UWCSEA Kishore Mahbubani Speaker Series: Bilahari Kausikan
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ธ.ค. 2022
- The first in our new-Singapore focused Kishore Mahbubani Speaker Series: Inform. Innovate. Inspire. Bilahari Kausikan, academic and retired Singaporean diplomat, shares his views on our changing world. From geopolitical developments to human rights challenges, from climate change to political leadership, Mr Kausikan explores real politics from a moral stance.
Well known for his robust opinions, this brief and entertaining talk is followed by a short conversation with Nick Alchin, Head of College at UWCSEA, before answering questions from the live and online audiences.
Unbelievable clarity of thought, and hence clarity of expression, combined vast experience over decades, and massive dose of realism make him a great person to listen to.
Thank you very much to him and you for hosting so we have the opportunity to learn from him.
I have been following him on TH-cam over the last 3-4 yrs.
Please have him again in a few months.
Best regards from India.
Asian man calling china monkey wow so foreigner
Yes he very smart and also high eq
What I like and enjoy is the humour and language in saying difficult things without offending. He is strongly critical but not offensive. Nobody can accuse him of being partisan. Absolutely brilliant speaker. Can listen to him for hours and enjoy every minute.
You should watch more of his interviews and you'll know which side he's on.
Singapore's brand of diplomacy is unique and authentic.
The cowardice of being a dog for the west and pretending not to be one at the same time. The justification by FM to sanction Russia says it all.
Thanks for sharing this! I enjoyed his commentary. Bilahari always has a blunt and refreshing perspective, guaranteed to rub some people the wrong way, but that's a good thing.
I love this exchange. Thank you. 😎
I rem that 8.8, even our 9V flights kena hentah kaki ,others boleh cleared off, WSJC kena...
Very well said, Prof. We need more mindsets n gems like you, sir.
I enjoy his talk and analysis of the world politics
Love him or otherwise. He speaks his mind and the facts as they are.
He mostly talks with Western propaganda rather than facts.
Are there more such Singaporean foreign diplomats like Bilahari K ?. Why SG lack diplomats like Kishore & George Yeo … ?
' There is a false dichotomy in international relations between idealism and realism'. But the way he describes it his idealism looks more like opportunism with a strong nationalistic twist.
I like his frankness on these issues. Great talk
Great lecture
Insightful and funny, this man is admirable.
Krishore is clearly streets ahead in the understanding of geopolitical.
Prof Krishore is well respected as much as every ambassador-at-large like Mr. Bilahari, Tommy koh
You are probably translating your thoughts using a Chinese idiom. Be more open minded .
@Me Please let me kno 🙏what is to what you think is best
@@LanBrian I was referring to @fookcheong Loke. Relax
Whether you agree or not, you have to appreciate his honesty.
Jai Hinduja. Not true when he said that White people are only now killing one another.
Very direct.
yes, very good.
Very balanced presentstion. Contrary to Chinese Propaganda tube Mr Krishore
He is nothing like Kishore. He is teaching the Singapore foreign service?
Jai Hinduja. Rule of Law from the 5Eyes among other things for example, Regime changes of the 7 Ummahs as revealed by General Wesley Clarke.
An Einstein of geopolitics!!
Bilhari has mentioned so many times - 'Agencies'; I don't know who he refers to when he says this...?
Agency refers to your own capacity to make independent decisions. He is not talking about external agencies or other countries.
I am an agent of seriously mull over asia’s influence in the emerging geopolitics of the region. Agency of Feeding a Nation
Kudos to the moderator / host who was sidelined (by a diplomat!) in the Q&A session but who kept his composure and ended the session like a true diplomat.
Bilahari said he is training aspiring diplomats. I hope they do not learn his cynical world view and his occasionally condescending and impolite mannerism.
His years as a diplomat undoubtedly taught him to be cynical and condescending.
@@mariannorton4161 Jeffrey Sachs is a top diplomat, and so was Tommy Koh. They are neither cynical or condescending. Bilahari seems to be impervious to new information with an inflexible mind. To be flexible, he has to be more humble to accommodate new information. I think his dismissive and abrasive manner can do Singapore more harm than good. His concept of neutrality in the China-US tussle is to regurgitate Western argument pieces like debt traps and minority suppression as realities.
@@Time4Peace I'll give you there's a lot he leaves out of his presentation, I don't know it it reflects a closed mind or a cautious tongue. As for diplomats overall, were he to not assert himself in the field, imho, he will be cut off at the knees. Look at Germany's failure to defend themselves as a nation in order to appease the US and EU. I'm not sure they'll survive. He didn't strike me as terribly abrasive, but we all see things from our own filter.
Generally, I am not quite agreeable with Bilahari. The difference I hold is on the question of China regarding President Xi not following the bidding of Deng Xiao Ping. China is a big country. There were many developments and achievements which China has done without making a dime. But China has grown to a stage whereby China can no longer "hide" itself without being notice. Example are the BRai and the conversion of the atolls to island for specific purpose. What you may have suggested is that China should continue to remain subservient like in early years when Chinese merchant ship were searched by US patrol boat in the Indian Ocean, the bombing of Chinese Embassy, the continuous eave dropping of China through the US spy planes. You also mentioned that China is wrong in getting closer with Russia. What is actually wrong with that when the US through its unipolarity is exerting its dominance and hegemony on others including the other big power. The fact that the US is using its unipolarity world dominance and the dollar hegemony by sanctioning big and small countries at its whims speaks volumes that big and small power must come together to break that unipolarity which in my opinion is no good for the progress of other economy.
@@donaldjoseph3903 What is 50 cents. Is it an expression usually used by idiots and morons?
@@Aramsa-Khan U are naive. Hope u grow in wisdom. Pray much, read much and think logically. Don't be hoodwink by propaganda.
On the whole the speech is not bad. Listening to his choice of words and arguments I can see he has a position which is ok.
I have heard the "3 mistakes China made" several times from so-called China experts. I do not expect diplomats in this part of the world really believe these shallow opinions. US has been using all sorts of tariff war, sanctions on China and plays the Taiwan card to provoke China to restrain China's growth. This is very clear.
I like to add some comments on the three mistakes:
1. China no longer kept a low profile - How can it keep a low profile when the GDP by purchasing power already became no. 1 and the GDP nominal some 78% of US be kept secret? Should it stop setting up the space station using its own technology when US rejected China to participate in the old one? Should Huawei keep sales of mobile phones domestically to avoid threatening iPhone sales? Should China stop installing 5G outside of China and continue research on 6G? Should China stop its companies to apply for patents because it already surpassed the US? .... Are you saying that US is either blind or stupid that it does not see China catching up and in some areas surpassed?
2. The West is declining - Yes there are a lot of people writing/saying about this, but are you sure this is the belief of the Chinese government? They have said openly many times they are only competing with itself and no one else. Even so how is this a mistake? It will be a mistake if China becomes complacent. Is there any evidence of complacency?
3. Relationship with Russia - What is the problem? While you may believe "if you are not with me you are against me" others may believe in a society (planet Earth) a better approach is to maintain good relationship with any other party, provided that party is willing. Isn't this your objective within Asean?
There are folks like yourself who love China too much to be objective.. you developed selective visions and hearings.. I saw a video yesterday, a chinese lady already have difficulty breathing from Covid, yet she hasn't forgotten to blame America for her illness.. I feel sorry that so many Chinese people have been brainwashed like you.. it is very sad indeed.
@@donaldjoseph3903 Donald Joseph, re your latest post saying "There are folks like yourself who love China too much to be objective.. you developed selective visions and hearings.. I saw a video yesterday, a chinese lady already have difficulty breathing from Covid, yet she hasn't forgotten to blame America for her illness.. I feel sorry that so many Chinese people have been brainwashed like you.. it is very sad indeed." disappeared when I visited the youtube channel again.
The comments in this thread were merely disagreement with the speaker with regard to "mistakes" made by China. It is like saying one of China's weaknesses is the population is getting old. If you want a debate, state your arguments why those are "weaknesses". Instead your immediate response was "50 cents", personal attacks and now people are "brainwashed". Why? Is it because some of China's achievements were mentioned when making the point China can no longer hide them? So any mention of China's success is stepping on your toes? Who is brainwashed?
U,Okay,Mama
Brilliant speaker, brilliant mind. As a listener, you sense that sincerity, that frankness and honesty of analysis and opinion. Quite unfortunately he didn't reach out to a larger audience who could prod him further and more because you can sense his brilliant mind and broad reservoir of experiences and knowledge. May be the Covid restrictions have restricted a larger participation. Nevertheless who ever listen to his lecture, would be enlightened somewhat
Very thoughtful queries from the students.
He is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker
I find Bilahari's short presentation honest and informative, even though he comes across at some point as cynical. I really hope we can all try to do our best to build a better world, even if it's only 10% better as he said.
I wish to comment on one aspect of his talk relating to a question on Africa.
I am surprised that he suggested that the debt issues of China's infrastructure projects were of China's doing and therefore China has to work on it.
Bilahari must be aware of numerous academic studies done on debt traps of China's. BRI projects in Africa. American Prof Deborah Brautigam researches China's investment in Africa over more than a decade. She debunked allegations of debt traps and associated issues of manpower and corruption.
th-cam.com/video/NTykpVZz2NA/w-d-xo.html
Even Bloomberg, an ardent critic of China, reported China's debt traps in Africa as myths.
th-cam.com/video/_-QDEWwSkP0/w-d-xo.html
The best judgements come from prominent Africans themselves. Just to name two:
Gyude Moore on China in Africa and the positive impacts on Africa.
th-cam.com/video/P5uzxV8ub9k/w-d-xo.html
African Dambisa Moya on China's investment in Africa as compared to aids given by the West:
th-cam.com/video/4Q2aznfmcYU/w-d-xo.html
Some people make up their minds and don't quite know to stay relevant in the modern age, they should keep perusing the truth instead of keep sprouting opinions they formed years ago. Bk is one of those people. They may in fact keep looking at the evidence that supports their theory and ignore those that go against it.
Bilahari is bias.
Mindset & bias intellectual like Tommy Koh … sad bunch of Singaporean diplomats.. Anglo-Saxon / Western values / culture & narratives !
@@timothylie5187 PROVE ME!
56:00 this is real Multi level world ,I suddenly want laught about his theory
Mr. Kausikan has a great insight. Thanks for arranging this session.
And your brain has no inside nor outside!! what happened?!
Toronto
Spore drinks 2 cup of tea
No big nuclear power will use its nuclear arsenal to settle scores. So whether China is with Russia or not does not make any difference. Both have been isolated by the West. The natural tendency is to stay close with each other despite not a happy situation.
Level of professionalism in diplomacy is deteriorating in Singapore with such a diplomatic mindset & having retired be a lecturer at NUS !! Future is not hopeful for Singapore 😢
Just so you know that Mr.Bilahari is NOT a retired lecturer. Is okay if you didn't know but you should know his current research in MENA is not a joke.
Kishore needs no introduction from this US sycophant buried in the indian foreign service of Singapore sadly led by the US sycophant in chief BG. Thankfully the business community is forcing BG not to overstep his innate preferences. BG is a sad reflection of his father. His brother would have made a better leader.
Force to defend our country?!!.c'mon dude! ..I don't even know how to answer that!
I will fight to defend my country, my home, whole -heartedly n unreservedly!.
Russia is a nuclear power country. The world should be thankful to China for being very close to Russia. This is to prevent any desperate situation where Russia needs to use nuclear weapons against the West. This point BK got no insight as compared to Kisshore.
Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Singapore has sanctioned Russia not because we are morally more high-class. We did it under the instruction of daddy American.
Ha ha ha!
Are you a 50 cents? U sould like one.. 😁
No choice, to be one of Asia Financial Centre, you need SWIFT and who controls it？Too bad it is US of A....
@@mmojave
Really?
So, why did China, India, Brazil, México and many other countries refuse to impose sanctions on Russia? (and nothing happened to them)
@@riodejaneiro4793 Didi any country impose sanctions on US when it bombed Iraq,Libya,Kosovo,Syria and Afghanistan to pieces?Let's face it.The world is bipolar and both sides have their allies and no side can claim to be totally righteous!
Absolutely. A dog pretending to be a person.
Bilahari's speeches should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Bilahari behaves like an American government spokesperson.
First time I hear him speak and don't compare him with my hero Kishore mahbubani. He is way way below the level of Kishore. He is definitely anti China without understanding China especially on semi-conductors production. If he don't know and don't understand, then don't comment. The more he glorified the US ,the more he made himself a western bootlicker. He is definitely not nuetral.
He possi,bly has hidden agenda
B.Kausikan’s spectacle is fitted with a very Coloured LENS ….. sad day to have diplomats & NUS lecturer to further pollute the minds of young / future SG diplomats .. 😢
Just from this talk, Bilahari comes through as insensitive and undiplomatic. Besides his getting his facts wrong, he sidelined the moderator without even being aware of it. At least Kalahari should sit down when it came to Q&A, to give respect to the moderator's role to manage the discussion. Instead, the moderator was left sitting there and made to look redundant. It must be a terrible situation for him to be in. Despite being sidelined, he did a good rounding up in a very diplomatic manner.
As an academic, Kilahari should at least get his facts right. For example, the debt trap that China has been accused of has been extensively investigated for a decade or more by researchers (and validated by practitioners) such as Prof Deborah Brautigam. Even Bloomberg admitted that the debt trap criticism is baseless.
I was a bit disappointed by Mr.Kausikan, who is filled with Western ideological biase about China, he not only take the Western propaganda as facts, also repeated irresponsibly the lies about so called debt trap of China investment in Africa, obviously he didn't do any research and listen to what African say about the matter, at the same time he totally ignored the fact that the Africa is still poor with West's centuries long " successful investment".
he said China political system has more fundamental issue than that of the West, well, hasn't the reality proven that he is wrong? China political system successfully and greatly improved the living standards of its people by increasing their income 30-100 times in 30 years while the income in the US has stagnated in the same period of time, China has never stopped reforming its system while the so-called check and balance of Western system has failed terribly.
He also ignored the fact that China's "reputation", especially in globe North, is totally shaped by Anglo-Saxon media's which has monopoly of international media. As a scholar, he seems lack critical thinking skills.
Mr.Mahbuani is a wise man, but this guy's mind has been colonialized by the Western ideolog and propaganda. Lol.
The allegation of debt trap that China has been accused of have been thoroughly researched for a decade and debunked by many academics and practitioners on the ground, e.g. Prof Deborah Brautigam. Even Bloomberg declares it as groundless. He obviously has not bothered to take minutes to google such information to take US propaganda at face value.
23:03 Uncle speaker, Korean and Japan were never conquered by China. They were listed as "non conquer states" by China. Please go back and read more books.
This guy is no Mahbubani.
I am an agent of seriously mull over life without edu in asia’s influence in the emerging geopolitics of the region. Agency of the global community with Singapore at its without a heart, creating unmeaningful connections between members. Seriously? I see where all those comments coming from is an Agency by how I see people hedge against the liberal order
Who is this bs balahi
Bilahari was a very hardworking and effective civil servant in Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a low key individual who worked hard behind the scene as Permanent Secretary ( PS ) MFA
Just a lowly red dot diplomat who think can punch above his weight.
I am amazed how this guy was able to reach high positions in foreign services of the Singaporean government. His analysis is way inferior to those of Kishore, intellectually.
Kishore has a lot of supporters from the CCP propaganda team because he is a China sympathisers. Be more open minded.
@@aave865 I think he is rather an Asian sympathizer which makes a lot of sense as the Asian economy is growing fast.
I am thinking the same thing, his mind filled with Western propaganda.
How is he inferior to Kishore? Does Kishore think that way? Hah! And what does Kishore say… all he says can be summed in a one-liner “US is in definite decline, China is number one.” That’s his only messsge!
You cannot invade your own country
The invasion of Cambodia by Vietnam?
Mr Bilahari Kausikan, tinny Singapore was able to do anything to stop the invasion? Please don't tell me tinny Singapore had sanctioned Vietnam.
Mr Bilahari Kausikan, I'm sure nobody has told you what China did to get Vietnam to get out of Cambodia.
Mr Bilahari Kausikan, if Cambodia is forced to choose side, it will choose China or ASEAN?
Ha ha ha!
singapore was quite paranoid of vietnam back in 1979, they thought vietnam will go rogue and invade other asean countries. but indonesia put some reality check to singapore and thailand back then, that vietnam is not an enemy, but potential friend, they had to invade cambodia because the khmer rogue kept intruding into vietnamese border and killed their citizens. eventually indonesia's role in the third indochina war peace settlement process led to both vietnam and cambodia (and other countries such as laos and myanmar) of joining asean instead. cambodia has never been happier that they joined asean, similarly with vietnam (they never be involved in any war since joining asean).
The speaker is honest but is also biased.
bk is a fake talking rubblish.
he is a past tense talking head.
This kind of school trains kids to become sheep who think in black versus white, good versus evil; thus, Mr Bilahari Kausikan is a good choice as speaker there.
There is a difference between facts and honesty in opinion. He may have formed his opinion based on certain facts. But opinions need not be necessarily agreed with by others. For example, in the opinion of many others, China and Russia have to come together because they are threatened by the containment and hostility of the US and the collective west. Just like the US has to re-establish diplomatic relations with the PRC to counteract the Soviet Union.
Whoever the moderator is, he is like piece of furniture. shud just leave n sit w the audience
Bilahari sidelined him. He made the moderator redundant - something not diplomatic and unexpected of a diplomat.
Now I see. Kishore is not speaking. He intelligently gives the podium to Bihari so the latter can crucify himself with his humorous logic, his high unjustified self esteem and his propensity for verbal diarrhea.
The same idiot that came so close to justifying the murder of Theo Van Gogh by Islam: which judge will justify murder just because one is insulted by another in spite of Islam?
Wonder WHY they ALWAYS make the speaker STAND!!?? This speech is 1.5 HOURS LONG! For Goodness sake, just let them SIT. There are 2 TWO CHAIRS behind him -what for?? Plus, speaker shouldn't keep shuffling around. Very distracting AND... unnecessary.
Clown.
I see many CCP five cents propagandist supporting kishore here.
Not at all. They are realists. In you I see brainwashed US stooge believing in US information and lies. If you had an iota of intelligence you would know that the US has regurgitated lies and disinformation for the longest time. Why should it be true this time because it is China.
@@huangjin800 with your kind of rash and easy to be offended frog in the deepest well mindset, everything your party said must be true. Tell me you are one of them to support our dog whisperer.
@royyvonne Who would believe the white fascist Nazi imperialists from the west anyway, which is what the USA has been for a very long time?
One cannot be an imperialist and claim to be for freedom and democracy at the same time. What a sickness!
? I don't understand why you are all so against CCP. Honestly having closely seen China develop and prosper in last few decade I admire it! Sure it's not perfect, But which government is perfect? especially in Mao's era it was terrible, but then in history US government has slavery, UK has colonialism and so on in the past everyone has dirt on their hands! So it's all about today not too much about history, today China is doing great.
@@roro4787 the faking and theatric used by the CCP to fool it's own people and the world that China is great, strong and a far more superior race piss me off. Absolute "face saving" is another trait in Chinese CCP that goes against modesty that a civilized world should have. In short they are navel gazing and craves for adulation.
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Toronto