7/14/2019 Taipei Times

Lee Teng-hui says his politics

differed from Lee Kuan Yew
By Chen Hui-ping and Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Sun, Mar 29, 2015 - Page 3

Commenting on former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan

Yew (李光耀), former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said that
his belief in democracy is at odds with the founding father of
Singapore’s “Asian values,” which Lee Teng-hui described as
having its roots in the Chinese dynastic system.

According to Lee Teng-hui, Lee Kuan Yew received great support

from former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), who allowed
the Singaporean army to be dispatched to Taiwan for training.

However, Lee Teng-hui said that his and Lee Kuan Yew’s
philosophies differed greatly, adding that he has faith in
democracy and liberty, while Lee Kuan Yew’s “Asian values,”
oversaw a political system in which “a whole family meddles in
politics.”

“We were great friends and of similar ages, but to be honest, he

depended on the Chinese [for support]. I do not feel like reliance
on China is necessary, Taiwan should stand on its own two feet,”
Lee Teng-hui said.

Taiwan struggled for 400 years to achieve self-governance, Lee

Teng-hui said, adding that the hardship the nation edured was his
motivation for taking good care of the country.

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7/14/2019 Taipei Times

Many people survived Japanese colonial rule only to be governed

by the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) regime, which treated
Taiwanese as slaves, Lee Teng-hui said.

The most important attributes Taiwanese possess are freedom

and democracy, values which set Taiwan apart from China, and
definesa human being, he added.

Asked whether Lee Teng-hui would visit Singapore to pay tribute

to his old friend Lee Kuan Yew, his office director Wang Yan-chun
(王燕軍) said that the former president had sent his condolences
via a telegram to the bereaved, after learning from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs that Lee Kuan Yew’s family have declined all
offers of flowers.

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