Singapore

Minister in charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing (left) meeting with Minister of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Organisation Department Li Ganjie ahead of the 9th Singapore-China Forum on Leadership at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China, on 12 September 2023. (SPH Media)

Minister Chan Chun Sing on Singapore-China relations: Mutual trust is vital to navigate a changing world

Singapore Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing gave the keynote address during the 9th Singapore-China Forum on Leadership in Beijing on 12 September 2023. Minister Chan noted the importance of taking stock and exchanging notes on how countries’ approaches to governance must evolve as both the internal and external environment change, and stressed that facing the new challenges of the modern world requires cohesive leaders who work well together, not only within the government and with the people, but also with businesses and globally with international partners. Here is the edited transcript of his speech.
Children playing among two giant panda lanterns at the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Singapore, in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, on 28 August 2023. (SPH Media)

Chinese language: The ‘one language, two systems’ road ahead

Given its pluralistic nature, the Chinese language has taken many shapes over the course of history, with its written form and the associated dialects dictated by time and place. Meanwhile, the rise of China and its growing national power have led to the emergence of Chinese as an international language that transcends national borders. Eddie Kuo, Emeritus Professor at NTU, delves into the evolution of the language in the different Chinese-speaking regions.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang (fifth from left) waves after a family photo with ASEAN leaders before the start of the ASEAN-China Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 6 September 2023. (Willy Kurniawan/Reuters)

Elites vs citizens: How Singapore and Indonesia are divided on China

Surveys show that the elite’s opinion toward China diverges with those of citizens in Singapore and Indonesia. Elites tend to weigh long-term geopolitical strategies and have more access to information, but increased citizen engagement will enhance foreign policy.
Items seized by the police from the homes of members of the "Fujian gang". (Singapore Police Force)

Property, nightclubs, collector items: How ‘Fujian gang’ lifestyles aided money-laundering activities

While members of the “Fujian gang” have made the news recently for their billion-dollar money-laundering case, less is known about their lavish lifestyles and the trails their clandestine activities leave behind. Zaobao senior correspondent Poh Lay Hoon reports.
Luxury cars throng the streets in Changkeng township, Anxi county.

How Fujian’s tea capital became known as a 'scam town'

At least half of the Chinese men who were recently charged in a billion-dollar money-laundering probe in Singapore are from Anxi — a province in Fujian known for producing tea but is now frequently linked to its involvement in scams. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing visits the county to find out how prevalent fraudulent activities are and the impact on its locals.
Singapore has become a significant source of investments in Vietnam. (SPH Media)

Big Read: Singapore a key driver of foreign investment in Vietnam

Singapore has become Vietnam’s biggest source of foreign investment amid the China-US rivalry and disrupted global supply chain. Several Singaporean companies have established themselves in Vietnam and are playing important roles in helping the local government attract foreign investors. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Yush Chau interviews Singapore entrepreneurs in Vietnam to find out more.
People walk past a neighbourhood decorated with Singapore flags in Singapore. (SPH Media)

Chan Heng Chee: Small state in a turbulent world

Chan Heng Chee, ambassador-at-large and professor at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design, delivered a speech at the Reinventing Destiny conference on 14 August, held in commemoration of the 100th birth year anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding prime minister. She spoke about how strengthening Singapore as a nation and being part of an inclusive regional grouping like ASEAN could help the city state better survive these divisive and conflictual times. Here is the edited transcript of her speech.
Baiterek, a monument and observation tower, in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

Big Read: Kazakhstan’s economic emergence amid US-China-Russia power struggle

Kazakhstan’s development since gaining independence in 1991 has led it to become a leader in the Central Asia region. With much potential still waiting to be explored in this resource-rich country, Kazakhstan is walking a tightrope to balance its relations with the US, China and Russia. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong shares findings from her visit.
Singapore flags seen adorning the rooftop carpark of People's Park Complex in Chinatown, Singapore, 28 July 2023. (SPH Media)

Singapore ambassador to the US responds to Washington Post: Singapore media will not choose sides

In response to the Washington Post’s recent article that accused Lianhe Zaobao for echoing Beijing’s propaganda, Singapore ambassador to the US Lui Tuck Yew argues that Singapore’s media, along with the country’s foreign policy, will not choose sides between the US and China.