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Chinese social media users lash out at Singapore over S China Sea dispute

SINGAPORE — Chinese social media users have ramped up their criticisms against Singapore, amid the belief that the city state has not been particularly sympathethic towards China’s position on overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after re-emerging on stage at the National Day Rally on Aug 21, 2016. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after re-emerging on stage at the National Day Rally on Aug 21, 2016. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

SINGAPORE — Chinese social media users have ramped up their criticisms against Singapore, amid the belief that the city state has not been particularly sympathethic towards China’s position on overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

“Do not for a moment think that Li Jiapo has ever been friendly towards China,” wrote a weibo user — China’s version of Twitter — yesterday.

The term “Li Jiapo” — referring to Singapore’s name in Chinese but substituting the first two Chinese characters for “Li Jia” or the “Lee Family” — has been used in China’s social media to mock the Republic.

“After Lee Hsien Loong came to power, he changed his father’s policy of being friendly towards China. In fact, he has been backstabbing China? Why is this so?”

Another weibo user said Singapore has always indulged in “political speculation”. “The country’s survival has always been based on political speculation (among the major powers),” the user stated.

As news broke on Sunday that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had experienced a brief fainting spell while delivering the National Day Rally, a weibo posting said: “There will be a change of leadership in Li Jiapo soon. Expect a change in their national policies.”

“For the sake of your health, please do not strain yourself over the South China Sea issue,” said another sarcastic social media posting.

China claims a large swath of the South China Sea. Four countries from the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) — Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines — as well as Taiwan also have claims to the strategic waterway, through which US$5 trillion (S$6.8 trillion) in shipborne trade passes every year.

An international tribunal last month invalidated China’s claims in the South China Sea but it has vowed to ignore the ruling.

Singapore is the country coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations and some Chinese media outlets have carried articles criticising Singapore for not siding more with China.

Earlier this month, China’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement asking Singapore to “respect” its position on the South China Sea ruling. “The related ruling is illegal, invalid and has no binding force,” said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hua Chunying.

“China hopes that Singapore ... can maintain an objective and fair position as the coordinator of China and Asean dialogue relations, so as to advance Sino-Singapore relations and healthy and stable China-Asean ties.”

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin last week also reportedly urged Singapore to stay out of the South China Sea dispute.

“As Singapore is not a claimant in the South China Sea, we hope that the Singapore Government, on the condition of not interfering in South China Sea issues, will actively promote cooperation between China and Asean,” Mr Liu said.

During his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, Mr Lee said that Singapore-China ties were much broader than the South China Sea issue.

Noting that some Singaporeans are concerned about how some Chinese media outlets have been critical of Singapore and this may affect business linkages, Mr Lee said: “The Government has to take a national point of view, decide what is in Singapore’s overall interests.”

“We want good relations with other countries if it is at all possible. But we must be prepared for ups and downs from time to time.” He also said that Singapore is good friends with both Washington and Beijing.

Some Chinese social media users were more understanding of Singapore’s national circumstances.

“I wonder what is the mentality behind those who are criticising Lee Hsien Loong. Singapore is a sovereign state and it must, of course, first and foremost consider its own national interests,” noted a weibo user yesterday.

The user added that although there may be many Chinese residing in Singapore, the times and circumstances have changed.

“Do you think this is still the past when everyone was a subject of the Qing Dynasty?... If you are free, please read more books, spend less time on social media and use your brains.” AGENCIES

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