Singapore’s newly appointed Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing has called on the international community to actively engage China and prevent dangerous misinterpretations amid rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific. Speaking at the final session of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), a leading regional security forum, Chan underscored the importance of inclusive dialogue and understanding China’s perspective, while cautioning against deepening geopolitical divisions.
“It is incumbent upon all of us to reach out to China in different forums,” Chan said on Sunday. “It is in the interest of all of us to better, deeper understand China’s fears, concerns and aspirations, just as it is important for China to understand how the rest of the world perceives China.”
The remarks, reported by the South China Morning Post, come in the wake of renewed verbal clashes between Chinese and American representatives at the SLD. Beijing sent only a lower-level delegation to the summit, breaking from its previous pattern since 2019, a decision Chan described as “felt” during high-level meetings.
Tensions spiked after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of “imminent conflict” over Taiwan and characterized China’s actions in the region as aggressive. In response, China’s Major General Hu Gangfeng accused the United States of destabilizing the Asia-Pacific and promoting division.
In a media interview later that day, Chan was asked by Chinese reporters to respond to Hegseth’s speech. He noted that the US defence chief had also clearly stated that America does not seek war with China, nor does it aim to change its political system or disrespect its historical culture.
“Yes, he did talk about the China threat,” Chan acknowledged. “But I think it’s the first time something like that has been stated so clearly.”
Chan emphasized that while disagreements remain, both the US and China have expressed a desire to better understand each other—an encouraging sign for regional diplomacy. “It’s useful to just go into a room, have a cup of coffee and meet one another and exchange notes,” he said. “And if Singapore can provide the coffee and the table and chairs, it will gladly be done.”
He reiterated that Singapore, which maintains a neutral foreign policy stance, would continue promoting dialogue with whoever Beijing sends to such forums, insisting the SLD should not depend on the presence of particular individuals.
Throughout his speech, Chan emphasized principles over partisanship. “If we have to choose sides, may we choose the side of principles – principles that uphold a global order where we do not descend into the law of the jungle,” he said, warning against an international system where the powerful act without restraint.
Addressing broader geopolitical tensions, Chan warned of the dangers posed when countries justify military aggression by citing historical grievances—an indirect reference to conflicts like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“If one country, whether big or small, can march into another country on the basis that they want to right the wrongs of history, then I think we live in a very dangerous world,” he said, noting the vulnerability of small and young nations like Singapore.
On Taiwan, Chan cautioned against “simplistic” narratives framing the issue as a conflict between democracy and autocracy or drawing direct parallels with Ukraine. “It scares me to hear … simplistic explanations,” he said, stressing that the resolution or management of the Taiwan issue must ultimately be determined by the Chinese people.
In Beijing, state media reported that the People’s Liberation Army launched military drills around Taiwan over the weekend, underscoring the volatility of the cross-strait situation. Despite rising tensions, Chan urged for communication between both sides of the Taiwan Strait to foster mutual security and economic prosperity.
“We hope that both sides … will be able to open up the channels of communications to discuss where their shared future lies,” he said.
Chan’s comments reflect Singapore’s ongoing effort to act as a bridge between major powers and promote regional stability, especially as the global order faces increasing stress from great power competition.
