‘Japan is an "important friend" to Singapore and a key contributor to the region, and Singapore hopes to take the relationship between the two countries further…In our early years, Japanese investment made a lot of difference to our economy….’ Hsien Loong said these in Tokyo.
He was polite not to mention that much earlier, in the 1940s, Japan invaded and conquered Singapore, colonized Singapore, and massacred hundreds of Singaporeans during the Occupation. But that was too long ago and Singaporeans have gotten that Singapore was once Syonan To, and many were forced to learn Japanese and to bow to Japanese or be slapped or kicked or even bayoneted.
During this 4 day official visit Japan had in a way apologised indirectly by giving a posthumous award to ‘the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew – the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulow nia Flowers - an award Mr Lee described as "a great honour".’ Hsien Loong and Ho Ching were also given an audience with the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and had tea with them. This is another rare honour.
With improving relations between the two countries, maybe the next person to be given a posthumous award in the same Order would be past President SR Nathan. Maybe next year.
23 comments:
Japan actually gave S'pore billions of dollars in the 1960s & 1970s as donations for industrial development e.g. Jurong, industrial parks, factories, land clearing, highway infrastructure, education. Up till the late 1990s, Japan still co-funded IT & technology diploma training in S'pore Polytechnic. Special relationship between Old Fart & Prata Man with the Japs.
Would the Japanese erect some Singaporean war heroes in the Yasukuni Shrine to attract Singaporean tourists to pay their respect?
/// Japan actually gave S'pore billions of dollars in the 1960s & 1970s as donations for industrial development e.g. Jurong, industrial parks, factories, land clearing, highway infrastructure, education. ///
September 28, 2016 11:21 am
Are you saying Singapore and Singaporeans benefited economically from the massacre of 30,000 Singaporeans in World War Two?
He was polite not to mention that much earlier, in the 1940s, Japan invaded and conquered Singapore, colonized Singapore, and massacred hundreds of Singaporeans during the Occupation.
RB
Mention got use or not? If not, why mention?
Join opposition to fight PAP got use or not? if not, why join? Why fight? Why want to be Presidential candidate if not PAP endorsed?
Irony part is that Singapore feel offended and disgust over naming of Indonesia navy ship after executed commando.
Singapore tend to forgive Japan even though they always pay high profile visit to War crime shrine and deny their atrocities.
Singapore blame China , Korea for holding grudge against Japan. This led to tension in East Asia. Singapore did not blame Japan at all.
Singapore had repeatedly defend Japan record by propagating their lies that Japan had offer apologies many times.
Chinese people should feel grateful that Japan give aid ,loan, investment to them.
without mentioning that it was Japan who bombed their nation into ashes. It was Japan who destroy their prosperity. Japan did not pay war reparation to them , unlike Germany did in WW1 and WW2.
HanJian ( the translator) must suppressed the truth.
Hanjian ( the translator) only remind people about "evil neighbors" in the north and south.
Hanjian still talking " bullying tactic " by these evil neighbor.
Hanjian blame China and SK to brainwash people about Japan bullying.-atrocities.
If Singapore and Japan really enjoy good relationship, there are no reason why Singapore can't ask Japan to build a Memorial for Sook Ching victims.
There are no reason why Singapore cant ask Japan to teach their people about Sook ching massacre.
There are no reason why Singapore cant mention about Sook Ching massacre and other unknown massacre ( yet to be discovered in Singapore) in front of Japan.
Sinkie Chinese are a special breed.
They are not 'hanjian' per se and neither are they 'Han' in character.
Soka(日本教) Members in Sin are almost all Sinkie Chinese
How to expect them to remember the
Massacre and Torture of millions of Chinese by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II?
And by the Way, those Sinkies working for the Japanese Imperial Army were chosen by Sinkies to be Founding Father and President of Sin.
What else can we say?
patriot
If you want a Sook Ching memorial, you are opening fresh memories and wounds.
So change to Ho Ching Memorial. More appropriate.
What you expect from SIN Sinkies???
Wat kuak chia kuak wah arr chai art.
Just like the Taiwanese.
The west armed and trained the japs to do all those evils. Hope the Japs not so stupid and still continue to listen to them.
Walou. China is going to be pissed off with such a close tie, some more with a such big title given.
The money given to Singapore in the 60's and 70's were for industrial development of Jurong Industrial Estate, which also benefitted many Japanese factories there at that time.
There was this scheme called pioneer industries scheme whereby the Japanese and many other foreign factories enjoyed 10 years of tax free status. Many of them took advantage of the low labour cost and many moved out after the tax holiday expired. What happened to Jurong Industrial Estate in the later years is because of this.
In Malaysia, there was this joint venture with Proton where the Japs were supposed to pass on the car development technology to the Malaysians that never materialised. The Japs enjoyed the initial low labour cost without passing on the skills and the Malaysians eventually look to the South Koreans. There is always lots of strings attached when the Japs offer help, just like the PAP.
So are we going to have military exercise with the Japs and American
in the SCS.
Maybe joint patrols in the SCS.
@ September 28, 2016 1:55 pm
Satire
----------
Is it fair to dedicate the Ho Ching Memorial to our "locked up" CPF money?
Emperor Hirohito was the number one Class A War Criminal. He gave direct instructions to Japanese military personnels to conduct scorch earth policy warfare against China and the Chinese people. His instructions to his army, kill all, burn all and loot all. He directly instituted chemical warfare, germ warfare and biological warfare under the UNIT 731 which caused the death and suffering of millions of Chinese. Hirohito's descendants and all Japanese politicians are stained with the guilt of Chinese blood. They have not yet been brought to justice and their blood debt to the Chinese has not been paid yet. Any Chinese who fawn on the Japanese for personal gain is a traitor to the Chinese and he and his descendants must face pay back one day. I sincerely hope Japan will be obliterated from the earth with a hundred or more atomic bombs to erase its menace to mankind forever.
Want to know more details of the evil UNIT 731, go to Google - Type in Japanese UNIT 731
/// Any Chinese who fawn on the Japanese for personal gain is a traitor to the Chinese and he and his descendants must face pay back one day. ///
September 28, 2016 5:12 pm
What's wrong with collecting more money?
What's wrong if sinkies
choose
to fawn japenis
and
americunt ?
Is it lan cheow or loong cheow?
We are all living in a Backwards Society. Why I say that? It is because of the following
glaring facts:
1. Governments destroy Freedom.
2. Media destroy Information.
3. Doctors destroy Health.
4. Universities destroy Knowledge.
5. Police destroy Law and Order.
6. Lawyers destroy Truth, Trust and Reliability.
7. Judges destroy Justice, Fairness and Common Sense.
8. Accountants destroy Truth and Transparency.
9. Bankers destroy Honesty and Integrity.
10. Politicians destroy Leadership, Morality and Social Harmony.
By Intelligencecubed 2016
Just to add Intelligencecubed
PASTORS betrayed God and have skimpy dancers danced around the golden calf.
The Ten Commandments gonna throw at the sinners of SIN soon.
Hi Intelligencecubed, welcome to the blog. What a lot of contradictions but so true.
I think I have welcomed EarlyBird here earlier.
Both are welcome and all are welcome. The more the better.
Me think LHL is walking himself into the edge of the cliff by cuddling so closely to US and Japan . just yesterday the Global Times screwed Singapore for trying to raise SCS issue during the NAM summit. Today ST's headline LHL welcomes Japan's activism in the region will definitely raise some ruckus again with China.
After so many years in office, still a novice in handling relations with US and China compare to his father
With the mediocre Vivian Bala (who blew the YOG budget) as FM, Singapore's foreign relations will likely face headwinds ahead, with a pivot away from China and towards India . . .
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