Debate on President’s Address: Sim Ann on core principles driving Singapore’s foreign policy

Maintaining a balance in relations with the US and China appears to have become a yardstick by which Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans measure the success of Singapore’s foreign policy, said Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sim Ann. This is akin to a panel of judges assessing a gymnast’s performance on the balance beam, she added. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Apr 19), she stressed that Singapore’s foreign policy is driven by its principles, “not a quest for balance”. She said Singapore will do its utmost to broaden the basis of international cooperation. As a small country lacking in natural resources and highly dependent on free trade, it needs a peaceful and secure external environment, transparent and effective international law and a stable global order. Singapore depends on these factors for its survival, autonomy and prosperity. These are the core principles that shape its foreign policy, she said. Ms Sim pointed out that Singapore continues to maintain strong bilateral relations with the US and China, which creates the perception of a so-called “balancing act”. But these relations were not built on the basis of maintaining a “balancing act”, she said. Rather, these bilateral relations reflect decades of substantive win-win collaboration. Ms Sim said Singapore seeks to “make friends and keep friends”.  Above all, it must maintain its standing as an “honest broker”. She said Singapore wants to do its part in seeing the global situation improve and taking concrete steps to broaden the basis for international cooperation wherever possible.