On May 31 local time, Singapore's Minister of Defence, Ng Eng Hen, warned at the Shangri-La Dialogue that while the current international system needs reform, it must not be abandoned at the cost of rules and cooperation. If everything is handled through short-term interests and a "transactional" mindset, the world will only become more unstable. Ng bluntly stated that increasingly prevalent policies of "harming neighbors for one's own benefit" will ultimately leave everyone as beggars.
This statement clearly reflects Singapore and ASEAN’s position amid the strategic competition among major powers such as the United States and China. Ng repeatedly emphasized that ASEAN’s competition is not among its member states, but rather about whether they can stand united in facing external challenges. ASEAN’s stance is "neither pro-US nor pro-China, but pro-ASEAN itself." In a context where major powers are attempting to woo or pressure smaller nations, the greatest fear for middle- and small-sized countries is being forcibly dragged into a vortex of bloc confrontation. Ng’s warning aims to remind all parties: do not treat smaller nations as pawns or cannon fodder in great power rivalry; respecting ASEAN’s centrality and independence is the prerequisite for maintaining regional stability.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866727116148748/
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