Singapore must work harder to find like-minded partners in less hospitable world: PM Wong
By Danson Cheong, Assistant News Editor, The Straits Times, 8 Nov 2024
Foreign policy issues might not be “top of mind” for many Singaporeans but how the Government advances Singapore’s interests abroad is critical to the country’s ability to survive and thrive.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said this on Nov 8, pointing out that as the global environment grows more fraught, Singapore needs to work even harder to strengthen its network of friends and partners. It will also need to work with like-minded countries to shape international norms and rules, and find common ground on issues of shared concern.
Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, PM Wong laid out an overview of the geopolitical challenges that Singapore is facing, including wars in Ukraine and Gaza, tensions between the US and China, and the weakening of established norms and multilateral institutions.
“That is why we see growing zones of impunity, where state and non-state actors are able to push for what they want with little or no consequences,” he said.
How the Government navigates this is critical to making life better for Singaporeans, PM Wong told reporters at the National Press Centre in Hill Street.
“Foreign policy is critical to our ability to survive and to thrive. It is about how we can stay relevant and expand our networks and ensure that our little red dot can keep shining, even in a more dangerous and turbulent world,” he said.
“In the end, everything we do, whether it is domestic or foreign, comes back to how we can make life better for Singaporeans, and that remains the focus for me and my team,” he added.
His comments come just days after US President-elect Donald Trump made a stunning political comeback, defeating Vice-President Kamala Harris to win a second term as the US’ top leader.
But Trump’s impending return to power has triggered anxiety among the US’ partners and allies over the potential security, trade and geopolitical implications of a second Trump term.
During his campaign, Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine, and he has accused President Joe Biden of giving Israel insufficient support.
He also vowed to slap tariffs of 60 per cent or more on Chinese imports and at least 10 per cent on goods from all other countries.
Asked about the implications of these potential barriers to trade, PM Wong said this is a concern, pointing also to the European Union’s recent decision to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles.
“Trade is three times our GDP (gross domestic product). We are an open economy, we are a trading economy, we would be concerned in a world where there are more and more frictions to trade overall,” said PM Wong.
He pointed out that while there may be situations where countries would apply tariffs, this should be done within a proper framework, with trade disputes raised with an institution like the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
But he added that it has been difficult to get countries to support efforts to revamp and strengthen the WTO, even under the current Biden administration.
He also said this is why Singapore is also trying to “do more around Asean and other regional forums” to keep trade barriers low.
Since he became prime minister in May, PM Wong has been on a slew of overseas trips.
He has attended the Asean summits in Laos and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, and has visited South-east Asian countries including Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. He added that he hopes to visit Thailand later in 2024.
He is also expected to visit Peru and Brazil later in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Group of 20 summits, respectively, and said he could visit the remaining Asean countries and India in 2025.
When asked about the implications of the recent US presidential election, PM Wong said on Nov 8 that he believes the Government would be able to continue to work well with the new Trump administration, pointing out that both countries extended a memorandum of understanding on defence during the last Trump term.
“We continue to grow our trade and investment links between Singapore and the US in a very productive manner. So I think, bilaterally, we look forward to working closely with the new team,” he said.
PM Wong also reiterated concerns about the trajectory of the US-China relationship, pointing out that while America remains a pre-eminent power in many areas, China is rising.
“America has to decide what to do with this, to treat this as an existential threat, and therefore to contain China, or to embrace China and accept China as a major power in its own right,” he said.
On the other hand, China needs to consider the responsibilities it needs to undertake to uphold the international order now that it is the second-largest economy, he added.
The decisions these two major powers make will shape the future global order, he said, adding that, where possible, Singapore will do its part to facilitate a relationship where both sides can engage and find a way to coexist with each other.
He also said that while the American security umbrella continues to be relevant and provide stability for the region, more Americans are raising questions about why the US has to bear the cost of its international responsibilities.
“We understand that, and that’s why we do not take this for granted,” he said, adding that this is why Singapore supports not just America’s security presence in this region, but also greater American economic engagement.
The recent US presidential election also laid bare the political divisions within the country, and PM Wong was asked about whether he was concerned these tensions would spill over to Singapore.
PM Wong said in many countries, elections are leading to outcomes where society is more divided and polarised – and in a situation like this, there is no winner.
“In the end, everyone is worse off because it makes it harder to govern, and it makes it harder for countries to move forward,” he said.
Singapore has put in place guard rails for this, recently updating its laws on deepfakes and digitally manipulated content of election candidates, said PM Wong.
But he added that it is also vital for the Government, political parties and Singaporeans to work together to ensure that society is not divided and polarised.
“We try our best not to go down the path of political populism, opportunism, but find ways to keep our society strong, united and maintain that high level of trust, because that’s essential for Singapore to stay relevant and to survive in this new world,” he said.