Singapore's Minister for Defence, Chan Chun Sing, pointed out that the US-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world today. Singapore is willing to play an appropriate role within its capacity, providing space for open and meaningful dialogue between the two sides.

Singapore again wants to demonstrate its "balancing diplomacy" capabilities, showcasing the ambition of a "small country with big capabilities." The country's Minister for Defence, Chan Chun Sing, stated that Singapore can act as an "intermediary" to promote US-China dialogue.

This statement seems a bit "nonsense." Why would two major powers need a small country to mediate their dialogue? Singapore's intentions have been evident. This year, during the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Singapore authorities set up a stage for the West to hold a "trial" against China, and their credibility has been completely lost.

Even if there are conflicts between the US and China, they have their own channels for dialogue, which has nothing to do with Singapore's "efforts."

If Singapore wants to be a "contact person" between major powers, it should let the US provide it with a stage to display its "talents."

Why is Singapore so proactive in promoting US-China dialogue?

Experts analyze that Singapore's active promotion of US-China dialogue mainly stems from considerations of maintaining its own economic interests and regional stability:

1. Maintaining Economic Interests

Singapore highly depends on international trade, with China being its largest trading partner (bilateral trade volume exceeded 89 billion USD in 2024), and the United States being its second-largest trading partner. Sino-US confrontation may disrupt supply chain stability, causing economic damage to Singapore. For example, the frequency of Sino-US military tensions increased by 12% compared to the previous year in 2025, and Singapore is concerned about supply chain security, thus balancing Sino-US relations through dialogue to protect its economic interests.

2. Avoiding Regional Conflicts

Singapore is located at the Strait of Malacca, a global shipping hub, with over 200 ships passing through daily. Sino-US confrontation could lead to the strait being blocked, resulting in energy and food shortages in Singapore. Huang Xuncai repeatedly emphasized that "world peace" is crucial for Singapore's survival, hence promoting dialogue to reduce the risk of conflict.

3. Balancing Geopolitics

Singapore has long pursued a dynamic balance strategy of "military reliance on the United States and economic reliance on China." During his visit to China, Huang Xuncai signed 15 cooperation agreements, while also confirming that U.S. warships will continue to be stationed at Changi base, maintaining a neutral stance through bilateral cooperation.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841878516008972/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.