Festival of Ideas 2024- The China Shock at the End of History

US-China rivalry might well become a constant in our lifetimes. Some observers already take this Great Power competition as a given and suggest only we adapt to it as best we can. If, however, there is to be hope of its resolution, we need to understand how this rivalry developed. Once, the world was set on engagement, now it appears only to be about Great Powers balancing against one another. What can we say about the root causes underlying US-China rivalry? What were the markers that should have been detected in the retreat from engagement? Our panelists address these questions from a range of different perspectives and ask how there might be ways out of this gridlock.
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[@eddyg4742]

I think everyone is missing one very important point. If you understand how the American lifestyle and hegemony are sustained you can see the root of the conflict straightaway. The American empire is built on their ability to fund their super deficits in everything through the USD. The power of the dollar and the associated financial vehicles is the one pillar that supports the lot. The rise of china challenges the foundation of that very pillar. Unfortunately the USA has allowed themselves to go down this path of single pillar supporting the whole empire, believing it's a mutually supporting cycle that'd never be broken. USD supports access to resources, cheap goods, global assets, tech advancement, military strength, and media dominance. China's model is on track to jam up this cycle, not by design and intent, but just a natural outcome of their growth under this model. If Singapore was a powerful nation challenging the same pillar supporting the USA, it would get the same treatment from America. Simple as that. It's just beating around the bush trying to find all sorts of logic to try and work out the reasons for the aggression from the American leaders. China's response is just a natural pushback against this. Simple logic.

[@vincentho3964]

@eddy - Absolutely agree ❤. It is the elephant in the room... but "diplomacy" behooves us to be cognisant of what the International Gangster can do to start "riots". They have deep pockets... they print money, don't they ?

[@chaz4609]

Jai Hind. China Rise is more of a symptom rather than a disease for the Western decay. The Fukuyamas of Unipolar Rules based Order had failed to appreciate that most in the Global Majority now wish to live in a more pluralistic Multi-polar world.

[@vichitvideo6041]

100% agreed with you.

[@KimEKooMD]

CPC, not CCP, please let us not be so western centric in your views.

[@junkeatng]

It's a zero sum world. There is no way the US can afford to spread out its hitherto largesse beyond the collective West and SoKo/Jpn. These are all dependents of the USD system for their 'first world' standard of living. Any country that's able to degrade that structure and chip away at its edges is public enemy no 1.

[@sktan3743]

As applicable to all countries, China does not need recognition of its legitimacy to rule. This can only be judged by its people.. Instead of advocating CHINA wants US recognition as an equal, question should be asked why US sees itself as the only supreme leader of the world ?

[@dthomas99]

Lanzhou has the first steel bridge over the Yellow River built by Americans in 1908. China was so poor it couldn't build that bridge itself. Yet 115 years later today, China has its own Space Station, GPS, 30 000km of high speed train, and lifted 800mio out of poverty. China deserve a Nobel Prize. Imagine what China can achieve in 20-30 years and help other countries develop. Congratulations 75th anniversary. God Bless China.

[@chaz4609]

Jai Hind. In an rabid Anti-China ASPI publication in 2023, they had claimed that China now leads the World in 37 of 42 critical technologies.

[@directxxxx71]

New San Francisco Bay bridge in California was constructed by China's CCCC Opened to Traffic on Sept 3, 2013 *China Communications Construction Company, Ltd. (CCCC)

[@PahatRout]

Talking about HSR, they used ROI to belittle the system but today, they simply ran out of words or imagination to try to derail all those logistics projects! Based on WB's reports, it is obvious that China had saved enough in her logistics operations ( ports, railway and inland-waterways ) that US certainly looks 3rd rate in comparison.

[@Time4Peace]

I'm surprised by what the second speaker (Selina?) said. Just to highlight a few points. She kept using the term CCP instead of CPC. For an academic like her, I'm surprised she does not see the difference between the two, an indication of how much she has been consuming uncritically the Western media. She also kept talking about the CCP (CPC?) regime trying to gain legitimacy when dealing with corruption. Imagine saying that the PAP regime is trying to gain legitimacy by cracking down on corruption. There's a difference between legitimacy (which PAP and China has) and governance (which is an ongoing process). In China, leadership is developed ground up with CPC membership spreading across China. Its mission, historical and current role in a Confucianist society is never questioned, and evident in independent surveys done periodically. Xi is more popular than Jiang and Hu because he has been effective in overcoming corruption and what was an then prevalent pollution. Even so, the legitimacy of CPC under Jiang and Hu was never questioned. But Selina is right to point out that China does not strive to dominate the way the US does. It wants to collaborate with the US and the West. It wants to build up the emerging economies (and in so doing, helping itself too). It does not interfere with other countries nor force others into friend-shoring bloc nor want to cut out the US / West economically. Its only requirement is for other countries to leave Taiwan alone to allow it to reunite with China peacefully.

[@HappyDT]

Clearly Selina is antiChina CIA operative and an attack dog of Kaushik Bilahari. Francis Fukuyama is no longer relevant

[@kchew1000]

And she talked about social credit in China, which is just another indicator that she being consuming lots of things uncritically from Western media.

[@chaz4609]

Jai Hind. LKY had said before that Chinese Imperial legitimacy can only be won on a horseback. As NSA is contributing 1.6 billion to MSM to bad mouth Xi and his BRI grand vision, I don't think Xi will be too worried about the legitimacy issue.

[@sword7872]

CPC or CCP, I am not too hung up with the 2 references for the Chinese Communist Party either. I know that western media tends to use CCP in a derogatory way. But I will say what matters at the at of the day is how successful cpc/ccp has been in building china into the most rapid impressive country it has become. Chinese show their strength by not being bothered with how good they look or sound, the way that westerners are hung up about it, but by the actions and results they achieve. So don't worry about the name, because they are strong enough, any kind of name calling - ccp, wolf warrior, authoritarian etc.. China carries on with their own vision, regardless.

[@muntongleong1755]

That the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy provided these people with the forum to spout their western narratives in this day and age is seriously alarming

[@Time4Peace]

Two panelists spoke about Fukuyama's End of History, one admiringly so. Yet Fukuyama has walked back on many of what he said about liberal democracy. His triumphant pronouncement has been discredited by later events like the financial crisis in 2008, political corruption, extreme inequality, populism, and political divisiveness even within America. LKY himself gave speeches that democracy as practised in the West is no assurance that a state will succeed. Many democracies fail. Singapore is seen by the West (ask BBC) as an authoritarian defacto one party state, and definitely not a liberal democracy. Would it succeed if it is one? Or would it be the End of Singapore? For heaven sake, let each nation finds its way to self determination and prosperity. Don't use its political construct like liberalism, democracy or lack of them, as a reason to interfere. That's why BRICS is appealing.

[@teckchuonting4582]

👏👏👏

[@teckchuonting4582]

@@Time4Peace liberal democracies are failing its people in America n Europe n India - the wealthy gets insanely wealthy but the working class has problem with basic needs. Many follow western “ideals” but few have your wisdom.

[@chaz4609]

Jai Hind. All neoliberals had admired the Fukuyama's theory of the End of History. For Much of the World today including Singapore and, in fact more and more Western countries are being governed by Non-liberal Majority-ism rather than under the guise of a Liberal democracy just to hold their disparate societies together.

[@olderchin1558]

Fukuyama was a naive zealot living inside the bubble that the US calls the US calls the Universe or World order, global consensus. When this is just the western delusional bubble of reality.

[@AlanXuHK]

5% growth is still very impressive

[@sword7872]

This kind of programme is what we need more of from Singapore. Singaporeans know both the US and China very well. And they are able to express their views well for English speaking audiences.

[@joestki]

It was naive for one of the audiences to ask "why Chinese diplomats don't use English". Unless its official language is English, how many large countries do in formal meetings? Reminds me of French President Macron visited Australia years ago. Before his departure he addressed the press and started by saying "Thank you Prime Minister Turnbull and his delicious wife .....". When I heard it on TV I fell off my chair.

[@emperor270353]

that audience must still be suffering from Pinkerton Syndrome

[@frankhaugwitz8178]

Is this talk subject to censorship? At 17:03 when she was quoting Jake Sullivan, there is glicht, and resumes, when she refers to Bali.

[@tomtan220]

Discussion should be encouraged, but is singapore over confident in it's understanding of the world? We have to acknowledge that singapore still has its colonial heritage which hinders it understanding an much larger country with larger aspirations

[@timothylie5187]

CNA News broadcast used to say CPC .. only recently past months CCP is being mentioned… CNA & Academics are very WESTERNed mindset, culture & values .. !!? 😢

[@henryyip1]

they didn't mind too if you say sinkapore

[@pleongv1]

Cna is a puppet of western propaganda

[@emperor270353]

that's why I DON'T watch CNA.

[@moviemakerjo6756]

I notice that, very recent they are choosing side through language ...becoming less independent by the day..😔

[@michaelloo8985]

SHe said it is competition that US and China are engaged. Does US leverage competition or illegal sanctions and asking the G7 to sanctions China? What do you think?

[@KevanMajere33]

These (mostly western) ivory tower scholars keep saying that the Chinese economy is in trouble and tanking. Are they staying in China? When is the last time they go to China? And for how long did they stay there? Who did they talk to, interact with? The Chinese officials, do they have incentives to debunk the western narratives? Silence from the official sources may not necessarily mean acquiescence, but quite often only meant that such narratives suited the purpose of the accused. I suggest you walk the streets of the first, second, third, fourth tier provinces to get a feel for yourself. My personal experience is that for the common person on the street, things are normal. People are still spending. Short term confidence may be low, but long term confidence is at an all-time high. But don't take my word for it, walk the streets yourself. I'm not interested in winning arguments. I'm only interested in truths, because that will increase my chances of making the right decisions. If you have views contrary to mine, please feel free to debunk me.

[@ricotheman8139]

What surprised me is that, the comments in this video have the highest quality of knowledge and intelligence I have ever seen. Who are you guys?

[@emperor270353]

Does Selina knows the official reference for China is CPC and not CCP.!!! CCP was coined by the west.

[@DavidLockett-x4b]

In Australia, our politicians don't like new ideas because they feel threatened by them. People believe what they want to believe.

[@nicteng]

What is so shocking? This idea or concept of China's rise being "shocking" perturbs me, smacks of "arrogance"? It is only logical that China, like any country that is rational, strives to move itself up the value chain and bring its population prosperity. To me it is pure economics and geopolitical. Inadvertently, the incumbent will feel threatened. After hearing the entire programme, I still do not hear anything that I consider "shocking". I agree with Singapore's role made by Heng Chee and her view that the US and the rest who view China as an adversary also need to build confidence measures, this goes both ways. Overall, a good session.

[@ericyeo805]

Zainal was there and being a Malay muslims, he should air or share his views on the issues of human right in Xinjiang since the panel speakers thinks so.

[@kooisengchng5283]

There is no evidence of genocide against muslims in Xinjiang. There is evidence that the Xinjiang muslims were influenced by the Wahabis and went on rampage against Han Chinese which went on for many years. George Yeo has commented on this too. Anyone with a mobile can record any event anywhere in the world. You can't hide genocide but you can create stories of one.

[@lagrangewei]

Xinjiang is just propaganda. almost every muslim country support China on Xinjiang, because they too understand the risk of islamic fundamentalism, even Singapore understand that, why you think someone has to escape from the toliet and swim to malaysia? you think that is Singapore having no human right? if Uighur really believe China has a human right problem, they would be fighting in China, not going to Syria to fight in a foreign war.

[@moviemakerjo6756]

since 2018 the Uighur population has growth at %8 and %1.2 the national average. don't ask anyone go look at statistics yourself, or visit yourself.

[@AlanXuHK]

When this women mentioned the nonexist social credit score, I lost interest in what she says. It is amazing how ignorant a 'researcher' can be.

[@jye7027]

oh yes!

[@huangzb8060]

The first woman was speaking on behalf of USA.

[@taijistar9052]

They are not speaking for the US at all. They are 100 times more objective! They are just not speaking for CPC!

[@olderchin1558]

It is would more helpful for Singapore to understand its role in the world if it can look itself in the mirror and see who they are. It is then necessary to see the world as it is, instead of the narratives promoted by western media. It will see the hypocrisy and double standards, stop being lead by the nose. LKY and his contemporary were open eyed and strategic. And understand that the media is all powerful in a democracy and is an instrument of manipulation.

[@keyboardmanyoutube3189]

Have to point out that India joining Quad is not for Russia but China… the third space example with India is not accurate at all

[@jye7027]

spot on

[@PahatRout]

It is interesting to note that a comparison was made with the Indian community. Though the colonization of India is a factor but the phycology of Indian community is definitely very different from that of the Chinese. They seem to very very good at managing an on-going organization but they hardly want to start a organization from the bottom.

[@borisbiden8087]

Every nation suffered badly from the detrimental effect of COVID 19. Whether a nation can bounce back and does well is determined by the foresight and will of it's political leadership, its population's resilience, unity, technological and production competence. China has all that and China will come back even stronger than before..

[@thomasho4825]

I really don’t know the host that kind of a one system fits all ideal came from every nation size a different. They have to suit what they have besides, you mention about as long as China has the same system as US then they will be peaceful. That’s totally not true. Look at when they economy goes up rich to 670% of US then the US destroy their industrial knocked them back to 40 years. Don’t you have that kind of knowledge information?

[@yttean98]

Festival of Ideas - Sounds like a positive Engagement for the public and academic and possibly the politicians. In fact, it is nothing more than a Talk Feast. Australia hosts this program on a yearly basis nothing concrete comes out of this talk, it more lucrative for the organiser and talk hosts who are flown in from overseas mainly. The attendees are the ones who fork out the dole. With the internet nowadays one can get these ideas ONLINE free and cut down the travelling time.

[@henryyip1]

this talks accumulate lots of cia brownie points for them

[@zhenqin9864]

"the trade war in 2016"? What happened in 2016 that's been regarded as part of the trade war?

[@pleongv1]

Is this forum about learning English language ?? Why are they talking about speaking good English just like India proud of her language of her masters 🤦‍♂️.. a group of clowns

[@ruifenghuang1029]

Riddle me this China is reaching out to Singapore for dialogue with US but is inserting itself in Middle East affairs. How about Middle East countries can also find their mediating grounds when trying to resolve differences.

[@willsims6748]

The quality of minds is unimpressive

[@chaz4609]

Jai Hind. The fear is a possibility of a new Peloponnesian War between Civilizations rather than between City states. Whatever the future outcome, Ambassador from a Middle Easterner country had stated that unlike the Western Industrialisation, India Shining star and China Rise had been accomplished without exploiting wealth transfer or resources from foreign colonies.

[@oyg5341]

Thanks for sharing information

[@parttimethinker7611]

In my experiences, leadership and change makers are not interchangeable. Many key personnel I have met, known and worked under…the word “No” seemed to be their most popular choice.

[@ruifenghuang1029]

01:06:01, sure most Chinese choose STEM for oversea education but it does not equal to not absorbing Western culture. Such a weird contradiction where China's "overcompetitiveness" is explained through Adam Smith by Quah and right before that the panelist just be like "no culture from West absorbed". Also, is Karl Marx somehow Chinese now or something, or are you refering the "correct" Western culture.

[@lishansu1544]

新加坡什么时候用中文讨论问题？

[@stevec9470]

Singapore has the government system and approach that seems to work well for Chinese , China should learn from it, then China will be truly rise as great superpower for sure. ATM China has all the hardware and industrial capability. It needs to start to work on the soft power, if so it can be a country better than Japan and America as it’s culture is so awesome 🎉

[@jamesho8820]

Singapore (with its Confucian influenced society) has been China's role model for years which it prefers over the US model. Years ago Deng XiaoPing visited SP in person and dreamed that China could follow it.

[@jamesho8820]

There is NOTHING wrong about the Chinese competetiveness in either China or the US. The US Jewish contingent is just as, if not moreso, which is responsible for its affluence and influence in American society. I would argue that the fear of China is ultimately based on its racism against the "Chinaman". The British at one time had an empire in which the "sun never set." They ultimately painfully "kowtowed" to the American empire since WW2. History is now repeating with the rise of China and the fall of the American empire. This is inevitable irrespective of US efforts to prevent it.

[@kooisengchng5283]

Every country has the right to develop to its maximum without interference from anyone.

[@kmthye]

I have followed Jeffery Sachs, Warwick Powell, Richard Wolff, George Goh, Mahbubani Very shallow speakers I am afraid. Embarrassing.

[@zer0L0]

Weak stuff from Chan. Turned off

[@binghuang2359]

Language is a tool for communicating our thoughts between human beings. Human beings' thoughts based on our IQ, education,

[@RolandWong-v7e]

Modi can speak English well, but he speaks Hindi in formal settings. He needs to distance himself from his country's colonial past. You can also ask why the world needs to learn Mandarin. More and more scientific materials are published in Chinese, and scientists in relevant fields who need help understanding Chinese will be left behind as the world decouples. But then there is a superiority complex among those Western-educated.

[@yongmrchen]

The Chinese leaders speaking English question completely ruined the Q&A session.

[@leongang6113]

Stay positive, resource rule😜

[@tomtan220]

Is it too simplistic to predict the future by ability to speak English? My head spins...

[@jeremyt7448]

I find it interesting that Chan Heng Chee gauges economic heft based on GDP in nominal terms. PPP is clearly a better indicator of economic vitality. This is especially so given recent US rate hikes, which buoyed the dollar and hence inflated the US' nominal GDP. That said, she still provides a more balanced view point than Selina, who pretty much just parrots western narratives - even going so far as to speak unironically about memes like the "social credit system". She will need to undergo deradicalization sooner rather than later. Apart from that, Li's lamentations for China's free-wheeling era and the seeming disregard across the panel for China's long-term plans bodes ill for Singapore: thing is, it's clear that China is trying to avoid extreme inequality - they've seen the detrimental effects it's had on western societies. For example, they are popping the property bubble because they understand that if you price out youngsters, you'll end up with far greater problems like people not settling down and starting families, which we see across western cities and in Singapore. That Singaporean elites don't recognize the value in what China is doing portends continued neoliberalism and hence societal decay in Singapore.

[@sword7872]

Regarding the use of English by China, I don't think they would make it a widespread thing. But I am definitely puzzled why the Hong Kongers never really adopted English even when they were a British colony. They are suffering for it now in the sense they want to live in western countries rather than be under china and yet they don't have the English skills to do so.

[@othmanmajid6380]

The standard of English in UK is very low.😊

[@SazalibinkamsirSazali-zu5yo]

im hope they done the Tiece, or Quartet .only. so Less im look in live horse Racing.

[@michaelwang4019]

Loads of mediocre troupe displayed. These are the leading people? Ok then. Nothing to worry about.

[@awjames1121]

War and economics experts suggest that we all just leave usa and china, themselves to challenge each other,,???.. But we suggest that maybe we in asean, can try to break the ice of china and japan, sk, nk, Vietnam, Philippines , help them to sort out their misunderstanding and for we all to has forever peace and prosperity for our region,,,?.

[@pok1pok]

Censorship at 17:15?

[@annieyip2176]

It is rivalry not competition between authoritarian system and democratic system, not China vs US. Yes, China built its own plane but with semiconductor chips and jet engines from the US 😅

[@sweelim5473]

Cold War does not equal they don’t talk to each other!!

[@thomasho4825]

I do not agree what the host was saying how could you stop our country try to improve 1.4 Ben peoples life and to improve the life make them living happily you don’t have to stop and peacefully not go out to colonize anybody he’s trying to tell me you run to mama papa shop and run the big corporation. She used the same system as you run the mama papa shop you gotta be kidding

[@sitanshuchoudhary25d]

Why do I feel like people doing lengthy comments just to prove some China critique wrong and glorify China by picking up just silly things are CCP bots or rather CPC that the bot says.

[@stevey9282]

Answer: it’s NOT, it’s proven!

[@sitanshuchoudhary25d]

@@stevey9282 Maybe just Chinese who love their nation a lot. US wants everyone to become their UK,Canada, Chinese middle kingdom ego won't let them and they shouldn't either.

[@GASIA-cw8iw]

Chinese: A PhD who was unemployed for a few years. Western civilisations: A taxi driver who strike TOTO. 品，慢慢品。 Ha ha ha!

[@chaz4609]

Jai Hind. The neocons had expressed their Wishes for more if not, all Chinese students to study in the US in order to gain Permanent head Damages in the Arts and Humanities.

[@SazalibinkamsirSazali-zu5yo]

im not so clever but dont keep any number from me.if you Leaning this more easy you done and share

[@Chyn1994]

There is still a future

[@mranonymous9034]

Everybody is right? Fuyoooi

[@michaelwang4019]

This young lady is committing plagiarism. She is repeating Mearsheimer without mentioning.

[@lagrangewei]

Mearsheimer doesn't believe in liberalism.

[@kennySg101]

Great insight from the panelists who view china shock from different angles. The chair was viewed as anti-USA interesting for his more balanced view as they differ from western narratives . Frankly, China needs to explain herself better. China is so competitive in EV n battery manufacturing that the western seen as a threat because they just cant compete. Question is should china tone down and give others a chance to catch up as politically the west need to protect jobs.

[@othmanmajid6380]

Politically the West need to grow up.😂

[@lagrangewei]

did US tone down and give China a chance to catch up? you are rather naive to give in to a bullies demand. if US want EV tech, they can take their EUV tech and trade it with China. THEY CHOOSE NOT TO.

[@dng88]

1. I will not replace Hong Kong by Singapore … who will believe any Singaporean saying it. Also it is up to Singapore and Hong Kong. Hence I am not sure how to learn from USA or china saying, especially for some still wolf like speech. No one want war. But it is up to people who talk. 2. G2 is never stable. The original idea is that democracy never fight real wars with another democracy. But china democracy? Also strange the war start European war. Great power even if only two does not work anymore. Ask Israel. 3. 4. It is not America no 1 or not. The key is if Russia is no 2 … if … imagine will USA ask Taiwan to go to war. It did in the past but it was rejected. Hence it is not unimaginable. Hence if china like putin goes to war who can stop it. To repeat who car who is no 1 it is not us. But the key is please no war. Any what is what more likely to have a hot war in pacific place if …

[@two-treeneighbour-zj2xk]

Broken English!

[@kccmd9096]

The first speaker Ambassador Chang? was totally BS! Waste of time!

[@abseil33]

Those who comment here can go form their own forum. 😂

[@freeneasy5906]

That big deal English promoter 😂😂😮, just petty,, not an issue,, 😜😜😂🎉 do not try to prove anything,if u love it, sleep with it,, nobody cares,,, English just another language in an ordinary world 🌎🌍🌍 despite it it's international

[@stevey9282]

It only showed a bias view! Question should be - would us care 💩 about others?! History proven - it care 💩!

[@kmthye]

Boring disjointed Chan

[@henryyip1]

all these years , i've never heard anything of value from her (Chan) all she is good for is being a western stooge