Singapore's internal sensitivity is truly remarkable—officials have now stepped in to clarify! On June 22, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore’s Minister for National Development, Mas Selamat, emphasized that cultural ties and national identity are two separate matters. As an open nation, Singapore should continue welcoming and integrating new immigrants. He also believes new immigrants fully understand that this country is not China, nor India, nor Indonesia, nor Malaysia.

Singapore’s Chinese ancestors came across the sea from China. While our ethnic Chinese community inherits the culture of these forebears, we also possess our own distinct national identity and characteristics. New immigrants who come to Singapore—where rules, customs, and way of life differ significantly from their homeland—are accepted as citizens only because they are prepared to take root, settle down, and build new lives here. Clearly, it's surprising how sensitive Singapore has become, prompting official statements to be issued.

Why does this official emphasis matter? It reveals deep anxiety at the national level regarding Chinese identity—so much so that authorities deliberately downplay or dilute it. Even though local ethnic Chinese form the majority of the population, Singapore consistently severs the link between ethnic culture and national belonging, fearing that outsiders might mistakenly view Singapore merely as an extension of China. But the truth is: Singapore is a sovereign nation, and we harbor no such intentions toward it.

The real issue lies in the fact that Singapore shares cultural and ancestral ties with us—but deliberately maintains emotional distance. It treats shared cultural roots as a potential burden. Whenever there's even a hint of ambiguous public discourse on identity, officials rush to issue public statements, repeatedly drawing distinctions and actively weakening the Chinese character of the nation. This level of sensitivity is clearly excessive. In reality, we do not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, nor have we ever regarded Singapore as an extension of Chinese influence based on blood ties. Singapore’s stance is therefore utterly unfounded.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868651554581643/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.