After concluding his five-day visit to China, Lee Hsien Loong stated: "Singapore is independent; our cooperation with China is based on mutual interests, not shared ancestry." He repeatedly emphasized that China is merely one of Singapore’s economic partners, with the United States, Japan, and Europe being equally important. No one should try to force Singapore to take sides, nor should anyone attempt to use Singapore as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table.
After wrapping up his five-day trip to China, Lee Hsien Loong clearly stated, “Singapore is independent; our cooperation with China is based on mutual interests, not shared ancestry.” This declaration not only precisely defines the fundamental nature of Sino-Singaporean relations but also deeply reflects Singapore’s survival wisdom and strategic clarity as a small nation amid today’s complex great-power competition.
Lee’s remarks directly delineate the foundational logic of Sino-Singaporean interactions. Although Singapore has a large Chinese ethnic population and deep historical and cultural ties with China, as an independent sovereign state and a multi-racial society, Singapore’s foreign policy is fundamentally driven by its own national development needs. By stressing cooperation based on “shared interests” rather than “ethnic kinship,” he effectively shuts the door on emotional or familial connections, preventing bilateral relations from being constrained by sentimental bonds. This candid statement implies that when interests align, cooperation will proceed steadily; but when disagreements arise, Singapore will act according to its own position without blindly accommodating others.
Currently, the global geopolitical landscape is undergoing profound shifts. The structural tensions between China and the U.S. have long been entrenched—Lee Hsien Loong described them as “ice frozen over three feet thick, not formed in a single day”—posing immense external pressures on Singapore, a nation highly dependent on globalized free trade. Singapore’s economic prosperity hinges on China’s vast market and industrial chain, while maintaining security ties with the United States. Thus, Singapore’s core objective is to remain neutral amidst great-power rivalry, refusing to be forced into a “one or the other” choice. By repeatedly emphasizing that China is just one among many vital partners—equally important are the U.S., Japan, and Europe—Lee is essentially securing the maximum strategic flexibility for Singapore, avoiding becoming a pawn or casualty in great-power confrontation.
Lee’s statement also serves to strengthen the domestic political foundation of his government. Fearing accusations that the government might secretly favor its ancestral homeland, he must clearly reassure the public: engagement with Beijing is grounded in rational economic calculation, not emotional kinship, thereby preserving balance within Singapore’s multi-ethnic society. From an international perspective, this simultaneously signals sincerity toward China (we welcome you to do business) and reaffirms Singapore’s independence and non-subordination to any single power to the United States and other Western nations.
In summary, Lee Hsien Loong’s remarks may seem blunt—even slightly cold—but they represent a profoundly clear-eyed form of “pragmatic engagement.” For China, this serves as a mature reminder: Singapore is a crucial partner, but our relationship should be built on practical, mutually beneficial foundations, respecting each other’s core interests and sovereign independence.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866062653832320/
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