Rethinking Singapore-Sino relations : prospects and perils of China’s regional multilateralism for Singapore

Contrary to the conventional notion of small states being inactive in the global arena, Singapore presents itself as an outlier. In fact, it receives a modest degree of international recognition and spotlight disproportionate to its minute size. Due to its active involvement in multilateral organizations such as ASEAN, Singapore can acquire and enjoy a substantial amount of diplomatic power. However, the emergence of China and its increasing avenue in the multilateral fora pose significant opportunities and challenges for Singapore. The ongoing South China Sea territorial disputes between China and several ASEAN claimant states had resulted in hiccups in the longstanding warm Singapore-Sino ties. As such, guided by the principles of neoliberal institutionalism, Singapore enmeshes China in a web of economic and security cooperative frameworks. Overall, Singapore’s complex engagement with China through diverse fields at both the bilateral and multilateral levels allows it to maintain its strategic value to China, steer this largely unbalanced relationship to its advantage, and safeguard its national interests.Bachelor of Art