Singapore’s Kishore Mahbubani calls criticism of his memoir ‘fossilised’ Western views

Singapore’s veteran diplomat denies saying that Lee Kuan Yew was jealous of him over a global magazine ranking

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Kishore Mahbubani speaks at the launch of his memoir “Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir” at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Photo: NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Published: 6:00pm, 21 Aug 2024Updated: 6:14pm, 21 Aug 2024

Kishore Mahbubani, perhaps Singapore’s most storied diplomat, sprang a surprise when he ordered nothing but a strawberry milkshake after sitting down with This Week in Asia to talk about his new memoir, insights into geopolitics and the “fossilised” minds of his critics.

Not only was the milkshake a bold choice for the 75-year-old, who has had coronary artery bypass surgery, but also an undeniably Western drink for the long-time Asia advocate. He explained that he needed the sugar rush for his packed schedule of promotional events for his book, Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir.

In the book, Singapore’s former permanent representative to the United Nations chronicles his time with the international organisation, including his stint as president of the UN Security Council, where he took on the goliaths of the West such as the United States and called out the superpower’s bullying tactics.

Despite his admiration for China following its economic reforms under paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s, Mahbubani believes China is set to go through a “very difficult patch over the next 10 to 20 years” regardless of who wins the November election in the US.

In his interview on Saturday with This Week in Asia, Mahbubani said: “There’s a rock-solid consensus in Washington that the US probably has 10 to 15 years to stop China and so they will go all out. Many in the US have realised that if China becomes the No. 1 economy that they’ve in some ways lost the game.”

He added: “This will be a real test for China.”