since he took office last month. he said a new era of american greatness was beginning, and he spoke of the renewal of the american spirit. he said he will be asking congress to approve a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure. president trump said his administration would improve vetting procedures to check who should be allowed into the us. he called for a switch away from the current system of lower—skilled immigration and instead adopt a merit—based system to improve security and job prospects for americans. mr trump also called on congress to help him replace obamacare — his predecessor's health insurance scheme — with reforms that he said would expand choice, lower cost and provide better care. the republican party is divided over the issue but its leaders say they will table a plan in march. democrats say it would reduce the number of americans covered. welcome to hardtalk from singapore.

i stephen sackur. this citystate is one of the remarkable economic success one of the remarkable economic success stories of the past 50 yea rs. success stories of the past 50 years. but storm clouds are gathering over singapore. president trump is challenging assumptions about free trade and traditional security alliances in asia. i have an exclusive interview with the prime minister of singapore, lee hsien loong. is singapore feeling vulnerable? prime minister lee hsien loong,

welcome to hardtalk. let's start with the international political climate. donald trump is now president of the united states and he talks about protectionism, ripping up trade deals that have been bad for america. how dangerous is this new political climate for singapore. we are watching it very carefully. we of all countries depend most on trade, our gdp on foreign trade is the highest in the world, we have free trade agreements with many countries including the us. we are dependent on the system which america has built and upheld to maintain an open, global

intercourse of trade, commerce, investment, finances, which have prospered most country most of the time. there is a new mood in america and president trump reflects that and president trump reflects that and we have to watch carefully what policies he pursues. when he says the globalised trading system has led to the greatestjob theft in the history of the world? there are many views on that. in singapore, it has not done that to us. in america, many american companies have prospered because they are all over the world with a base in america. i think the president reflects a new idea. worried? alarmed? it depends on what he does. the campaign rhetoric is likely always overheated. when they confront the

realities and have to make the choice is... but one key act he has taken is to walk america away from the transpacific partnership, a deal which singapore was very much a part of. now the americans want nope part of. now the americans want nope part of it. we were disappointed by that because we spent a long time negotiating it. it was carefully balanced and americans bargained ha rd balanced and americans bargained hard as it did the other countries and we felt, singapore or in particular, felt it was important not just economically, particular, felt it was important notjust economically, but also strategically because it an deep and america's engagement in asia and gave a rationale for america to take a close interest in asia and tried to make things work out well in asia. what signal doesn't send about america's feelings about its engagement with asia? it shows on

this issue mr trump was following through on his campaign rhetoric but ido through on his campaign rhetoric but i do not believe the administration is going to pull back from asia or the world. he said he once a muscular engagement and we will have to see what that means. your words from last autumn, just before trump won the election, he said that if the united states went back on the tpp trade deal, how would anyone believe in the americans any more? he said it was notjust about trade but strategic issues as well. america is a reality, it is still a great power and think this has put a dent in the degree to which people can be confident of america's policies but it has happened and we have to live with that. some other signatories of the tpp, thinking of

australia and new zealand, said they would not rule out moving ahead without the united states. injapan it seems a nonstarter. how is it viewed in singapore? 12 -1 and consensus, singapore would sign. whether that happens, i am not sure because the japanese in particular made very painful concessions in exchange for american concessions. and if you have a deal with america is not party, and think the political and economic balance has shifted so i would not rule it out but i do not think it is so easy to achieve. we talked about uncertainty in washington but there is also uncertainty in your relationship with beijing. going back to your father, you have sought strong relationships with the us and beijing. but you have some major

problems symbolised recently when the chinese and pounded some of your vehicles when they were in an exercise in taiwan. i would not say we have major problems but we have some issues and some incidents. i think military vehicles were an incident which happened to both of us. incident which happened to both of us. it suggested a lack of trust. well, it is a delicate matterfor both sides. there has been a satisfactory outcome. to put it blu ntly, satisfactory outcome. to put it bluntly, the chinese are furious with some policy decisions you have made, not least your support to the court of arbitration backing of the philippines in a dispute in the south china sea. the chinese feel you are betraying a friendship. no, i think you miss paraphrase me. i did not strongly support the courts ruling. what i said was the court

made a strong statement and that was a difference. let's be clear... the chinese do not accept it, the filipino do but it was a ruling in which was set in very strong terms. who has just as on its side the chinese... we respect international courts decisions. decisions are made and they can be scrutinised, examined, scrutinise. our interest isa examined, scrutinise. our interest is a freedom of navigation, rule of international law and also the cohesion and the relevance of our city. from the beijing point of view, your decision during the obama administration to sign a deeper defence agreement with the americans and to the chinese that looks like a statement of intent which works against their interests. we have had

this relationship with the us for a long time. we buy military equipment from them, we train there, and for more than 30 years we have had... rehab posted american aircraft and ships in the region which passed through and stop in singapore and we think it is the right thing for us to do because we believe that the american presence in the region is positive for the region and the security presence is positive for the region. it has brought about stability, it has enabled countries to prosper and compete peacefully and therefore we believe it is in oui’ and therefore we believe it is in our interest to be friendly with the americans. with rising tension in the region and donald trump talking about a new america first policy and we have discussed the protectionist

element things are getting difficult for singapore? if our relationships become very difficult, our position becomes tougher because we will be called to choose between being friends with america and france with china and that is a real worry. right now we are friends with both. it is not that we do not have issues with either but we are generally france with both and relations are in good working order. do you believe beijing— washington relations are in danger of deteriorating? relations always require close attention on both sides and i shot that the chinese sides and i shot that the chinese side know that an i hope the american side will have that attention because on the american side you have many other issues to worry about— the middle east, the ukraine, latin america. unless you focus on these relationship both the

win—win issues and areas of contention is can go wrong. you mentioned europe, the looming prospect of brexit, when you look at the united kingdom as a place to do business as a trading and investment partner, from your point of view, has brexit strengthened or weakened the uk? well, we have no vote on this. from our point of view we think that brexit weakens the eu, we are not sure its strength as the uk. you can make a living, you will not starve outside the eu but it is an enormous market on your doorstep and you cannot avoid doing this is where the and you may not have strengthened your influence. this is what foreign secretary borisjohnson said recently, let's understand what we're dealing with here, the world

is not see britain through the prism of being a member of the european union. the nations of the world see and respect written as a major power in its own right. looking from singapore, and you think that is true? singapore is a small country. we are trying to make away in the world and we find it and essential that we are part of a regional a/c an which is not as ambitious —— asean, it is not as big and it is oui’ asean, it is not as big and it is our life raft and he gives your voice a bigger voice in the world. britain now is very eager to begin work on very far reaching bilateral trade deals and obviously is an important trading nation in the

world they are looking at singapore. you in negotiations? we are not in negotiations but we would be willing and happy to do that. i think you have many countries with which to do deals, starting with the united states. you have to do that. but the fa ct states. you have to do that. but the fact is, you are doing it on your road. there is an active debate in the uk about how this trade bilateral deals should be done and what values should be brought to bear— for example opposition figures say if we are going out to countries around the world looking for referential trade deals, we must not and cannot turn a blind eye to human rights issues, abuses, violations, in the pursuit of sweetheart trade deals. some have mentioned singapore. this is what tim farron, the leader of the liberal democrats in the uk said, he said, " if in the uk said, he said, "if we're to seek a deal

with singapore, theresa may, the prime minister, must raise issues of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in any trade talks with singapore". how do you respond to that? i don't see you being restrained in asking me any questions. no, i'm not but that's not really the point is it? the point is whether you would be prepared to offer guarantees on your treatment of the press at home, here in singapore? whether you would be prepared to talk about wider freedoms for the press in this country? i would not presume to tell you how your press council should operate, why should you presume to tell me how my country should run? we are completely open, we have one of the fastest internet accesses in the world — we have no great wall of the internet, you can get any site in the world you wish. so where's the restriction? so where's the restriction? so if the government of britain we re so if the government of britain were to make linkages between a trade deal and seeking guarantees about human rights, press freedoms, workers' rights, demonstrators' rights in this country, your reaction would be?

i would wait to react until i see it. you look at the americans; they don't lack fervour in moral causes. they promote democracy, freedom of speech, women's rights, 93v freedom of speech, women's rights, gay rights, sometimes even transgender rights. but you don't see them applying that universally across the world with all their allies. yes, they do it when the cost is low, and then they can take a high position. you look at some of the most important oil producers in the world —do important oil producers in the world — do they conform? have they been pressured? you have to do business. the world is a diverse place, nobody has a monopoly on virtue or wisdom. and unless we can accept that and we prosper together and we prosper together and cooperate together, accepting our differences. differences in values, differences in outlooks, differences in outlooks, differences even in what we see as goals of life to be.

i think it becomes difficult. let's, if we may, spend a little bit of time thinking about the values represented in singapore. it is a democracy. i think you're proud of your democracy, and yet the reality is that there has been one party in power, the party that your father founded, and was the central figure within,1—party founded, and was the central figure within, 1—party rule ever since the independence of singapore. most people in the west would say that for a really active, successful democracy, you need a powerful opposition that has the very real prospect of winning power. that you don't have that in this country. prospect of winning power. that you don't have that in this countrylj would don't have that in this country.” would not say it is 1—party rule. the government has only belong to one party, but there are many parties in singapore. but prime minister, you know as well as i do, that the number of opposition mps in your parliament are just a handful.

in fact, you have had to pass a law to guarantee them positions because otherwise there would be virtually none. there are now six elected, three unelected. 0ut none. there are now six elected, three unelected. out of 100 and something. about 80 plus. and then we are going to increase the number to 12. but really it is the workings ofa to 12. but really it is the workings of a democratic system. the population voted. they preferred pap candidates to become member ‘s parliament. they chose the pap to govern them, and govern well. as long as that happens, i can have that outcome in government. as long as the government stops functioning oi’ as the government stops functioning or if as the government stops functioning orifi as the government stops functioning or if i have a member of parliament that does not fulfil his duties and loses his voters' confidence, the situation will change overnight. loses his voters' confidence, the situation will change overnightm is open. well, your country is so openin is open. well, your country is so open in terms of its economy, but so not open in some other ways. i mean... just because the voters have

voted for me and my party does not mean we are not open. weathermen. look at the realities. you have an internal security act that allows people to be locked up without charge or trial. the only people we have locked up like that in recent decades are extremist. you have also taken legal action against teenage bloggers for things they have written online. you have human rights watch saying prime minister lee is ruling absolutely over dissenting voices, that was the hallmark of his father. if it was such a miserable place, you would not be interviewing me. you would be going down the street and getting vox going down the street and getting vox pops and all sorts of people would be seen terrible things about their government. and some of them would have emigrated, but the fact is, the singaporeans are happy. they have chosen this government. we are governing the country and the people to the best of our ability. and millions more would like to come in, if we allow them. let's talk

symbols, then. about the identity of singapore today and what you wanted to look like in the years to come. there has been a lot of discussion, shall i say, inside the citystate about your oppressive law on homosexuality. it is still technically illegal, things to statute number 377a, for two consenting male adults to have sex. it isa consenting male adults to have sex. it is a criminal offence. now i know that the singapore judicial authorities choose not to prosecute them for doing it, but why not as a symbol of change in this country, it get that off the statute book?m symbol of change in this country, it get that off the statute book? it is a matter of society values. we inherited this from british victorian attitudes. and i am sure you do not want singapore today to reflect british victorian values. we

are not british or victorian. this isa are not british or victorian. this is a society that is not liberal on these matters. attitudes have changed but i believe that if we had a referendum on the issue today, 377a would stand. the majority of singaporeans... you have been in power for singaporeans... you have been in powerfor more singaporeans... you have been in power for more than 12 years yourself. is it not your role as a leader to signal to your people that singapore can and must adapt to changing social mores? on social moral issues, i think the government's role is not to leave. it is government's role is not to leave. itis— government's role is not to leave. it is — people believe this, some fervently, it is a vexed issue in every society. let me ask you personally. i don't wish to sound rude in any way, but... you never are... if any of your children or grandchildren wague, would that change your perspective? would you then think it were acceptable for

people to be criminal eyes in this way? —— were gay. people to be criminal eyes in this way? -- were gay. i think it is a law that is there. if i remove it, i would not remove the problem, because if you look at what has happened in the west, and in britain you decriminalised it in the 1960s, your attitudes have changed a long way, but even now, gay marriage is contentious. in america, it is very contentious. in america, it is very contentious. even in france, in paris, they have had demonstrations in the streets against gay marriage. but what is your personal view? which you like to get rid of 377a? my which you like to get rid of 377a? my personal view is that if i do not have a problem, this is an uneasy compromise, and i am prepared to live with it until social attitudes change. we are also almost out of time. a few questions on singapore's future and its future leadership. in 2008, you gave an interview where

you indicated that you did not think singapore was ready for a muslim, non— chinese premise. do you still feel that they? i think that ethnic considerations are never absent when people vote. —— think that today. in singapore, it is better than before, but race and religion count. and i think that makes it difficult. it is not impossible. and i hope one day it will happen. and you don't think singapore is ready to they?“ it will happen. and you don't think singapore is ready to they? if you askedit singapore is ready to they? if you asked it to happen tomorrow, i don't think so. should the situation arise, one person who could be considered would be tharman shanmugaratnam. a lot of singapore is the as the best qualified person to be the next prime minister. my

senseis to be the next prime minister. my sense is that singaporean voters will look for a good man, a man who can resonate with them. a man they can resonate with them. a man they can identify with. could it be tharman shanmugaratnam? can identify with. could it be tharman shanmugaratnam7m can identify with. could it be tharman shanmugaratnam? it could be someone tharman shanmugaratnam? it could be someone like tharman shanmugaratnam. but these are factors which voters ta ke but these are factors which voters take into consideration when they go into the ballot box and when they identify with them. and i think there are very few countries where you can say their race does not count at all. that is race. but we should talk about names. it is the matter is that singapore, your father led this country for more than 30 years. you have let it fall more than 12 years. —— led to it. do you think it will be difficult for singapore to move beyond the lee family? —— led it? singapore to move beyond the lee

family? -- led it? that is a mortal. i will have to hand over the role of prime minister. prime minister, again, this is personal, but you did have a health scare last year. two yea rs have a health scare last year. two years ago. yes. you recovered and we all understand that you are feeling well. do you intend to go on and on? know i do not. i said many times. well. do you intend to go on and on? knowl do not. i said many times. so tell me about the succession. your father always said that organising the succession is crucial. and i think you have said that too. so how will that were? it is a difficult job. i've assembled a team ofjunior ministers. and amongst them, they are able people they can work together, and need to build a team, and build the trust of singapore lacked singaporeans, and amongst themselves, they must throw up and acknowledge and support a leader. will you pick that person?” acknowledge and support a leader. will you pick that person? i cannot be that person. they must decide who

they will work for. if i pick the leader and they don't support them, it will become something like the albert victorian museum. that is the end of singapore. prime minister lease and long, thank you for joining us. thank you very much -- prime minister lee hsien loong. hello. there was a bright enough start to the day across eastern parts of the british isles on tuesday, but it didn't last, did it, because we were driving belts of weather down from the western side of scotland ever further towards the south and east. low pressure very much the dominant feature, and there's obviously something waiting in the wings just to the west of us. and that doesn't arrive just in time to stop the temperatures dribbling away again, it'll be a chilly start for wednesday. some wintry showers across the north

of scotland, watch out for some ice here as well. but if you can avoid the showers, there's plenty of sunshine to be had across the north of britain, things changing quite markedly, though, as we get on into the afternoon, across the southern parts of both england and wales, where it is turning increasingly wet, and eventually, really very windy indeed. so some detail for the middle part of the afternoon. there is that combinations of sunny spells and showers. quite a noticeable wind, but this time, unlike tuesday, coming from the west rather than the north. so it might feel a tad milder, but not much. temperatures five, six, or seven degrees. plenty of sunshine there, with a mixture of showers across the north of england, clouding up eventually across the southern and western parts of northern ireland. the midlands hanging on to some sunshine. i'm afraid that's not going to be the case across southern england and wales, where that band of cloud that i showed you eventually rocks up, producing some heavy rain. but it is the strength of the wind that may cause some real concerns. some of those gusts at least to gale—force, i would have thought, across the exposed parts of both southern england and wales. and as we push that belt of rain further north and it moves

into higher ground, well, you know, the intensity of the snow might cause a problem across the highest ground and across the high—level routes. so that combination could cause some disruption to your travel plans overnight wednesday. come thursday, less in the way of rain to speak of, initially, with the old weather front driving its way a little further to the north. a little bit of sunshine around until late in the day. some uncertainty about this feature, but we suspect that something will run in on that noticeable wind into the western side of wales. some rain, and some hill snow, yet again. but a half decent day on thursday. oh that that were the case on friday. it probably won't be in the south again, as this area of low pressure will throw its weather fronts ever further towards the north. again, the pace of advance open to some conjecture at the moment. but we think that will be the major player of the weekend, sitting very close by to the british isles through saturday, and, indeed, on into sunday. and it will be perhaps the northern part of scotland and the northern parts of ireland at times that will see the best of the weather. but the general theme of the weekend is a bit of cloud around and a few

spells of rain. take care. hello, you're watching bbc world news. i'm adnan nawaz. our top story this hour: a rallying call to the american people. in his first address to congress, president trump declares the time for small thinking is over. he called for a merit—based system of immigration and extreme vetting to prevent terrorists entering the united states. isa is a new national pride is sweeping across our nation, and a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp. —— a new national pride. welcome to the programme. our other main story this hour: two women have been formally charged in malaysia with murdering the half—brother of north korean leader kimjong—un. i'm sally bundock.

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