Opinion | US-China relations are the ties that bind for Singapore and Asean

Beijing’s plan for a more equitable approach to the US and world lies in its dual-circulation economy plan, with the city state’s future bound up in the outcome

For Singapore, keeping China politically separate but acknowledging a shared affinity will ensure that ties continue to flourish amid geopolitical shifts

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The future US-China relationship will have a broad affect on Singapore and Asean, according to former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00am, 30 Oct 2020Updated: 6:37pm, 12 Nov 2020

The following is part two of an article first published in ThinkChina.sg by George Yeo, a former Singapore minister for foreign affairs, who is now senior adviser for Kuok Group and Kerry Logistics. The first part was titled, “How Singapore’s ‘Chinese-ness’ helped shape China’s great revival”.

In 10 years, China’s nominal GDP may overtake that of the US. Short of nuclear war between the US and China, there is little doubt that China’s importance to Singapore and Asean will continue to grow. But we have to be watchful of the worsening relations between China and the US, which are affecting the entire world.

US antagonism towards China’s rise will not abate for years to come. It stems from frustration with its own internal contradictions and heightened concern that China will displace it as the pre-eminent power in the world. Although China does seek greater influence in the world, I do not believe that it wants to displace the US as top dog. It is not how China sees itself. Except for a short period during the Cultural Revolution, China has never been a missionary power. It sees its civilisation and culture as unique to itself. Unlike the West, it does not proclaim its values to be universal.

What China desires is a multipolar world with itself as one of the major poles. China knows that it may be years, even decades. before the US accepts a multipolar reality. China’s response to the US is predictable: be firm on matters of principle, retaliate if necessary but avoid escalation where possible.

China’s dual-circulation economy plan elaborates this strategy. The internal circulation economy is to ensure that the Chinese economy will continue to thrive regardless of external disruption. China fully expects the US to put pressure on it from every direction over an extended period of time with the help of allies.

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