SINGAPORE – The world is in a state of flux, and countries big and small have to do their part to manage geopolitical tensions and rivalry carefully so as to minimise the risk of conflict and war, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV ahead of his first visit to China as prime minister, he said a key priority is to discuss broader regional and global developments with Chinese leaders, and explore how both countries can work together to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based international order.
He also said that he hopes to build closer ties with the Chinese leaders, especially with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
His visit from June 22 to June 26 was announced on June 20 by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, who said PM Wong will be meeting Mr Xi, Mr Li and Mr Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress.
The visit comes as strategic rivalry between the United States and China has triggered supply chain disruptions, technological decoupling, and growing fears that other countries may eventually be forced to pick sides. The US has also imposed sweeping tariffs on much of the world, including Singapore, with particularly high duties on China.
“We are in the midst of a very messy and unpredictable transition,” PM Wong said in the interview, aired on the CCTV programme Leaders Talk on June 20. He noted that the US had helped shape the global order after World War II – an order that benefited all countries, including China and the US itself – which is now under strain as America signals a desire to pull back from it.
“There is no country in the world today that can replace the US, no one. So what is our alternative? I think frankly, at this stage, no one knows the answer,” he said.
PM Wong said it will take time for a new equilibrium to emerge. Unlike the post–Cold War era, which was dominated by a single superpower, he believes the new global order will be shaped by countries both large and small.
But in the meantime, the transition is potentially dangerous. “Without clear global leadership and coordination, there are many things that can go wrong in this world,” he warned, urging all countries to manage geopolitical tensions and rivalry carefully to minimise the risk of conflict and war.
He said the onus is on all countries to continue working together and find win-win cooperation, especially in areas of shared interest. “And then step by step, we can all work together to lay the groundwork for a new and more stable global order that may emerge in the years ahead. It will take time, but we should all do our part to shape this new global order.”
PM Wong will emphasise the importance of upholding a rules-based multilateral order when he attends a World Economic Forum event in Tianjin next week. The event, officially called the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, is commonly known as Summer Davos.
In the interview with CCTV, he acknowledged that today’s multilateral system is not perfect, but said it should be reformed and improved – not abandoned – to better serve all countries.
He explained the US’ turn towards anti-globalisation, saying that Americans feel that they are not enjoying the commensurate benefits.
Responding to a suggestion by the CCTV journalist that imposing heavy tariffs on much of the world might not be the proper way for the US to compensate themselves for feeling short-changed by globalism, PM Wong said: “We do not believe it is, but as I said, the administration reflects a growing sentiment amongst the American people that they are paying too high a price to be the world’s policeman, to underwrite the global system, and they have not benefited.
“If America were to take an enlightened self-interest, not just a very narrow perspective of its interest, but a wider view of its interests, this system has benefited America too.
“But the feelings are real, because globalisation over the decades has resulted in many cities and towns in America being completely de-industrialised, jobs being taken away, people losing their jobs, incomes stagnating. So the sentiments do exist. And when these sentiments exist, politicians react to the sentiments, and they take actions which they think will respond to these sentiments. That is what is happening in the US today.”
Asked about his top concern for Singapore, PM Wong said the increasingly fragmented global environment poses challenges for a small, open economy like Singapore, which depends heavily on trade.
But while global supply chains are being reshaped and countries seek greater self-sufficiency, he stressed that trade will continue, albeit in new configurations.
Singapore, he said, must stay competitive and relevant to remain a key node in shifting trade and investment flows, and is working with like-minded partners to uphold free trade and a rules-based system.
Within Asean, efforts are under way to deepen integration and lower trade barriers. Singapore is also strengthening ties with key Asian economies such as China, India, Japan and South Korea, while reaching out to further markets in the European Union, Latin America, and Africa.
“I believe in every crisis, there will always be opportunities, and so we are finding ways to seize new opportunities for ourselves and for other countries,” he said.
Mr Wong described the relationship between Singapore and China as “a very close and steadfast partnership”, nurtured over generations of leaders.
“So I hope to do the same in my visit with Chinese leaders, especially with President Xi and Premier Li, and I think the close ties at the leadership level sets the tone for the overall relationship.”
A key objective of his trip to China will be to reaffirm a shared commitment to bilateral cooperation, as Singapore and China mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The cooperation led to the three government-to-government projects of Suzhou Industrial Park, Tianjin Eco-city and Chongqing Connectivity Initiative.
Asked if he envisioned introducing a new project during his term, PM Wong said that he does not consider existing projects as completed and done with, but platforms that can continually host new areas of cooperation. This is in line with bilateral ties, which were upgraded in 2023 to an All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership.
PM Wong is no stranger to China, having visited almost every year since entering politics in 2011. He described the transformation he witnessed in China as “nothing short of an economic miracle”.
In the interview, he expressed confidence in China’s economy despite global headwinds, citing its strong track record and capable leaders who are willing to adapt.
Most of all, he said, his optimism stems from the determination of the Chinese people to keep moving forward and improve their lives.
“It’s a remarkable transformation, and I continue to wish China every success in its journey of modernisation,” he said.
- Yew Lun Tian is a senior foreign correspondent who covers China for The Straits Times.
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