S'pore must never be a mouthpiece for other countries: Minister Chan

Its approach has been to always show its value as a partner, he says at China forum

- Lim Min Zhang China Correspondent

Singapore must never be a proxy or mouthpiece for other countries, or it risks losing its credibility, and therefore its value proposition, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Speaking at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Sept 18, Mr Chan added that Singapore's approach has been to continuously demonstrate its relevance and value as a partner.

Beyond being an economic partner and maintaining good relationships with others, Singapore also aims to be a reliable partner on the global stage, which includes being consistent and principled in its views, said Mr Chan, who is on a four-day trip to China that started on Sept 15.

"Consequently, we must never be a proxy or mouthpiece for others. Once a country becomes a proxy or mouthpiece, it loses its credibility, and therefore its value proposition.

"Singapore therefore upholds our sovereignty and stands by our principles," he said at a plenary session on strategic mutual trust and security cooperation during the opening day of the annual security forum, which is attended by defence officials, academics and representatives of international organisations.

In Guangdong and Beijing, Mr Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, toured military facilities and held engagements with senior Chinese leaders and defence officials.

At the Xiangshan Forum, he warned about the potential costs of a fraying global order and how a more uncertain economic environment could reinforce uncertainties in the security environment and vice versa.

For decades, many countries benefited from economic liberation and global integration, including in Asia, such as Singapore and China.

But today, there is growing dis content with the uneven distribution of these benefits, with various groups pushing back against global integration, he said. "Protectionism has started to drive policies."