Politics
Singapore seeks to navigate US-China rivalry regardless of presidential election outcome

Published
5 months agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
The city state has adapted well to the rivalry and is unlikely to shift from its hedging policy between Washington and Beijing, analysts say
As the United States presidential election draws closer, Singapore is keeping a close eye on how the outcome could affect its careful tightrope walk between the world’s largest economy and China amid their ongoing geopolitical rivalry and trade war.
The city state has been adapting well to the evolving realities arising from the fallout of the US-China rivalry, analysts say.
Regardless of who becomes the next US leader following the November 5 election – Vice-President Kamala Harris or ex-president Donald Trump – the fundamentals of America’s foreign policies towards China and Asia are unlikely to change drastically as much of the uncertainty has been factored in, according to analysts.
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“While Trump may inject greater uncertainty and unpredictability, a Harris presidency will not and cannot suddenly engender stability, peace and predictability,” said Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University’s Public Policy and Global Affairs division.
Last week, Singapore’s Senior Minister and former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that if Trump were to slap tariffs of 60 per cent or higher on Chinese goods in his second term as promised, it would put Singapore in “uncharted territory”.
“On the American side, there are not many issues where the Democrats and the Republicans agree on, but this is one [US policy towards China]. And that is a very serious matter. So whether it is Harris or whether it is Trump, that is not going to be changing,” Lee said at a business event last week.
A second Trump term would likely spell more disruptions for American allies and other countries, he said. “In particular, I think, what you can anticipate is that his attitude towards allies, towards America’s friends, will be different from what the Democrat administration has done in these last four years,” Lee added.
In an interview with The Economist in May, days before he became Singapore’s prime minister, Lawrence Wong described the city state as being neither pro-China nor pro-US but “pro-Singapore”. He stressed that Singapore must brace itself for the possibility of a decade or more of unpredictability as the US and China sought a new equilibrium in their relationship.
Last year, Singapore and China upgraded their free trade agreement, which would give businesses from the city state more access to Chinese markets. China has been Singapore’s biggest trading partner since 2013, with two-way trade totalling US$108.39 billion last year, according to data from both countries.
Singapore also has a free-trade agreement with the US since 2004, Washington’s first with an Asian country.
Meanwhile, regional countries such as Singapore and Malaysia have been closely monitoring the impact of the US-China tech war as global businesses seek a haven from the fallout.
Singapore has become one of the top destinations for global tech firms looking to expand their operations into the region, and is home to 80 of the world’s top 100 technology companies, according to a 2023 article published by the Economic Development Board.

Singapore’s Pulau Brani port terminal. The country’s two biggest trading partners are China and the US. Photo: AFP
Hedging policy
Harris and Trump have so far been vague about their plans for Southeast Asia, according to analysts who spoke to The Post previously
Ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have diverted Washington’s attention from Southeast Asia, which could limit its ability to engage effectively with the region and Singapore, the analysts said.
While Trump was expected to be “more transactional” in dealing with Washington’s regional allies, Harris would likely adopt a “more personal approach” in dealing with the region, they added.
Singapore is expected to be agnostic about the next US president and is unlikely to depart from its hedging policy between Washington and Beijing, according to one analyst.
In an Asia New Zealand Foundation commentary published earlier this week, NTU’s Loh wrote that across the Trump and Joe Biden administrations in the US, ties between Washington and Singapore had not shifted drastically “from its historically strong and progressive character”.
He pointed out that there were important progress made in areas such as critical technologies, clean energy, and financial technologies throughout the two administrations.

Then US President Donald Trump talks with then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the city state in 2018. Photo: AP
Relations between the US and Singapore were based on common interests and pragmatism, said Bilahari Kausikan, a former permanent secretary of Singapore’s foreign ministry.
“There is only one America which plays a vital role in maintaining balance in Asia – a role that is now acknowledged by traditionally non-aligned countries like India and Indonesia and even old enemies like Vietnam – so we will find a way of working with whoever occupies the White House,” he wrote in a Facebook post earlier this week.
If Trump were to carry out his promise to levy tariffs on all imports to promote American manufacturing, it would slow the world economy, Kausikan said.
He was referring to the Republican presidential candidate’s proposal to impose a 20 per cent tariff on goods from all US trading partners and at least 60 per cent on Chinese imports.
Kausikan said Trump could also adopt a tougher stance on Chinese goods using Southeast Asia as a “back door into the US”. While Harris would likely not ignore these issues, she might not “pursue them with the same sharpness” as Trump, Kausikan added.
“We have to understand that the US attitude towards trade has fundamentally changed and adapt ourselves to the new reality,” he said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris attends a news conference in Singapore in 2021. Photo: AP
Tan See Seng, research adviser at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), said any move to impose higher tariffs on US trading partners could prove “challenging” for Singapore, given the city state’s heavy reliance on global trade.
“If Trump wins, he is likely to reconvene another trade war with China. If that leads to China doubling down on its ongoing effort to ‘decouple’ its economy from the US, Singapore’s economy will be affected but it’s unclear at this point exactly how so,” he added.
On the other hand, Harris would likely take on a more “nuanced strategy” if she were to become president, Tan said. Regardless of the next occupant of the White House, Singapore would have to find a “sweet spot” to manage its ties with China and the US, he added.
The dynamics within the Democratic and Republican parties would also influence the approach of the US towards China, said Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist from the National University of Singapore.
Some Republicans have been calling for a tougher approach towards Beijing while others from the same party preferred for Washington to maintain the status quo, he said.
“We’re not sure, even after the presidential election, which of these voices will win out within the different parties. If Trump wins, he cycles through these people quickly so there could be a lot of vacillation among these different kinds of voices,” he said.
In comparison, Washington’s China policy could be more “gradual” under a Harris administration, he added.
Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries have learnt to navigate through the US presidential cycles every four years, including their impact on Washington’s relationship with China, analysts said.
Tan from RSIS said: “China may respond a little differently to the US depending on who is leading America and Singapore will need to adroitly go with the flow.”
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Politics
Sheikh Hasina’s extradition discussed during PM Modi, Muhammad Yunus’s meeting: Foreign secy Vikram Misri

Published
8 minutes agoon
April 4, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Bangkok [Thailand], April 4 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with Bangladesh’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus for the first time since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. in their meeting that was held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, the two leaders discussed Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, the Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri said.
Addressing a special briefing on PM Modi’s visit to Thailand, Misri stated “There were talks on Sheikh Hasina’s extradition. Can’t say more on that.”
Further, Misri said that PM Modi has expressed India’s concerns over the safety and security of minorities, including Hindus in Bangladesh during his meeting.
“PM Modi reiterated India’s support for democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. He underlined India’s desire to forge a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh. The PM also urged that any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.
Misri further said that the situation of minorities, including that of Hindu minorities were raised by India.
“The PM also urged that any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided. On the border, strict enforcement of the law and prevention of illegal border crossing are necessary to maintain border security and security. The PM also underlines India’s concerns over the safety and security of minorities, including Hindus in Bangladesh,” he added.
PM Modi is in Bangkok for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.
In a post on X, he said, “With fellow BIMSTEC leaders at the Summit being held in Bangkok, Thailand. We reaffirm our commitment to boosting cooperation across diverse sectors. May our efforts bring a positive difference in people’s lives.”
The 6th BIMSTEC Summit marks a significant regional engagement between India and its neighbouring countries in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) group.
Politics
Court stops pro-Wike rally in Bayelsa

Published
34 minutes agoon
April 4, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
The Bayelsa State High Court, sitting in Yenagoa, has issued an order restraining associates of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from holding a planned mega rally in the state.
Ekwutosblog reports that the proposed rally was scheduled for April 12, 2025, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Hon. Justice I.A. Uzakah, on Thursday, granted the Motion Ex-Parte in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CV/133/2025, filed by the State’s Attorney General, Biriyai Dambo, SAN.
Lead convener of the NEW Associates, organizers of the rally, Mr. George Turnah, and the FCT Minister, Wike, were listed as the first and second defendants/respondents in the suit.
The other defendants were the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Police Command.
The matter was, thereafter, adjourned to April 11, 2025, for hearing.
Politics
Supreme Court voids verdict recognising Abure as LP’s National Chairman

Published
2 hours agoon
April 4, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA– The Supreme Court, on Friday, nullified the judgement that recognised Mr. Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP.
In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel of the apex court vacated the January 17 judgement of Court of Appeal in Abuja, which validated Abure’s continued stay in office as National Chairman of the party.
According to the Supreme Court, the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to enter any pronouncement in favour of Abure since it had earlier found that the subject matter of the dispute bordered on the leadership of a political party.
It held that the substance of the case centered on the domestic affair of a political party which no court has the powers to meddle into.
Consequently, the Supreme Court allowed an appeal that was filed by a former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, who are the Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of a Caretaker Committee that was earlier appointed to pilot the affairs of the party.
It will be recalled that following a leadership crisis that rocked the LP, the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party resolved to remove Abure as the National Chairman.
To fill the leadership vacuum, the party constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, with the former Finance Minister, Senator Usman as Chairman and Hon. Nwokocha as Secretary.
The decision was the outcome of an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the party that was hosted in Umuahia by governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
The meeting where Abure was sacked from office was chaired by his former ally and candidate of the party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Abure approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to validate his position as the National Chairman of the party.
In an affidavit he personally deposed to in support of the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, Abure told the court that following the death of the National Chairman of the LP, he was lawfully elected as the Acting National Chairman of the party at a National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party that held in Benin City, Edo State, on March 29, 2021.
He told the court that on April 18, 2023, at the NEC meeting of the party held in Asaba, Delta State and duly monitored by INEC, it was resolved that tenures of State Chairmen whose tenures had expired, be renewed.
He said it was at the same meeting that some members that were engaged in anti-party activities were expelled and replacements for vacant positions created as a result of the expulsion, done.
Abure averred that in line with a consensus that was reached at the meeting, the party subsequently held its National Convention on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi, Anambra State, where we was lawfully elected to the office of National Chairman of the LP.
He said the party under his leadership produced candidates for governorship elections in both Edo and Ondo states.
According to the plaintiff, on June 28, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued to him and 18 other National Chairmen of political parties, a Notice for Inspection of Sensitive Election Materials for the Ondo and Edo state governorship polls.
However, he decried that a later notice that INEC gave for political parties to nominate two persons from their IT Unit to undertake a training on how to upload data unto INEC’s portal for the purpose of the impending Ondo state gubernatorial election, was not served on him.
Abure told the court that he became aware of the existence of the said notice of the training by INEC, on August 21, 2024, due to the fact that he is a member of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, IPAC.
Therefore, he prayed the court to intervene by compelling INEC to acord him recognition as the National Chairman of the LP.
Delivering judgement in the matter on October 8, 2024, trial Justice Emeka Nwite held that he found merit in the case of the plaintiff.
He ordered INEC grant the LP under Abure’s leadership, all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in the country.
The court further directed INEC to perform its lawful duty by conducting a refresher training for the upload of LP’s agents into the INEC portal and to issue the plaintiff (Abure) the Access Code required to access INEC’s portal for the Ondo Governorship Election that held on November 16, 2024.
“I am of the view that and so hold that on the basis of these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.
“The plaintiff has proved his case.
“I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in Nigeria,” Justice Nwite held.
Though the high court’s judgement was affirmed by the appellate court, it was however set-aside by the Supreme Court on Friday.

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