US and China must not carve up Pacific Ocean into two spheres of influence: PM Lee
SINGAPORE - Countries in the region read it as a good sign that both the United States and China say that the broad Pacific Ocean is "vast enough" to embrace both powers.
But this is provided that their notion of "vast enough" does not mean the Pacific Ocean can be carved up into two spheres of influence - a scenario which would only "circumscribe options for other countries and increase the risk of rivalry and conflict between the two power blocs," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday.
Rather, "vast enough" should mean that "there is space all over the Asia-Pacific region for both powers to participate and compete peacefully, and to work out problems constructively, without raising tensions," he said.
Delivering the keynote address at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, PM Lee noted that competition is inevitable with two Pacific powers, and sketched out a preferred approach in which the powers strengthened their influence within a set of international rules and norms
