US embassy cable - 05SINGAPORE2073

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 002073 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, SN 
SUBJECT: VISIT BY SEN. CLINTON TO SINGAPORE (JULY 5-7) 
 
Classified By: Amb. Franklin L. Lavin.  Reasons 1.4 (b)(d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Singapore's senior leadership discussed the 
challenges of combating Islamic terrorism, the need for 
moderate Muslims to speak out, and the importance of success 
in Iraq in meetings with visiting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 
(D-NY).  GOS leaders told the Senator that cross-Strait 
relations were calmer than last year.  While China did not 
want a collision with the United States, it could not allow 
Taiwan to pursue independence.  At the same time, they urged 
the United States to continue to play a major role in Asia 
since it was the only country capable of balancing China's 
rising power.  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong encouraged the 
U.S. military to be more engaged with its regional 
counterparts.  PM Lee also reviewed Singapore's border 
controls and immigration policies.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) visited Singapore 
from July 5-7.  She was accompanied by staff member Huma 
Abedin.  The Senator met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan 
Yew on July 5.  Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) also participated 
in the three meetings. 
 
Islamic Radicalism and Iraq 
--------------------------- 
 
3. (C) The problem of Islamic terrorism would not be easily 
extirpated, observed MM Lee.  While Muslims in Southeast Asia 
were traditionally moderate and tolerant, they had been 
affected by radicalism emanating from Middle East and the 
spread of wahhabism from Saudi Arabia.  Singapore's Muslim 
leaders were rational and educated in English and the GOS 
kept a limit on madrassah-based education.  He stressed that 
moderate Muslims had to be encouraged to stand up and speak 
out against radicalism.  They needed confidence that they 
could win.  We could get to the tipping point, noted MM Lee, 
but he didn't know how long it would take. 
 
4. (C) MM Lee said Islamic terrorists would continue to use 
violence until shown that their methods would not succeed. 
If they were successful in Iraq, they would try to topple 
secular governments in other countries, such as Indonesia. 
PM Lee said Singapore supported U.S. efforts in Iraq; it was 
important to get the Iraqi government working, with a 
security force that could take over from U.S. forces and fend 
for itself. 
 
5. (C) Asked by Rep. Rangel how organized terrorists were 
internationally, MM Lee responded that orthodox Islam was a 
powerful force capable of recruiting volunteers for terrorist 
groups.  He noted Singapore's experience in 2001 and 2002 in 
dealing with Jemaah Islamiyah's terrorist plots in Singapore 
and characterized Islam as a "venomous religion." 
 
Democracy and Islam 
------------------- 
 
6. (C) SM Goh told the Senator that democracy and Islam were 
compatible.  It was necessary, however, to first carry out 
economic and social reforms to prepare the ground for 
democracy -- such as empowering women and encouraging 
education.  Democracy was not just elections.  He noted that 
some Middle Eastern countries had been looking at Singapore 
as a model for economic development.  Many of these countries 
also preferred the "Singapore model" of democracy to that of 
the United States, given the ruling People's Action Party's 
consistent electoral success.  MM Lee questioned the wisdom 
of pushing hard for greater democracy in Egypt.  He urged a 
more gradual political opening to avoid ending up with a 
government like in Iran.  Do not be dewy-eyed about the 
situation, he admonished, since one man, one vote would put 
the radicals in charge of Egypt. 
 
Cross-Strait Relations 
---------------------- 
 
7. (C) SM Goh commented that cross-Strait relations were 
calmer than last year, due to the joint U.S.-Japan security 
statement in February, China's Anti-Secession Law, and the 
visits by Taiwan opposition leaders to China.  The PRC 
leadership had become more flexible and subtle in its 
approach to Taiwan, SM Goh argued.  President Hu Jintao was 
more patient about Taiwan and was willing to put the issue 
aside for a decade or more. 
 
8. (C) China had no interest in a collision with the United 
States, according to MM Lee.  The PRC wanted peace and 
stability so it could concentrate on promoting economic 
growth, which was critical to the regime's legitimacy.  The 
one issue they could not overlook was Taiwan.  While China 
supported the status quo, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) 
would continue its build up to dominate the Taiwan Strait to 
deter the United States from getting involved in any 
cross-Strait conflict. 
 
U.S. Role in Asia 
----------------- 
 
9. (C) All three GOS leaders urged the United States to 
continue to play a major role in Asia.  MM Lee commented that 
the United States was the only power capable of balancing the 
rising power of China.  SM Goh observed that India had to 
become more involved in the region as well to balance China. 
Singapore wanted all outside powers to be active in Asia so 
that "no dominant country could call the shots for its 
neighbors." 
 
10. (C) Noting that he had attended the Army Command and 
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, PM Lee urged the 
U.S. military to be more engaged with its counterparts in the 
region, especially Indonesia and Pakistan.  The Indonesian 
Armed Forces (TNI) had been cut off for a long time.  The 
United States was fortunate to have invested in the right 
friend in President Yudhoyono, according to PM Lee. 
 
Regional Situation 
------------------ 
 
11. (C) The regional situation had improved over the last 
year, according to SM Goh.  Indonesia had conducted 
successful elections and President Yudhoyono understood the 
West and could reach out to it.  He was a decent man who was 
taking action against corruption, but the problem was endemic 
in Indonesia.  In Malaysia, the change in prime minister was 
for the better.  SM Goh commented that former PM Mahathir 
enjoyed fighting with everyone.  The long-term problem was 
what type of Islam would dominate in Malaysia.  He expressed 
concern that a more radical version of Islam was gaining 
ground and forcing moderates to take more extreme positions. 
 
Border Controls and Immigration 
------------------------------- 
 
12. (SBU) Asked about Singapore's border control system, PM 
Lee said it helped that Singapore was an island.  While some 
people were able to sneak into the country, it was far easier 
to control than the Rio Grande.  Rep. Rangel noted that 
Singapore's sanctions for illegal immigrants were different 
than in the United States and PM Lee noted that they were 
caned and then deported.  Employers and landlords of illegal 
immigrants also faced sanctions.  The GOS was experimenting 
with biometrics to speed up the entry process, especially for 
the tens of thousands of people entering from Malaysia every 
day. 
 
13. (SBU) While unemployment was 3.9 percent, there were many 
jobs that Singaporeans no longer wanted to do, such as in 
construction and domestic positions, observed PM Lee.  The 
GOS allowed in some 200,000 workers in these fields.  The 
GOS, however, did not want these workers to "establish roots" 
in Singapore and encouraged turnover.  At the same time, the 
GOS was trying to attract skilled workers, notably scientists 
and engineers, to come and stay in Singapore.  They were 
needed to help offset Singapore's low birth rate and to help 
the country develop new industries, such as its emerging 
biotechnology sector. 
LAVIN