Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

S’pore should close ranks in the face of common threats

The writer of “S’pore can offer much to Belt and Road, but must be wary” (Aug 3) brings up a good point: How do we fit into the new scheme of things?

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp
Lee Teck Chuan

The writer of “S’pore can offer much to Belt and Road, but must be wary” (Aug 3) brings up a good point: How do we fit into the new scheme of things?

We can be likened to a sampan. Even if we paddle hard to avoid a collision, we can be overturned by waves created by one or more passing vessels.

To stay relevant, we must keep larger powers interested in us. If they have huge stakes invested in us, they have good reasons to guard their own interests, thereby serving our interests too.

Our hub status is not indispensable, as the writer points out.

By Chinese folklore, they can move mountains with sheer determination. The country cannot be beholden to the Malacca Strait through which much of its imported resources pass.

As a rising power, China has spread its investments far and wide.

Its huge foreign reserves give it the wherewithal to go where it pleases, and there are ready takers that welcome China.

Riding on our good international standing, we could help it make inroads into its forays overseas. While we still have this advantage, we could leverage it by putting stakes into these investments ourselves.

We must understand how China thinks. It holds itself as the celestial middle to which other states pay homage. Traditionally, it converted the invaders on their land. It operates on “zhong yong”, a Confucius tradition preaching the subliminal middle ground.

There is give and take, but harmony must be preserved. Rules are malleable as such.

The Chinese expect reciprocity from others who have benefited from them. Decoupling economics from security issues befuddles them.

While it is still finding its way in the world and changing rapidly at the same time, many may find it exasperating to understand an ancient civilisation so different, if not amorphous.

But Singaporeans should bear in mind that no matter how discordant our views may be, we should close ranks in the face of common threats.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.