Editorial | Stability remains a priority for the new leader of Singapore
- While there is no reason to expect any disruptive movement in the city state’s position or the way it sees the world, new prime minister Lawrence Wong has no illusions about the challenges ahead
Singapore is a beacon of stability. Its carefully planned and orchestrated leadership handover is a reminder of that.
Lawrence Wong is only the fourth prime minister of the city state since it declared independence in 1965. It is such exceptional continuity amid external turbulence that has focused attention.
There is no reason to expect any disruptive movement in Singapore’s position or the way it sees the world. Foreign policy objectives will not change under Wong.
Priorities are stability and continued improvement in China-United States relations, and stronger ties with both and with other partners. Advancement of the city’s interests is paramount.
As a result Singapore has generally been a neutral force in a region sometimes troubled by internal and external conflict. In that regard Wong’s inaugural speech conveyed no illusions about the challenges ahead.
Singapore, he said, was dealing with a messier, riskier, more violent world in which the great powers were competing to shape a new, yet undefined global order. The transition is riddled with geopolitical tensions, protectionism and rampant nationalism.
