BEIJING – There are limits to cutting strategic rivals off from access to critical technologies and materials, as such leverage does not last, said Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Speaking to the Singapore media in Beijing on June 25 as he wrapped up a five-day official visit to China, he pointed out how, sometimes, the more a country tries to leverage on the elements which other countries rely on, the more it incentivises the other parties to find alternative solutions and sources.
“There will always be alternatives – be it high-end semiconductor chips or rare earth materials,” he said. “So what may appear to be leveraged today may very well be minimised down the road.”
In its bid to prevail in a strategic rivalry with China, the United States has restricted exports of advanced chips and chip technology to China. In return, China has restricted exports of rare earth and critical minerals to the US, which are vital for the manufacturing of cars and military equipment. Both parties have cited security considerations as their rationale.
PM Wong expressed confidence that China can find a way to get around the restrictions placed on it.
“China will double its efforts as it is already doing to develop its own indigenous technology, strengthen its R&D base, and emerge more resilient from this process. We see that happening,” he said.
After Chinese and American negotiators met in London in June, China loosened its restriction of rare earth exports to the US in some ways, while still banning them for military use.
“I think it’s good that China and America had good conversations recently,” PM Wong said, noting that this helped to lower the temperature around the trade dispute.
“We hope that there will continue to be dialogue, constructive engagements, and both sides can find a way forward,” he said.
Asked how Singapore contributes towards geopolitical hot-button issues such as the US-China rivalry, PM Wong said that Singapore wants to have good relations with all countries, but good relations do not come simply with “saying polite words, handshakes and hugs”.
He added that good relations with other countries are achieved when Singapore is relevant and can offer something to its partners.
Singapore’s ability to serve as a trusted interlocutor is another important contribution it brings to the table, he noted.
“We are seen as a reliable, honest broker. People trust us to facilitate conversations, even among parties who may not always have the same views,” he said.
This role is particularly critical amid rising global tensions and growing pressures for countries to turn inward. “If Singapore can continue helping to bring people together, regionally and globally, we can play a constructive role in upholding multilateralism and forging a more stable and cooperative future for all.”
Earlier on June 25, in Tianjin, PM Wong spoke at a World Economic Forum event, during which he called for like-minded countries to cooperate on specific issues, while leaving the door open for others to join in future even as the multilateral system is showing signs of erosion.
Speaking to Singapore reporters in Beijing, PM Wong also expressed bullishness about the Chinese economy, despite it facing headwinds from the triple-digit tariffs the US has threatened to slap on it.
While China’s property market challenges have not been completely resolved, the situation has stabilised significantly compared with a few years ago, he noted.
“The economy is continuing to do well, and you can see deliberate efforts to raise and boost consumption to build a more balanced economy,” he said.
PM Wong also pointed to the untapped potential in people living in China’s rural and agricultural sectors. “This means there are still tremendous opportunities ahead for China to urbanise, modernise and uplift hundreds of millions of its people,” he said.
During this visit, his first to the country as prime minister, PM Wong met China’s top three leaders to build trust and rapport with them.
Asked how the dynamics were for his meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang as well as National People’s Congress chairman Zhao Leji, PM Wong said: “They were very good!”
He added: “We were able to discuss not only our bilateral issues and bilateral areas of cooperation, which is to be expected, but also wider regional and global developments, and exchange views on these matters quite candidly and openly.”
He hopes to continue these conversations with Mr Li and Mr Xi. “I’ve also invited them to visit Singapore at some point of their convenience,” PM Wong added.
Singapore and China mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year. Both countries upgraded the ties to an “All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership” in 2023.
- Yew Lun Tian is a senior foreign correspondent who covers China for The Straits Times.
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