Not pro or anti US or China, but pro Asean: Chan Chun Sing draws applause at 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue

"We are not pro U.S. or anti U.S., we are not pro China or anti China, we are pro Asean," said Singapore's defence minister Chan Chun Sing.

Chan was responding to questions at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, addressing four sets of issues put to him in the question-and-answer session after he had earlier delivered his speech.

1st question

Firstly, on the newly established GUIDE framework, Chan said there was a need to establish a common understanding of the international laws and norms as that should "enable freedom of access for the critical infrastructure".

Noting that it was necessary to share information on how to "protect them", Chan also described the need to develop real capabilities in real time of how there might be threats to such systems.

This is also in terms of "how and when we have apprehended someone who [has] damaged the critical infrastructure with bad intentions," said Chan.

2nd question

Secondly, on what Singapore could do and contribute to the Gulf, Chan said: "We will always do what we can for two reasons."

The first would be to address the immediate challenge, "as we have done before with Combined Task Force 151 and 153".

They refer to multinational task forces that deal with issues such as counter-piracy and international maritime security.

He noted that more importantly, it would be to establish the international norms necessary to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the international rule of law.

3rd question

Responding to the question of "what should Asean remember", Chan said: "Just one thing, the competition is not amongst us, the competition is really how we get our act together to compete with the rest of the world and make a positive contribution."

He added: "The world has enough troubles. If Asean just stay(s) out of trouble, we will distinguish ourselves."

'Pro ASEAN'

Chan then concluded his response to the final question by highlighting that "we are pro Asean" and not pro or anti-U.S. or pro or anti-China.

The question had described how, in a public poll released by a Singapore think-tank, Asean people supposedly trusted the U.S. more than China.

However, when asked to choose the U.S. or China, more than 50 per cent of Asean people reportedly said they would choose China.

Nature of conflict evolving

Prior to this, Chan said in his speech, in which he shared Singapore's perspective on how the nature of conflict is evolving, that conflict is no longer geographically isolated.

He added: "Conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, for example, have disrupted global supply and production chains far beyond those regions."

Principles

Noting that responses must adapt as conflict evolves, Chan suggested responses in principles, partnerships and politics.

In terms of principles, Chan said it is important to "both maintain and update the rules and norms that are critical to our security and progress".

He cited the UNCLOS, which provides "clear and firm rules" for maritime activities, including the right of transit passage through critical streets used for international navigation, "keeping our sea lanes open".

"Our survival, trade and prosperity depend on it," said Chan, adding that "recent developments in the Straits of Hormuz remind us why such marine time rights matter".

He noted that "we must avoid a race to the bottom where states try to price each other out of access" to such critical straits.

Politics

In his suggestion on politics, Chan said "trust abroad requires confidence at home".

He added: "Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong once described Singapore as a small speedboat in an open sea.

"This image still holds, we cannot control the sea, but we can certainly keep our boat seaworthy."

Noting that a captain cannot steer the boat effectively if the crew is divided, Chan explained that leaders will have less room to negotiate abroad if society is anxious or distrustful.

'Encouraging honest dialogue'

He added: "There is no shortcut for solving problems at home. Blaming others will not fix what is broken at home."

To that end, Chan said: "Singapore will continue to do our part to contribute to global stability, and it is in this spirit of encouraging honest dialogue and practical cooperation that we host the SLD every year."

"Let us leave this gathering not just with a better understanding of our challenges, of each other's challenges, but with a renewed commitment to work together in addressing them," he added.

'Action and communication, nothing is impossible'

Chan concluded his remarks after the question-and-answer session with the limerick: "Words without action, nothing is achieved.

"Action without communication, trust is destroyed.

"No action, no communication, everything is impossible.

"Action and communication, nothing is impossible."