[News] Straits Times among 10 brands

bigsale · Nov 7th, 09, 09:00 AM

BEIJING - THE recent uproar among Chinese netizens over Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's call for the United States to remain engaged in Asia to balance China is 'normal', the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

It will not affect the bilateral mood ahead of President Hu Jintao's state visit to Singapore next week, the ministry suggested.

'Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is a renowned statesman, and also an old friend of China's,' Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue told reporters at a briefing on Mr Hu's trips to Malaysia and Singapore, where he will also attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

'I believe he has expressed his own views on international issues regularly. It is not surprising to see all kinds of comments on his views appearing in the newspapers. That is normal.'

Appearing to read from a script, he added: 'The Chinese government does not have any special comment on this issue.'

In a keynote address delivered at the US-Asean Business Council's 25th anniversary dinner in Washington on Oct 27, MM Lee had said: 'The size of China makes it impossible for the rest of Asia, including Japan and India, to match it in weight and capacity in about 20 to 30 years. So we need America to strike a balance.'

MMs remarks normal