Seismic shift ...Singapore creeping out of the American clutches?

 Singapore's pro American stance has stood the test of time after having benefitted from the largesse of the Brits and then the Americans for being friendly to these two AngloSaxon empires. The British rule did not result in too much bad blood partially because there were too few natives to fight a war of independence, and the Americans out of political necessity during a turbulent time of its early days as a young nation. Singapore grew up in an era of western dominance and naturally its western educated leaders found it easier to forge a closer relation with the West.

The rise of China did not create too much conflict of interests despite Singapore having a large Chinese population. It was expected that the Chinese majority would want a closer relation with China because of ethnic and cultural affinity. But the western educated political elite, both the Chinese and non Chinese, have a greater say and stick to their pro western policies to the extent of providing access to military facilities to the Americans to the ire of China.

The Anglophiles went to the extent of parroting American narratives that were anti China, even openly claiming that China was coercing and trying to influence Singapore's policies, forcing Singapore to take sides, when the truth was that the Americans were the ones forcing and often dictating Singapore's foreign policy positions. The main media is still publishing negative news about China, giving an unfavourable slant to everything happening in China.

In the last few weeks, speeches by Hsien Loong and Lawrence Wong had taken a different twist. This is about the first time in Singapore's history that the govt officially took a hard stance against what the Americans are doing, in particular on the indiscriminate and bullying tariff wars. Singapore's position in the Gaza Genocide is also shaping up firmly in favour of Palestine, a very difficult position to take in view of Singapore's past relations with Israel. Singapore cannot ignore the sentiments of its Muslim population and Muslim neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, to keep turning a blind eye to the genocide against the Palestinians.

In view of the American trade war against China and the rest of the world, MFA conveniently was left in the cold, not to speak a word. It was left to Hsien Loong and Lawrence Wong to do all the talking.  In a way, these are signs that a seismic shift in Singapore's foreign policies vis a vis China and the USA is in the making. Thanks or no thanks to the gangsters in Washington, Singapore must be under tremendous constant pressure from the rogue regime that it has to speak out and defend its neutral position for its own national interests. To continue to bow to the Americans' dictate and become more anti China and anti Russia ie anti Global South, are no longer in Singapore's interests.

Singapore's first big blunder was its sanction against Russia, a stark position against Asean's common stand, and the consequences are too much to bear and would take a long time to repair. Singapore is now steering precariously in a new direction but likely to be scratched left and right as it moves along. The Americans would want to control Singapore's foreign policies especially against China.  Lawrence Wong would be under great pressure from the Americans to behave and do the American bidding. How successful is Singapore in charting a new course in its foreign policies in the face of the aggressive and coercive Americans against China would be a big test on Singapore, and on Lawrence Wong's toughness to stay neutral and independent. This is likely to be the biggest challenge to Singapore and Lawrence Wong's premiership. Singapore must constantly be aware of American terrorists conducting regime change when it suits them.

Rogue Trump and his gangsters are not easy to deal with. The ugliness and heavy handed American operators would not leave Singapore alone to be neutral for sure, and this would come out into the open. The pro American Anglophiles cannot go on to lie about how nice and friendly the American gangsters are and put the blame on China, the victim of American aggression and oppression. All the aggression, coercion to force Singapore to take sides was done by the Americans, not China.