Singaporean Minister Highlights Chinese People's Role in Resolving Taiwan Question
Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing emphasizes the critical need to understand the historical context of the Taiwan question at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue.
Emphasizing the importance of regional stability in Asia, Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing addressed delegates at the closing session of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. He stated that the Taiwan question is fundamentally an issue for the Chinese people to determine, underscoring his country’s stance of non-interference and respect for sovereign processes.
Chan called on the international community to recognize the historical context behind the Taiwan question, urging against the tendency to reduce the situation to simplistic binaries. “How this issue is going to be resolved, if not managed, will have to be determined by the Chinese people,” he asserted, highlighting the complexity inherent in cross-strait relations.
The minister also issued a warning against drawing parallels between the Taiwan question and other recent global conflicts. He specifically criticized framing the issue as a battle between “democracy and autocracy” or likening it directly to the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to Chan, such narratives are misleading and risk escalating tensions in the region. “When I hear attempts to oversimplify or analogize this situation, it scares me,” he remarked, noting that such discourse overlooks the unique historical, political, and cultural factors at play.
Chan’s comments reflect a broader effort among Southeast Asian nations to encourage dialogue and peaceful management of disputes. As regional leaders and defense officials concluded discussions in Singapore, the call for restraint and nuanced understanding came through clearly, with Chan reiterating that stability in the Taiwan Strait is vital not only for those directly involved but for the wider Asia-Pacific region.
As debates over security and sovereignty continue to resonate in international forums, Chan’s remarks signal a continued commitment from Singapore to uphold principles of neutrality and regional cooperation, while reminding external actors of the importance of allowing local populations to shape their own destinies.
