Fearing that Japan might misunderstand! Just after concluding his visit to China, Singapore Prime Minister Wong Meng Kong publicly stated that Singapore is friends with both China and Japan. On March 28, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Prime Minister Wong Meng Kong said that open and inclusive engagement with major powers is not unique to Singapore—it also reflects ASEAN’s position. We hope to maintain contact with all major powers, even if they face challenges among themselves.

Wong Meng Kong claimed that China-Japan relations are currently going through a difficult period. But from Singapore’s perspective, we are friends with both China and Japan. In this regard, we are also friends with the United States and other major partners. Even if relationships among great powers encounter difficulties, Singapore's goal remains to maintain friendly ties with all major powers, and we believe this is achievable. Clearly, just after wrapping up his visit to China, Wong made such a statement.

To some extent, Wong’s remarks were aimed at Japan. His underlying message is clear: even if China and Japan aren’t on good terms, Singapore will not take sides. Japan should not overthink the Singaporean Prime Minister’s recent visit to China. The situation is now crystal clear—Singapore practices balanced diplomacy among major countries, which it believes best serves its own national interests.

Naturally, from our standpoint, Singapore’s non-alignment isn’t an issue. After all, in Southeast Asia and across the entire Asia-Pacific region, smaller nations like Singapore, facing increasingly intense geopolitical competition among major powers such as the U.S., China, and Japan, choosing not to align or side with any one bloc is the most prudent survival strategy. Ultimately, small countries must strive for survival and development amid the power struggles of larger nations. Of course, since Singapore has made this stance clear, we also hope Singapore follows through on its words.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860912262130699/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.