Didier Moretti

#entrepreneur #artist Working on Human History project. Swimmer, kite boarder, avid reader.

[Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand]

I strongly encourage everyone to read the speech that Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's Defence Minister, just gave in Beijing: it's basically the polar opposite of a Hegseth speech - immensely wise and a refreshing proof that thoughtful statecraft still exists.

You can find the speech here: https://t.co/alGUQGK7J4 Below a summary of the best parts of the speech, in my opinion.

Much of the speech addresses the crucial question of the so-called "security dilemma", a key concept in international relations theory whereby one country's efforts to make itself safer almost inevitably make others feel less safe, triggering a spiral where everyone ends up more insecure.

As Chan Chun Sing puts it in his speech: "The true test of statecraft is this: how do we strengthen our own security without weakening the security of others, or without aggravating the insecurity of others?"

He says there are "three fundamental principles worth bearing in mind" in this regard, but that, first and foremost, it raises the question of "what 'winning' means": to him, defining "winning" as "outgunning or outlasting a rival" isn't sensible, it ought to be defined as winning others through the "power of our example", rather than "the example of our power."

It's extremely wise, when you think about it: do you actually "win" if you submit others by force, or do you merely prove that, for now, they simply lack the strength to resist? You've imposed your will, yes, but the principle you've imposed is that the strongest gets his way, and strength is expensive and it wanes.

Chan Chun Sing quotes Mencius, the classic Chinese philosopher, to illustrate this: "Power may compel others to comply. But in the end, it is trust that truly wins others over" (which is a trimmed version of the true original citation: "Those who subdue others by force do not win their hearts; they submit only because their own strength falls short. Those who subdue others by virtue win hearts that are glad and sincerely submissive, as the seventy disciples submitted to Confucius," 以力服人者，非心服也，力不赡也；以德服人者，中心悦而诚服也，如七十子之服孔子也。)

This is very core to Chinese strategic thinking (yes, Chan Chun Sing, as are most Singaporean leaders, is ethnically Chinese): the notion that legitimacy, not force, is the real currency of power.

A state that has to coerce is following the "hegemonic way" (badao, 霸道) - which is brittle and unsustainable. The only sustainable long-term way to lead is the so-called "kingly way" (wangdao, 王道), where others follow you and emulate you voluntarily. Two concepts which incidentally come from Mencius too: "he who uses force while borrowing the name of benevolence is a hegemon (ba); he who practises benevolence through virtue is a true king (wang)."

Concretely, Chan Chun Sing say that states should pursue the following 3 principles to apply this in practice.

First of all, he points out that too many states "externalise domestic issues" as opposed to putting their own house in order. The idea being that a leadership confident at home doesn't need foreign enemies to hold itself together, and can therefore act in its "enlightened long-term interest" abroad. Whereby an insecure one uses foreign policy "for political gain."

No prizes for guessing what country he is referring to here...

The second principle is that "interdependence breeds stability" as opposed to being "a source of vulnerability."

Which makes sense: mutual exposure turns competitors into stakeholders in each other's stability. Cut exposure in the name of "resilience" or "de-risking" and, really, the only thing you've achieved is to make confrontation and conflict cheaper.

Lastly, and this is perhaps the most important principle: "first, do no harm."

Chan Chun Sing again quotes famous Chinese sayings: "turn big problems into small ones, and small ones into nothing" (大事化小，小事化了), which is what happens when there's trust between states, versus "turn small problems into big ones, and make trouble out of nothing" (小事化大，无事生非), which is what happens when there isn't.

The idea is that every unnecessary provocation, every "freedom of navigation" stunt, every gratuitous sanction is a withdrawal from a trust account that is very expensive to fill and, as he says, can be emptied "in a single instant."

Chan Chun Sing ends his speech on what being a “responsible major country” - a key concept in contemporary Chinese international relations - means, and how, "the more responsible major powers are, the less concerned small countries will be."

Besides the above three fundamental principles, he says that "strategic patience" is also crucial, defined as: "Not every capability needs to be advertised; not every advantage needs to be immediately pressed; and not every provocation demands an immediate response."

In other words, true confidence doesn't need to prove itself and restraint is a form of strength: a great power that feels compelled to respond to everything is, in effect, letting its rivals set its agenda. And whoever needs to constantly show force is in fact projecting its own fear that without the show, nobody would believe it.

As Margaret Thatcher once brilliantly put it (I hate to quote her but this is too good): "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

That's it, if you want the rest, I truly encourage you to read the full speech: pure undistilled wisdom, from a man who runs the defence of a country smaller than Los Angeles and obviously understands power far better than the man in charge of the largest military on earth. Which is its own form of tragedy.

[Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63]

A very detailed explanation why Putin can't end this war from a man with a profound knowledge of both Russian history and current realities.

[Didier Moretti @DidierMoretti]

@supressedvoic Free the doctor!

[Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 @AdamKinzinger]

Trump, after having a 90 min phone call with Putin, puts out a truth social that he is considering withdrawing all troops from Germany. Something sinister is going on between them. It’s time for “concerned” Republicans to speak out

[Save Gaza @Alee93ale]

484 days after the kidnapping of Palestinian Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya and accusing him of steadfastness in the hospital for the treatment of children and women, I will not be silent until the doctor returns to his family and city

[sarah @sahouraxo]

Israel killed every single person in this photo in Lebanon.

Every. Single. One.

All journalists.

Targeted and assassinated intentionally.

For reporting the truth from the frontlines.

[Maj. (Ret.) Richard Ojeda @Ojeda4America]

Let me be clear: this SICKENS me. I spent YEARS writing letters to get my interpreters in America because they SAVED OUR LIVES. One of my interpreters was a 15 year old kid. One day, we were working with the Afghan police and he went stone quiet. After we left, I asked him what was wrong. He told me that the Afghan police had just threatened to cut his lips off for helping us. He was FIFTEEN. And he risked EVERYTHING for our soldiers.

[Amber Woods @AmberWoods100]

Ghislaine Maxwell should not be pardoned.
She should be moved back to an appropriate prison to serve the remainder of her term.
Survivors have repeatedly said Maxwell not only participated but was often an architect of their abuse.

[Dr.Faroq🇵🇸🕊️ @dr_faroq25]

It has been successfully forgotten.
I will not stay silent until all media returns to talking about him.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya.

[Martina Navratilova @Martina]

That’s just stupid

[Chris Williamson @CWilliamson44]

Get this guy out of his leadership position and far away from Democratic party

[Aaron Regunberg @AaronRegunberg]

It is simply unacceptable for this man to continue leading — and being a national face of — the Democratic Party. Morally, but also politically. If we want to maximize our chances of defeating MAGA, we need (good) Dem senators to step up and call for new leadership.

[Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan]

The Israelis are carrying out *quadruple-tap* strikes against medics and paramedics. Pure barbarism.

How can you support this @WalshFreedom? How?

[Motasem A Dalloul @AbujomaaGaza]

Holding his shovel and digging the land to set up his tent, he happened to find remains of missing person in Khan Younis.
Specialist teams found out the remains belonged to father of Palestinian journalist Mohammad al Haddad. They found that he was executed before he was buried by the Israeli occupation forces..

[Martina Navratilova @Martina]

Wow…

[MO @Abu_Salah9]

يُعتبر هذا المشهد واحد من أكثر الجرائم رُعباً في كل تاريخ الحروب

لحظة قيام جندي إسرائيلي بقنص سيدة مُسنة في غزة وهي تُمسك بيد حفيدها رافعين الراية البيضاء وبعد أن قام جيش الاحتلال بإعطائهم الأمان للمرور

النسيان جريمة.

[Martina Navratilova @Martina]

Evil regime, evil men hiding behind their religion

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

No taxpayer $$ to Israel.

No Israeli PM in Situation Room.

End occupation.

I am Team America. Trump is obsessed with war in the Middle East.

It's time for a new generation for a new moral direction for Democrats.

[Kate from Kharkiv @BohuslavskaKate]

APPLEBAUM: Trump administration wants to do business with Russia, and war in Ukraine is an obstacle. They treat it like trivial problem that could be solved if Zelenskyy would just step aside.

It’s profound arrogance, ignorance, and hubris all wrapped into one. This is a really big war. It’s a war about European civilization, the same civilization they claim to care about. It’s about sovereignty.

Do Ukrainians not deserve sovereignty? This is illustrative of the deep shallowness of Trump administration and their inability to spend even five minutes trying to understand what these conflicts around the world are actually about.

[Dr.mostafa project🇵🇸𓂆 @MostafaBNaim1]

The released prisoner Muhammad Al-Ramlawi, who received Dr. Abu Safiya at Sde Teiman detention center on the first days of his arrest, said that Abu Safiya appeared to show signs of severe beating, telling them: “They humiliated me and beat me.” He also informed them about the execution of five members of the medical teams in front of him, as well as the abuse and mistreatment that the women present at the hospital were subjected to.
Abu Safiya entrusted Al-Ramlawi—when he learned of his imminent release—with a message to his family, urging them not to “remain silent” and to call on human rights organizations to act for his release.
According to a human rights source, his health condition is “poor and alarming,” as he was held in solitary confinement for several weeks without charge or trial, and without regular access to his lawyer. He has also lost a significant amount of weight and is suffering from severe psychological distress.