How does Singapore approach its relationships with China and Japan?

Singapore maintains strong and good relations with both China and Japan, viewing diplomacy as a non-zero-sum affair where friendships with one country do not compromise ties with another.

What new partnership has Singapore formed with Japan?

Singapore and Japan have elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, which includes enhanced cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and low-carbon energy solutions.

What is Singapore's foreign policy principle regarding international friendships?

Singapore's foreign policy principle, as articulated by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, is to cultivate as many strong and reliable friends as possible to maximize its strategic space and independence.

Home / Business and Economy / Singapore Balances China & Japan Ties With Pragmatism

Singapore Balances China & Japan Ties With Pragmatism

19 Mar

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Summary

Singapore maintains relations with China and Japan without prioritizing one over the other.
Prime Minister Wong emphasizes Singapore's strategy of having numerous strong and reliable friends.
Singapore elevates ties with Japan to a strategic partnership, including AI and cybersecurity cooperation.

Singapore Balances China & Japan Ties With Pragmatism

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, currently on an official visit to Japan from March 17 to 19, 2026, has emphasized the nation's consistent foreign policy of maintaining strong ties with multiple countries, including China and Japan. He articulated that Singapore does not view diplomatic relations as a zero-sum game, meaning good relations with one nation do not preclude similar ties with another. This principle, established by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, aims to maximize Singapore's strategic space and preserve its sovereignty.