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Singapore's foreign policy is not merely a matter of demonstrating "impartiality", making remarks designed to keep one world power or the other satisfied.

However, our foreign policy is also not about always maintaining neutrality, keeping our heads down and refraining from taking sides in all matters.

Instead, Singapore's foreign policy is driven by our principles, which do not change.

What are our core foreign policy principles?

Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sim Ann laid out the core principles of Singapore's foreign policy on Wednesday (Apr. 19) in parliament.

Due to our natural resource constraints and being dependent on free trade, Singapore needs a peaceful and secure external environment, a stable global order, transparent and effective international law, and an efficient and well-regulated market economy system.

These are essential for Singapore's autonomy, prosperity and survival, she said.

Perception of a "balancing act"

Sim discussed the "perception" of balance, as in a fractious world, it is hard to maintain equally strong ties with countries belonging to different camps.

She addressed the rivalry between the U.S. and China, with "serious differences" between both sides, but Singapore manages to maintain strong bilateral relations with both.

However, this does not represent a "balancing act". Instead, it reflects decades of substantive, "win-win" collaboration.

Relations with China

Sim reflected on Singapore's "longstanding and friendly" relations with China, highlighting its economic rise through the pursuit of market-based development.

"We believe that China's peaceful rise and growing economy will be an important engine of growth for the Asia-Pacific and the world," she said.

Singapore has supported China's reform and opening up, particularly with three government-to-government projects, like the Suzhou Industrial Park, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, and China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity.

Trade and investment with China has brought about tangible benefits for Singapore, and today we are one of the largest investors in China, our top trading partner in goods.

PM Lee's recent visit to China saw our bilateral relationship upgraded to an "All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership," reflecting both sides' commitment to expanding cooperation and collaboration.

The ethnic Chinese community in Singapore

Sim acknowledged that Singapore has a majority ethnic Chinese population, with ties of culture, language and kinship helping to enrich relations with China.

"But to interpret Singapore-China relations from the cultural perspective may result in a skewed view, or misunderstandings," she added.

Those who do not have a deep understanding of Singapore may overlook this, as Singaporeans are citizens of an independent country, and may also identify culturally with being Chinese, Malay, Indian etc.

"National identity and cultural identity are two different matters," she said.

While the government encourages Singapore to appreciate each other's cultural heritage, it also seeks to shape a "highly unified national identity."

"It would be inaccurate to project Singapore's position in international affairs based on what one observes of Singapore's Chinese community," she said.

Sim gave the example of an editorial published by Lianhe Zaobao veteran editor Lim Jim Koon, who lamented how its website had been identified as pro-China by Nikkei. 

"If a reputable overseas news organisation could espouse such a subjective view of Lianhe Zaobao, we can only imagine what those who do not know us well would think of Singapore," Sim.

Singaporeans of Chinese ethnicity, not overseas Chinese

She also cited a speech by Wang Gungwu, NUS professor and historian, titled "What does it mean to be ethnically Chinese in Singapore?"

Wang pointed out that in Singapore, perhaps uniquely, the majority ethnic population accepted that they live in a plural society, in a "neighbourhood" where they were the minority, and that everyone had to be treated as equal. The plural society was therefore the foundation of Singapore's nationhood.

"Singaporeans of Chinese ethnicity are very clear: they are Singaporean citizens and Singapore huaren (people of Chinese ethnicity), not huaqiao (overseas Chinese)," Sim said.

Singapore's foreign policy must therefore stand for the interests of all citizens regardless of ethnicity. This is reflected in Singapore's principles (mentioned above), and China's reform and opening up created a basis of collaboration with Singapore.

Relations with the US

Just as it is with China, Singapore's excellent relations with the U.S. is established on the basis of our foreign policy principles.

Sim acknowledged the vital role played by the U.S. in underwriting the world order that emerged after WW2.

"It paved the way for stability and prosperity in Asia by championing an open, integrated and rules-based global order," Sim said.

By providing a security umbrella for the region, the U.S. enabled regional countries to trade and grow peacefully. American companies also invested extensively in Asia (and Singapore), contributing capital, technology and ideas.

US economic and military engagement is good for the region

The U.S. continues to be a force for "economic vitality", and greater engagement will bring about benefits for the "entire region", Sim said. The U.S. is the largest investor in Singapore and Asean, and Singapore's top trading partner in services as well as its third-largest trading partners in goods.

Singapore's security and defence ties with the U.S. go back many decades, with Singapore a "Major Security Cooperation Partner" that supports the U.S. military presence and defence engagements in the region. The 1990 memorandum of understanding that was recently renewed in 2019 provides the U.S. military with access to Singapore's air and naval bases.

"As with the Singapore-China relationship, it is not hard to see how the grounds for Singapore U.S. cooperation is inseparable from our principled pursuit of regional peace and security, a stable international order, and win-win economic collaboration through trade and investment," Sim said.

Singapore's approach as an honest broker

Singapore keeps the same approach with all countries, seeking to make and keep friends, but above all else, maintaining our standing as an honest broker. This stems from our obligations as a free port, but also how we seek to create value for our partners in international affairs.

"This means doing what we say, and saying what we do; not just telling others what they want to hear; and not saying different things to different parties.

At times and on certain issues, we have to be prepared to take a stand, and even say “no” to a superpower, on the basis of our own national interest. We do so carefully, after careful analysis of the principles at stake.

We have not been afraid to take a position and make known our views, even where we disagree or what we do displeases others.

Only when we persist in being honest, credible, and trustworthy – not a vassal state, proxy, or stalking horse for one power or another – will our views be taken seriously."

The space available to Singapore therefore does not depend on our "balancing skills", but whether cooperation can remain between the major powers.

No balancing act can help if global powers don't cooperate

There are several issues that require the global powers to cooperate, such as climate change and public health. While disputes may occur, this does not have to result in conflict.

A rules-based international order makes cooperation possible, with conditions for countries to trade, do business and compete peacefully.

However, this all depends on trust and respect between the world's major powers. In a world without mutual trust, suspicion may result in disrupting global supply chains for sensitive technologies like 5G and semiconductor chips.

In such a scenario with deepening misunderstandings and prejudices, no amount of "balancing" will help.

What can Singapore do?

Singapore will take concrete steps to broaden the basis for international cooperation where possible, instead of lying low and not taking sides.

Singapore's participation in multilateral institutions like the United Nations and its related bodies, as well as the World Trade Organization and Asean underpins this effort.

While there are limits to what Singapore can do as a small country, we must act on our convictions and do our best to promote international cooperation.

And as foreign policy begins at home, its effectiveness depends on the understanding and support it receives from the Singaporean public.

Top image from MCI YouTube.