because he is ethnic Indian, but he is a Singaporean through and through, and he is a realist through and through. In fact,some Singaporeans also felt uncomfortable with him because his point of view contradict Singapore's position.

Respect isn't the same as flattery. If Indians mistook flattery for respect, then they will buy into western flattery that India is ready to take on China today, and that's why we see the rise in tension today. Many indians who never been abroad think that India is more advanced than China.