Singapore's rationale for distancing itself from China and forging its own narrative of nationhood explained.
In 1976, during an official visit to China, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) was presented with a book titled "India's China War" by his Chinese hosts. The book, written by Neville Maxwell, a journalist and Oxford academic, was a pro-China version of the border war between India and China.
The Chinese hosts' intention behind gifting this book was clear: to draw Singapore into China's geopolitical orbit. However, LKY's response was subtle yet firm. He set the book aside and stated that there was another version of the war, subtly rebuffing the attempt to influence Singapore's foreign alignment.
This incident, recounted in Cheong Yip Seng's memoir "Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel," was a significant moment in Singapore's history. It demonstrated Singapore’s non-alignment and independent foreign policy, refusing to be pulled into China’s sphere of influence.
Moreover, the incident underscored Lee Kuan Yew’s commitment to multiracialism and national unity. Despite Singapore having three-quarters of its population being ethnic Chinese, LKY's actions showed that he was not swayed by external pressures to align closely with China. Instead, he prioritized Singapore’s identity as a multiracial nation-state that was independent of ethnic loyalties.
S.R. Nathan, who later became Singapore's sixth president, was part of the delegation and expressed pride in LKY's response to the book, stating, "I was so proud of what the PM did." This statement underscores the importance of LKY's actions in maintaining Singapore’s neutrality and independence, especially in the face of geopolitical pressures.
The episode epitomizes how LKY navigated complex geopolitical pressures while prioritizing Singapore’s unity and sovereign interests. Cheong Yip Seng, who served as editor-in-chief of The Straits Times for a significant portion of his career, provides insights into Singapore's foreign policy during that period through his memoir.
In summary, the incident in 1976 was important because it:
- Demonstrated Singapore’s non-alignment and independent foreign policy, refusing to be pulled into China’s sphere of influence. - Reflected LKY’s commitment to multiracialism, avoiding ethnic Chinese nationalism influencing state policy. - Affirmed Singapore’s desire to forge its own identity and not be seen as a proxy or client state of any major power.
This event serves as a testament to LKY's diplomatic prowess and Singapore's commitment to maintaining its independence and neutrality on the global stage.
The Chinese hosts' gift of "India's China War" was an intentional move to draw Singapore into their geopolitical orbit, but Lee Kuan Yew's response, as recounted by Cheong Yip Seng, demonstrated Singapore's refusal to align closely with China and its commitment to maintaining independence in general-news matters.
The incident in 1976, where LKY subtly rebuffed the hosts' attempt to influence Singapore's foreign policy, also underscored his dedication to multiracialism, ensuring that ethnic loyalties did not sway Singapore's national identity or its foreign policy, even in the face of geopolitical pressures, reflecting the broader theme of Singapore's politics and geopolitics.
