Singapore strives to remain equidistant amid US-China rivalry: ‘same-same but different’

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AdvertisementSingaporeThis Week in AsiaPoliticsSingapore strives to remain equidistant amid US-China rivalry: ‘same-same but different’

Foreign minister says the city state must assert its distinctiveness to remain relevant and will not act as a proxy for any major power

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Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said Singapore will not act as a proxy for any major power and that it must be prepared to “courteously stand up and say no”. Photo: Xinhua

Jean IauSingapore’s long-standing effort to stay equidistant between the United States and China is entering a more volatile phase, with recent comments by officials reflecting their awareness of the mounting strain, analysts have said.

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday told parliament that Singapore would not act as a proxy for any major power, stressing that the city state must be prepared to “courteously stand up and say no”.

Observers say his remarks come at a time when geopolitical guard rails are weakening and conflicts beyond Asia are adding fresh pressure on small states to take sides.

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While the US is Singapore’s largest foreign investor and a major security cooperation ally, China is the city state’s largest trading partner in goods.

Speaking during the debate on his ministry’s budget, Balakrishnan said Singapore had a “unique relationship” with China as the only other sovereign state in the world with a majority Chinese population and deep linguistic, cultural and historical links.

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However, Singapore had to assert its distinctiveness as a multiracial city state in the heart of Southeast Asia to remain relevant, he noted.

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