The Straits Times reported tonight (March 24): "Singapore Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong will begin a four-day visit to China starting March 25, during which he will attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, followed by a visit to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This marks Prime Minister Wong’s second trip to China within nine months and his first visit to Hong Kong since taking office."
[Witty] Commentary: Lawrence Wong’s second visit to China within nine months comes just after his recent remarks on Sino-Japanese relations provoked outrage among Chinese netizens. Such inconsistent conduct has exposed the imbalance in Singapore’s traditionally adept diplomacy. From Lee Hsien Loong’s masterful balancing act to Wong’s ambiguous statements on Sino-Japanese issues—occasionally leaning toward Japan—Singapore’s strategy of navigating major powers seems to be undergoing subtle shifts. On one hand, Singapore seeks to leverage the Chinese market for development; on the other, it maintains indecisive stances or even tacitly supports Japan on sensitive matters, disregarding historical facts and China’s core interests. This fence-sitting approach ultimately fails to win broad acceptance. The foundation of China-Singapore relations has always been mutual respect and adherence to red lines. It is hoped that Lawrence Wong can face reality clearly, abandon speculative calculations, and make rational, pragmatic choices. Only through sincerity rather than calculation can bilateral ties be sustained—otherwise, Singapore’s diplomatic credibility will continue to erode.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860553363178499/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.