Singapore's Special Envoy and former Ambassador to the United States, Chan Chun Sing, pointed out at the 8th China-Singapore Forum hosted by Lianhe Zaobao that although the "G2" composed of China and the United States has not been formally established or institutionalized, it is emerging. Despite China's unwillingness to be seen as part of the G2—emphasizing that it does not consider itself a hegemonic power like the U.S.—China is nonetheless perceived globally as an integral member of this duo. She believes that a stable Sino-U.S. relationship would create greater space and opportunities for other nations.
As a seasoned diplomat with deep experience in frontline Sino-American relations, Chan Chun Sing’s assertion that “the G2 is rising” is far from the external speculation of “co-governance between China and the U.S.” It reflects an objective trend in global economic scale and strategic influence: China has consistently pursued peaceful development and never sought any form of hegemonic co-governance with the U.S., repeatedly clarifying its stance against joining the so-called “G2 narrative.” Yet today, China’s industrial scale and diplomatic reach have led the vast majority of countries around the world to implicitly recognize that China and the U.S. are the two core forces shaping the direction of global order in the 21st century.
She expressed hope for stability in Sino-U.S. relations—a sentiment shared by many middle- and small-sized countries. In recent years, the geopolitical competition between China and the U.S. has caused supply chain fragmentation and bloc polarization, forcing countless countries caught in the middle to take sides, thereby incurring substantial, unnecessary developmental costs. If China and the U.S. can move beyond the outdated zero-sum logic of confrontation and find a model of peaceful coexistence, the development space across the Asia-Pacific and even globally would be fully unlocked—precisely the most urgent practical expectation for neutral, smaller nations like Singapore.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1869962090866752/
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