its force through coercion. Lee thought that China would choose the first approach, but would also show its strength when needed.

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17 Comments

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jetfire9000

Funny thing is that people love voting on all the tv shows... vote for the top singer, vote for the top dancer....

Jun 13, 2015 17:37 Report Abuse

Hothot

"Lee Kuan Yew: If China Becomes a Western-style Democracy, It Will Collapse CAN ANYONE SEE THIS COMING IN A THOUSAND YERS? SORRY MR. LEE, WITH ALL RESPECT!

Apr 04, 2015 14:14 Report Abuse

Hothot

" China's leaders want to show that China's rise is inevitable and other countries must decide whether to be China's friends or enemies." I personally feel this is a sentence too strong, coming from a nation's leader. If one does not earn his potential friend, is it necessary to make an enemy out of it?

Apr 03, 2015 17:43 Report Abuse

Guest2781358

The must have paid him quite a bit for saying all this

Apr 02, 2015 21:11 Report Abuse

louischuahm

Wow...and I am a full blown Singaporean. Well, I suppose everyone has their favorite punching bag when it comes to their own head of government, Obama, Cameron or whoever calls the shot at the moment. Frankly, LKY did what he did when he did it, so who am I to say he was wrong? He did bring Singapore to where it is now, not that I agree with all the stuff he did. Thing is, we all accepted it. It's his son's team (the snobs in their ivory towers) that screwed up and lost 40% of the votes. They had it coming, with stupid policies that screwed those who voted them in. You need to be Singaporean to understand what's going on. LKY was always a controversial figure, perhaps more like a willow tree, bending with the wind, with a sharp tongue and non apologetic quotes. Singapore is just a dot on the map, no resources, nothing. So he needed to lean on something and China appeared the most likely then. Also, he needed to sit on the fence between the US and China, willow tree strategy. Call him sneaky, call him smart, whatever. In the end, he dies. And a new era begins, which way Singapore will go depends largely on the upcoming elections. We shall all see.

Mar 31, 2015 19:59 Report Abuse

Guest2301262

Agree. A fair assessment.

Mar 31, 2015 20:45 Report Abuse

gouxiong

And I like the Singaporean system. Its efficiency resulting in hard working and motivated people who are not afraid to be responsible for own lives. It certainly is not the Western 'democracy'. But it works very well - in comparison the current situation in majority of Western countries. Singapore was the first 'oversea Chinese'enclave that approached China in cooperative way (introduced simplified characters, developed business relations with China etc.). Subsequently Chinese leaders showed usually respect to Singapore and tried to study what from their successes as well as mistakes can be applied in China in order to boost own economy. China and Singapore are two totally different countries who found a way how to coexist to their mutual benefit and treat each other with respect. To the big extent thanks to the Lee family.

Mar 31, 2015 12:29 Report Abuse

RiriRiri

Spoken like a true wumao. You really should talk to your manager and tell him you're interacting with people who actually have some degree of culture here. Alas you looking completely ridiculous. Better, you should ask to be mutated to SCMP, not that you'll look more credible there, but at least all your little friends are there.

Mar 31, 2015 12:45 Report Abuse

RiriRiri

The Singaporean system's efficiency results from it being a glorified toll station turned into a tax heaven. In terms of nation building, that's tutorial level, the one before you actually start playing. And that's about as far as Chinese ever went in 5000 years of history.

Mar 31, 2015 12:49 Report Abuse

gouxiong

I find your emotional outcries quite typical for your 'culture level' ...

Mar 31, 2015 14:27 Report Abuse

kuntmans

@guoxiong: well said.

Apr 04, 2015 00:13 Report Abuse

Hothot

The goverment made it a "fine" country in an overly extreme orderly manner. Not for me.

Apr 04, 2015 09:26 Report Abuse

Guest2301262

Lee wasn't like that but this is a common excuse used by CCP control freaks along with their corrupted, materialistic goons. Singaporeans have grown up as early as the 1990s. With a first class honors law degree from Cambridge (as was Mrs. Lee), Lee's kind but stern father producing obedient soldiers/kids management style has long been met with increasing opposition. As early as the 1990s, from taxi drivers to university graduates were complaining, 'life is f*$king boring here'. When I was there my taxi driver said to me, 'See that obelisk in front ? Life is so f*@king boring here that I want to ram the car into it!' Just let your paying passenger, me, off before you do that!!! LOL In 2011, the election in Singapore saw a shocking (must have been, to Lee) 40% support for the opposition party, the so-called 'opposition' party. Lee failed to see through the dark side of mankind. Democracy, using a REAL opposition party as a watchdog against corruption, using evil to curb evil, is the only workable solution in the long run. 'There are 1.3 billion people in China, which equals a ton of purchasing power...' This is the sales pitch, the bait China used when it 'opened itself up' to lure multinationals into China, a place where 'people' didn't even have decent toilet paper to wipe their asses. 15 years ago you probably need seasoned china expats to testify the result of feeding thieves, hookers, criminals....etc. These days, as these shitbombs self-detonate globally, the world at large can do the same.

Mar 31, 2015 11:40 Report Abuse

Guest2301262

A little story from the family's 90+ year old maid, retired and returned to china, living in Shunde (near Guangzhou). Reporters interviewed her after Lee's death so the video must be filmed sometime last week. She was the one who looked after Lee's son, Lee Hsien Loong, the present prime minister of Singapore. This kind of story always tells a lot about what the man is really like. The old lady said Lee treated the servants in the family with respect and kindness, but was very strict with his kids. No stealing means no stealing....etc. Look at the many corrupted CCP leaders and how their shit kids behave. It is insane for CCP to compare Singapore with China. Completely different rug on the evolution ladder!

Mar 31, 2015 13:07 Report Abuse

Guest2368048

2011 in person, LKY's last words of warning about China to the world. This old friend and teacher of China was off about the timing.....China may become "pushy" and "aggressive": Lee Kuan Yew ____ m.youtube.com/watch?v=CB4NwQ24Mpk

Mar 31, 2015 16:10 Report Abuse

RiriRiri

Well the general manager of that glorified toll station... sorry I mean the Glorious Founder of Singapore was yet another adept of treating the Chinese like children (quite literally in fact, just see how the city is ruled). So yeah no wonder the CCP has a fan there. In other circumstances I'm sure he would have been a perfect Kim Jung Un but there's just too much fat ransom money to be made in that tax heaven to need any kind of indoctrinement bullshit. Money talks. By the way how's the son doing?

Mar 31, 2015 09:20 Report Abuse

Englteachted

"When the US Congress and human rights organizations criticize China, they ignore the cultural and historical differences between China and the United States." Which is why so many Chinese have left are leaving and are trying to leave China for the USA (the worst developed country) because the 60 years of Sovietlike human rights violations and censorship is due to China's 5000 years of history?

Mar 31, 2015 07:42 Report Abuse