Europeans should seek balance between the US and China, says diplomatic legend George Yeo

Your speech today is entitled “Asia in the Future of Europe”. How would you characterize the current state of mutual relations between these regions?

Europe is going through a painful transition with the war in Ukraine not going well and the US no longer leading the way it did in the past. In this transition, the re-emergence of Asia on the global stage will be a growing factor in Europe’s view of the world and itself.

 

Europe has long perceived Asia primarily through the lens of China. Is this approach still relevant, or should Europe diversify its Asia strategy?

China is of the course the most important because of its size and development but Asia is much more than China.  It is absurd to treat China as an enemy.  China is a threat to centuries of western dominance in the world but China is certainly not a strategic threat to Europe.  That Europe’s relationship should be both competitive and cooperative is nothing abnormal.

 

India is a separate pole and will develop in its own way.  It has a different nature from China. As with China, you can’t do business in India without a deep understanding of local conditions. India will never disavow Russia which has long been a strategic partner. India and China will not be enemies.  There is also no danger that they will get too close.

 

Southeast Asia is another region, in between India and China, and closer to the west, which will remain important to Europe.

 

Singapore is often seen as a bridge between the West and Asia. What lessons from the Singapore experience could be useful for European countries such as the Czech Republic?

Singapore is a city-state which makes a living by being of service to others. Without natural endowments, Singaporeans can’t take liberties with themselves.  If we don’t work, we don’t eat.  We accept the world for what it is and never think we can influence the major powers or their relationships. 

 

If others find the Singapore model interesting, it is because we view the international environment clinically, almost without judgment, and develop responses to external challenges.  We can only do this by staying united, which means making sure that no one is left behind or feel being left out.  We try to stay rational and keep to common sense.  In liberal democracies, faced with constant elections, and sometimes captured by vested interest groups, what we do in Singapore may be hard for others to do.  It is certainly not because we are cleverer.  We do not hold ourselves up to be a model for others to follow but we welcome others studying our successes and failures.

 

How do you assess the current rivalry between the US and China and its impact on smaller countries? Is it possible to remain neutral in this conflict?

There will be a trial of strength over maybe twenty, thirty years. All countries are affected in one way or another.  For Singapore, we try to avoid a choice between the two superpowers by careful dynamic balance.  Being part of ASEAN helps us to do this.  However, it is not possible to answer your question in an abstract way.

 

ASEAN is often presented as a “third way” between the American and Chinese models. How realistic is this vision in the current multipolar world?

Every country has a different history and must find its own way to the future.  We should learn from the successes and failures of others, but adapt the lessons to our own specific circumstances.  ASEAN itself is diverse.  We are probably the most diverse region in the world in terms of culture, politics and economic development.  But we share a common fear of being subjugated by others and a common hope for peace and development.  The long war in Indo-China which Balkanized Southeast Asia is not an experience we want to see happen again.

 

European “de-risking” towards China versus economic connectivity – how to find the right balance? What is the role of smaller Asian economies in this context?

There is a loss of historical knowledge in this generation in Europe which is dangerous.  Demonizing the ‘other’ is not helpful.  China is a complex phenomenon which must be studied across time and space.  In an earlier period, the Jesuits when they sought to convert China to Christianity invested whole lifetimes studying Chinese language, culture and history.  Slogans like ‘de-risking’ and ‘strategic rivalry’ are not useful.  China’s rise is a challenge and therefore both a threat and an opportunity.

 

Artificial intelligence and new technologies are changing global power relations. How are Asian countries positioned in this race and what does this mean for Europe?

In Asia, only China is able to compete with the US.  China’s decision to make its large language models open source open a new highway for the rest of us to make use of AI for our own development.  The US approach creates dependence.  China’s approach may help us stay independent but it is still too early to tell. 

 

Europe has a high level of education and intellectual attainment.  It can catch up but will take time. Europe should work with both the US and China.

 

During your diplomatic career, you have witnessed dramatic transformations in Asia. Which changes do you consider the most significant and what awaits the region in the coming decades?

Asian peoples are ancient peoples.  With the western cresting and gradually receding, Asian peoples are regaining their self-confidence.  They will continue to learn from the west but they will also learn from China, Japan and others in finding their own way to the future.  In their own past, they will find inspiration and spirit to do well again. Not all and certainly not all equally.

 

Small European countries such as the Czech Republic do not have a strong diplomatic network in Asia. What strategies would you recommend for their effective engagement in the region?

Smaller European countries like the Czech Republic should develop their policies for Asia especially how they respond to the challenge of China.  There is no substitute for knowledge.  Young people should be encouraged to study Asian languages and cultures.  They should travel frequently to Asia.  Europe and China should open their rail systems to each other’s students to promote mutual understanding.

 

What message would you like to convey to Czech students and experts who want to study the Asia-Pacific region?

Study, visit, experience, make friends, build networks.  In doesn’t matter how one starts. There is no danger of overdoing it.  The Asia-Pacific region is vast and should hold enough interest for anyone and everyone.

 

George Yeo is a Singaporean statesman and diplomat with more than thirty years of experience in the public sector. Between 2004-2011, he served as Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs, previously serving as Minister for Trade and Industry (1999-2004) and Minister for Information and the Arts (1990-1999).   During his diplomatic career, he played a key role in ASEAN's development and strengthening Singapore's position as a global trade and financial centre. He participated in negotiations for numerous significant free trade agreements and initiated important cultural and educational projects in the region.   After ending his political career, George Yeo has devoted himself to business and consulting. He is Chairman of Kerry Logistics Network and serves on the boards of several major Asian companies. He also remains active in academia at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.   From 2013-2020, George Yeo was involved in the administrative and financial reform and adminstration of the Vatican under Pope Francis.   George Yeo graduated in electrical engineering from Cambridge University and obtained a master's degree in management studies from the same university. He is a recognized expert on Asian geopolitics, regional integration, and strategic relations between Asia and the West.

 

Photo: CEVRO University in Prague