Singapore was to change leaders for the first time in 14 years yesterday, swearing in Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) as prime minister after a carefully orchestrated succession process seen as key to the city-state's economic success.
The 52-year-old son of independence leader Lee Kuan Yew (
Outgoing Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (
Lee Kuan Yew -- the country's first prime minister -- will become an adviser with the custom-made title of minister mentor.
Violence and divisive political campaigning characterize many of Asia's electoral contests but political transitions in this affluent city-state, which marked its 39th independence day on Monday, have always been well planned.
Despite criticism about a lack of democracy here, the process has resulted in a stable political climate and continuity of government policies -- key factors which have attracted 6,000 multinational corporations to base their businesses in Singapore.
"This political transition is so well orchestrated with the goal of continuity in mind," said regional economist Song Seng Wun of GK Goh brokerage.
"It's been so well anticipated that I will be surprised if there will be any impact on policies."
Lee is a British-educated former brigadier general who has long been groomed to lead Singapore after growing up in the shadow of his authoritarian father.
He was a key player in Goh's Cabinet, holding the post of finance minister and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the central bank, in addition to his post as one of two deputy prime ministers.
President S.R. Nathan was to deliver a speech at the televised ceremony at the Istana, which was once the residence of Singapore's British governors and now houses the offices of the president and prime minister.
Chief Justice Yong Pung How was to then swear in the new prime minister, according to one of Lee's aides. Goh, 63, was to be sworn into his new post after that.
Lee Kuan Yew, who turns 81 next month, was to then take the oath for his new position as a counsellor to the new generation of leaders. He had also taken the title of senior minister when he stepped down in 1990 in favor of Goh.
Deputy prime ministers Tony Tan, 64, who will retain his post until retiring in June next year, and S. Jayakumar, 65, the outgoing foreign minister, were also to take their oaths, followed by the rest of the Cabinet.
Lee Kuan Yew paid tribute to his former protege Goh in a statement carried by local media yesterday.
"He has done well for all of us. I am proud and happy that I was a member of his team. We worked well together," Lee said.
PLA MANEUVERS: Although Beijing has yet to formally announce military drills, its coast guard vessels have been spotted near and around Taiwan since Friday The Taiwanese military is on high alert and is closely monitoring the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) air and naval deployments after Beijing yesterday reserved seven airspace areas east of its Zhejiang and Fujian provinces through Wednesday. Beijing’s action was perceived as a precursor to a potential third “Joint Sword” military exercise, which national security experts said the PLA could launch following President William Lai’s (賴清德) state visits to the nation’s three Pacific allies and stopovers in Hawaii and Guam last week. Unlike the Joint Sword military exercises in May and October, when Beijing provided detailed information about the affected areas, it
CHINA: The activities come amid speculation that Beijing might launch military exercises in response to Lai’s recent visit to Pacific allies The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said China had nearly doubled the number of its warships operating around the nation in the previous 24 hours, ahead of what security sources expect would be a new round of war games. China’s military activities come amid speculation Beijing might organize military drills around the nation in response to President William Lai’s (賴清德) recent visit to Pacific allies, including stops in Hawaii and Guam, a US territory. Lai returned from the week-long trip on Friday night. Beijing has held two rounds of war games around Taiwan this year, and sends ships and military planes
Five flights have been arranged to help nearly 2,000 Taiwanese tourists return home from Okinawa after being stranded due to cruise ship maintenance issues, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced yesterday. China Airlines Ltd (中華航空), and EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) have arranged five flights with a total of 748 additional seats to transport 1,857 passengers from the MSC Bellissima back to Taiwan, the ministry said. The flights have been scheduled for yesterday and today by the Civil Aviation Administration, with the cruise operator covering all associated costs. The MSC Bellissima, carrying 4,341 passengers, departed from Keelung on Wednesday last week for Okinawa,
US president-elect Donald Trump said he would “never say” if Washington is committed to defending Taiwan from China, but “I would prefer that they do not do it [ an attack],” adding that he has a “good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). “I never say because I have to negotiate things, right?” Trump said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker after saying he would not reveal his incoming administration’s stance on Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. Asked the question again, Trump, in a reference to China, said: “I would prefer that they
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