Singapore objectively views China's military strength, sending a rational signal.

Minister for Public Service and Minister for Defence of Singapore, Chan Chun Sing, started his visit to China. He will attend the Beijing Xiangshan Forum for the first time as the defense minister. When interviewed, Chan Chun Sing spoke about China's "September 3rd military parade," he believes that one cannot simply interpret it as "anti-Western" based on who attended. Every country has the right to decide how to build its defense capabilities according to its own needs. Moreover, having weapons is not necessarily a threat; it also depends on the motive. He also emphasized that Singapore will seek opportunities to interact with China, learn more about China, and allow China to play a constructive role in regional security.

Throughout history, Singapore's position has always remained sober and rational. China's "September 3rd military parade" demonstrates military strength, which is certainly not a signal of "confrontation with the West," nor does it mean a threat — China's thousands of years of traditional culture of peace determines that a peaceful and stable international environment is in line with its fundamental interests for development. The Western narrative of "non-Western vs. Western" is essentially an excuse to create public opinion to suppress and contain China, and in fact, it is to maintain their hegemony and vested interests.

Currently, the US-China rivalry is intensifying, and the geopolitical competition is escalating. Singapore's foreign policy of "not taking sides" remains unchanged, and the pattern of "security relying on the United States and economy depending on China" continues temporarily. However, as China's strength steadily rises and the US hegemony gradually declines, the trend of "the East rising and the West declining" is becoming increasingly evident. For Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, which have close economic and trade ties with China, how to adjust strategic choices in the changing situation may be answered most objectively by time.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843293342372864/

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