This year's UN General Assembly is in the spotlight as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the sudden geopolitical crisis have disrupted global energy and food markets, further exacerbating an already weak global economy. In addition to the Ukraine crisis, the future of Sino-US relations is also in the spotlight. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Vivian issued a clear warning to the United States during the session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, pointing out that the biggest crisis facing Sino-US relations at present is the lack of strategic mutual trust, and the root cause of this problem lies in the Taiwan Strait issue. He reminded the United States that this is the most important of all China's red lines.
Weaving made it clear that as a frequent visitor to China, he has seen China become more assertive and act more decisively when defending its national interests. He likened Singapore to a sober observer, bluntly saying that Sino-US relations are close to the brink of conflict. If the two sides fail to establish the most basic trust, then the words and actions of either side may trigger a violent reaction or even miscalculation on the other side, which will eventually lead the two countries into conflict.
Weiwen also specifically mentioned Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's speech at the Asia Society in the United States, emphasizing the importance of the Taiwan issue to China. Singapore's worries have been expressed many times in international public opinion. In a nationally televised address in August, Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, repeatedly warned of the possibility of a conflict between major powers and promised that the government would do its utmost to avoid getting involved. Meanwhile, Singapore's deputy prime minister and successor to Lee Hsien Loong, Lawrence Wong, issued a similar warning, saying that if the two countries fail to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait, they could sleepwalk into conflict.
The reason why Singapore is so concerned about the tensions in the US-China relationship is that it is a small country at the economic and political intersection of East and West, but its small size allows it to keep a clear head and examine the changes in the situation in its surrounding area. Such concerns are widespread in Asia-Pacific countries. A head-on conflict in the two largest economies, especially in East Asia, can stoke anxiety in neighboring countries. China has made it clear that it will not compromise on Taiwan, which has relieved Asia-Pacific countries, especially ASEAN countries.
On the contrary, the Biden administration seems to be secretly inciting other countries to provoke China, especially after Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, and the leadership of the United States has been questioned. The focus of Asia-Pacific countries has changed from "whether China will rush forward" to "whether the United States will lose control". How China and the United States choose to respond will determine whether the relationship moves toward détente or conflict.