China’s Ukraine war stance raises ‘awkward questions’ on territorial integrity

 

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong - China’s Ukraine war stance raises ‘awkward questions’ on territorial integrity

• The prime minister said Russia’s invasion violated principles on territorial integrity and sovereignty that were ‘dear’ to Beijing
• Lee also spoke about Hong Kong businesses planning to move to Singapore, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and efforts to bring civilian rule back to Myanmar

Russia’s war in Ukraine presents China with “awkward questions”, as Moscow’s actions contravene the very principles that Beijing relies on to back up its position on Taiwan, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a dialogue session organised by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, Lee said the conflict could potentially have far-reaching implications across Asia.

For China, the war “presents them with awkward questions because … it violates the principles which the Chinese hold very dear – territorial integrity, sovereignty and non-interference”, he said during the hour-long event.