Lee Kuan Yew

Former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew says China is unlikely to challenge the U.S.' military supremacy in the near future.

Speaking at the 17th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo, Lee said China's military buildup "is an inevitable development which the civilian government has to find accommodating because the military leadership will not be satisfied with growth only for the civilian side," according to Channel News Asia.

"So, we must accept China will want to have an army, navy, air force equal to its status as an economic power. That is something unavoidable," he added. "But I do not believe it can challenge the Americans in its technological capabilities for a very long time."

The conference was attended by a number of Asian leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Lee (89), seen as the father of modern Singapore, recently relinquished his honorary post of "minister mentor" but remains a member of parliament.