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Post by : Shakul
New Delhi/Singapore — Former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo has said there remains “too little mutual understanding” between India and China, comparing tensions between the two Asian powers to “parents quarrelling.” Speaking to CNN-News18 after attending the Rising Bharat Summit in New Delhi, Yeo stressed that it is in India’s strategic interest to normalise relations with Beijing.
Yeo noted that while sections in India remain wary of deeper engagement with China, some in Beijing underestimate India’s strategic weight. Referring to the 1962 border war and the more recent Galwan Valley clashes in 2020, he said the unresolved boundary issue should not define the entire relationship between the two ancient civilisations. From Southeast Asia’s perspective, he argued, stability between India and China is essential for long-term peace and development across Asia.
Addressing India’s regional strategy, Yeo said New Delhi has yet to fully leverage its relationship with ASEAN, calling the grouping India’s “immediate neighbourhood.” He suggested India should deepen political engagement with Southeast Asia and eventually reconsider joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which it exited in 2019. According to Yeo, economic integration with both Southeast Asia and the European Union would significantly strengthen India’s long-term growth trajectory.
On the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea tensions, Yeo advised India to position itself as a force for stability rather than align too rigidly with any bloc amid US–China rivalry. He emphasised ASEAN’s preference for balance and neutrality, noting that the region seeks equilibrium among major powers rather than confrontation.
Yeo also explained why Singapore remains cautious about joining BRICS, despite its expansion to include countries like the UAE. He clarified that Singapore’s hesitation is largely political, as it does not want to be perceived as anti-Western. Ultimately, he concluded, India must carefully manage its relationships with both China and the United States in an increasingly complex global order.
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