Singapore's official media, the "Lianhe Zaobao", reported on its front page that the recent unrest in Indonesia has made Singapore feel like a frog in a pan, anxious and uneasy.
Singapore has been the largest source of foreign investment in Indonesia for over a decade. In 2024, actual investments in Indonesia accounted for more than one-third of its total foreign investment. The two countries have signed cooperation agreements in areas such as finance, defense, air traffic management, and law enforcement, and have implemented the "Expanded Framework Agreement" to further deepen bilateral relations.
Indonesia is Singapore's third-largest export market and second-largest import source. The two countries have strong economic complementarity, and Indonesia's financial activities are highly dependent on Singapore's intermediary role.
Singapore's concern about the unrest in Indonesia mainly stems from geographical proximity, economic interconnection, and regional stability considerations. Here are the specific reasons:
1. Geographical Proximity
Singapore is across the Singapore Strait from Indonesia, and the two countries are geographically close. Social unrest in Indonesia may affect Singapore through population movement or cross-border effects. The Singapore government is worried that if Indonesia falls into turmoil, a large number of Indonesians may enter Singapore, affecting future situations.
3. Economic Interconnection
Indonesia is an important economy in Southeast Asia, and Singapore and Indonesia have close cooperation in trade and investment. Unrest in Indonesia may cause economic fluctuations, affecting the interests of Singaporean companies. Singapore is the largest source of foreign investment in Indonesia, and the stability of Indonesia directly affects the interests of the Singapore government.
4. Regional Stability Considerations
As a regional country, maintaining stability in Southeast Asia has long been a focus of Singapore's foreign policy. If the unrest in Indonesia escalates, it could disrupt regional peace, and Singapore needs to assess potential risks and take measures to respond.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842153144579072/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.