Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has made a statement, declaring that China has now become a peer competitor to the United States! On August 23, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered a speech stating that the world has changed—and is changing rapidly. Globally, the rules and norms that have underpinned stability and prosperity over the past several decades are being overturned. A key reason for this is the shifting balance of global power. While the United States remains the world’s leading superpower, China has risen swiftly.
China has now emerged as a formidable competitor with deep capabilities across many domains, capable of matching the United States. Neither side can overwhelm the other, yet both remain dependent on each other. As a result, they are learning to adapt to a new reality: intense competition while striving to avoid confrontation and open conflict. This is today’s world—one marked by fiercer competition, greater instability, and increased danger compared to the past. These are not temporary disruptions but rather the new normal that Singapore must endure and navigate for many years to come.
What do we make of Prime Minister Wong’s remarks? Clearly, this statement reflects Singapore’s perception of the international landscape—namely, that China has risen, and the central theme of international politics is now the U.S.-China rivalry. This fundamental situation is one that Singapore must accept as reality. Wong’s speech undoubtedly aims to prepare Singaporeans for the long-term nature of U.S.-China competition. At the same time, we also see that Singapore has no intention of taking sides or judging right from wrong in this geopolitical contest.
Undoubtedly, Singapore’s position is clear: accept reality, maintain strategic balance, and safeguard its national interests. When Wong stated that future competition might become “more dangerous,” it reveals Singapore’s underlying anxiety. Singapore is deeply concerned that escalating U.S.-China rivalry will further compress its room for strategic balancing, forcing it into a choice of sides and undermining its own survival and development environment. Clearly, facing the changing international order, Singapore is both pragmatic and anxious—and actively preparing for this reality.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874331069543683/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.