SINGAPORE: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said it is clear that Taiwan should not try to achieve independence from China.

He added that Taiwanese leaders are to be blamed for the belief of some people in Taiwan that they can be independent.

Even the American and Japanese leaders, he noted, have publicly declared they do not support an independent Taiwan.

Mr Lee made these points at an hour-long question-and-answer session at a conference organised by Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies on Friday.

Elaborating on his view, Mr Lee said the Taiwanese have this belief partly because they are isolated as visa problems mean they are not able to travel freely. As a result, they do not understand the reality of the new China that has emerged following the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's open door policy.

"So it's not on. Yet, they're going on two elections deceiving the people that this is possible and the people fondly hope that it can be done. And I've met the leaders so I said to them, why not leave it and let history decide. If China keeps on growing and becomes the world's number two in 30 years and equal to America in 50 to 60 years, well, that settles it, you better join the economy and prosper with them," said the minister mentor. - CNA/ac