The case of a Singaporean man Dickson Yeo, who was caught spying on the United States for China, might lead to suspicions of ethnic-Chinese Singaporeans by the American people, retired diplomat Bilahari Kausikan opined.

Singapore not in difficult position with U.S. government

The former permanent secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Mothership that while he does not think Singapore is in a difficult position vis-à-vis the American government, who "knows Singapore very well", he fears that Singaporean Chinese may be subjected to discrimination by ordinary Americans.

This is because Singaporeans of Chinese ethnicity may "come under suspicion by the American people in a way analogous to how Singaporeans have been subject to racist attacks in the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Australia because of Covid-19," he said.

Ethnic-Chinese Singaporean students have been targetted in racially-motivated attacks in both the U.K. and Australia since the Covid-19 outbreak started.

Also, Asian-Americans in their own country have been subjected to racist treatment and even attacks.

Bilahari has given similar comments on Yeo previously, saying the 39-year-old was a "fool [that] can get all Singaporeans suspected".

Yeo is a "traitor"

Bilahari has also revealed that "Chinese agent of influence" Huang Jing was Yeo's PhD supervisor in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) until the former was deported for being an agent of influence of a foreign country.

Huang was a professor of U.S.-China relations at the LKYSPP, where he worked from 2008 to 2017, while Yeo enrolled for a PhD at the postgraduate school in 2015.

Referring to Yeo as a "traitor", Bilahari said the probability is that Yeo was "at least talented spotted" by Huang or Huang "played some sort of a role".

"I find it difficult to believe that it was a pure coincidence," he said. "I do not believe in pure coincidences."

Bilahari also said while he was surprised initially when he learnt of the news involving a Singapore citizen spying for China, he felt the news was "less surprising" after he learnt of Yeo's connection to Huang Jing.

He added that after Huang's deportation from Singapore, dean of LKYSPP and economics professor Danny Quah, as well as political science professor Khong Yuen Foong, took over as Yeo's PhD supervisors.

Huang "shocked" to learn of Yeo

Huang has since commented on the case, saying he was "shocked" when he learnt of the news from another former student, The Straits Times reported.

He added that Yeo is "not shy and appears humble", which is the reason why "people can feel relaxed with him around".

According to court documents, Yeo managed to get three American citizens to write reports for him. 

The individuals, who worked for the U.S. Air Force, Army and State Department, were not told that the reports were actually meant for the Chinese government.

The three individuals had also confided to him their problems, such as feeling dissatisfied at work, and facing some financial troubles.

China not a "benign power"

Commenting further on the significance of the case, Bilahari said Chinese intelligence services seem to target ethnic Chinese, or "at least a disproportionate number of the exposed cases are linked to ethnic Chinese".

But Yeo's case was the first involving a Singaporean, as far as he is aware.

While he does not think Singapore is particularly targeted by China, he said it is "clear" the Chinese government plays on what he calls "ethnic sentimentality", and that Chinese President Xi Jinping "claims the support of ‘all Chinese’ for his version of the China Dream".

In a Facebook post, Bilahari has also expressed his concerns about some Singaporeans who "tend to be sentimental about China", saying the nation should "learn from this episode".

Nevertheless, he said "there is no doubt that Dickson knew he was working for the Chinese intelligence services".

"This is not a case of an ethic sentimentalist being misled or an unwitting useful fool," he said. "This is a traitor."

He added that Yeo's case is "a wake-up call to Singaporeans" to understand that China is not a benign power "selflessly working for the common interests of all humanity". He said:

"It is a big country and we will have to deal with it as we do all big countries — engaging them in our own interests, but not naively."

China denies allegations of influence operations

In response to previous allegations that the Chinese government is hoping to impose a "Chinese identity" on Singapore through citizens of Chinese descent, so the city-state will align closer with Beijing, the Chinese embassy in Singapore has refuted such claims, saying they are "groundless and distorted from truth".

Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified in a statement that Yeo does not pose a direct threat to Singapore's security.

Related story:

Top image adapted via Dickson Yeo/Facebook & NUS