Friend or foe: Why China’s unsatisfactory answer undermines its diplomacy

The goodwill gained from BRI is negated by South China Sea barricades. But there’s still a window of opportunity for China to improve ties with its neighbours.

China has a window of opportunity to improve ties with its key neighbours before more nations align against its interests. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
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At last week’s Asia Future Summit, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke of how benign American dominance had given countries in the region space to grow and compete with each other peacefully, adding that this is why the United States is still welcomed.

If the Chinese can achieve something similar, he added, the region would prosper even more.

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