Luncheon with
Ambassador-at-Large Bilahari Kausikan,
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore (F)
May 30, 2018

On May 30, 2018, Ambassador-at-Large Bilahari Kausikan, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore addressed GRF and GRF Community members at a luncheon, where he gave a speech entitled “Between “America First” and “China First” How will the Great Power Competition Shape Asia? Is This Competition an Opportunity for Regional Powers or a Threat to Their Independence?” In his speech, Ambassador Kausikan mentioned the existence of a binary fallacy regarding the analyses on the future of East Asia based solely on the power dynamics between US and China. Ambassador Kausikan stated that neither the Trump Presidency nor the growing influence of the Chinese President Xi would cause a cataclysmic change in East Asia. Despite the latest developments in both countries, Ambassador Kausikan argued that the existing power balance in Asia remained mostly intact. Following his speech, Ambassador Kausikan answered the participants’ questions.