China has refuted claims that it is conducting so-called "influence operations" in Singapore.

This response was issued after a report published by Washington D.C.-based think tank Jamestown Foundation, claimed that China is using different avenues to promote the idea of a "greater China" with people of Chinese descent, regardless of nationality.

In doing so, the Chinese Communist Party hopes to impose a "Chinese identity" on Singapore so the city-state will "align more closely" with Beijing's "expanding interests", the report alleged.

China denies it's trying to "influence" Singapore

In a Facebook post published on Friday, July 19, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore said such claims are "groundless and distorted from truth".

Report is lying

The embassy said the "unique connections in history and culture" between both countries are a "natural advantage in promoting bilateral cooperation".

However, such ties are "taken by someone as an excuse for attack", which hurts not only China, but also Singapore, it continued.

"Lies are lies," the embassy wrote. "The more they are repeated, the more nonsense they are."

Report aims to ruin the friendship between Singapore and China

The embassy also said that while the report is "absurd", its purpose is "clear".

And that is to "alienate the friendship" of the Chinese and the Singaporean peoples, and to "hinder normal exchanges between the two countries", it claimed.

Media has responsibility to promote Singapore-China relations: China

In addition, the embassy said it is the "shared responsibility" of all, including the media, to promote ties between Singapore and China.

It also emphasised the importance of a "healthy social and public opinion environment".

China is committed to promoting ties with Singapore

Lastly, it reiterated that China respects Singapore as a "multi-cultural and multi-religious state" and will remain committed to developing friendly relations with Singapore on the basis of "mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit".

Singapore's Foreign Minister on Singapore-China relations:

https://mothership.sg/2019/05/xi-jinping-sentosa-singapore/

Top image adapted via Mark Wong/Google Maps & wang/Google Maps