Singapore, a small island nation known as the "helmsman", shines on the world stage. Located in the South Seas, Singapore is not big, but with its indomitable spirit and extraordinary wisdom, it skillfully navigates the vicissitudes between major powers.
The history of Singapore is like a wonderful picture, full of poignancy and waves. Since the beginning of Chinese immigration, this small island has been associated with a large country. The pain of the colonial period, the tossing and turning after the Second World War, the people of Singapore finally became independent in 1965, but the tears of Lee Kuan Yew are a unique annotation to that scene.
Singaporeans are observant and responsive, and their diplomatic strategy is unparalleled. Lee Kuan Yew fused the British statecraft with the Japanese scheming to not only bring Singapore to the United Nations, but also to sign alliances with its neighbors to resist pressure from the great powers.
Economically, Singapore has chosen a unique path. They adjusted the tax structure, emphasized manufacturing, developed the shipping industry, and took advantage of their geographical advantages to become a transit point for commercial routes between the East and the West. Even though the country is small, it is at the forefront of the world with an astonishing GDP.
Militarily, Singapore is not to be outdone. They purchased military equipment from the United States, signed defense agreements, and became the bridgehead of the United States in Southeast Asia. Singapore, with its high-end military equipment, has earned itself a position with a stable military budget and solid armaments.
In terms of education, Singapore also has its own insistence. Despite the changes in their language policy, they have always used English as their main language of instruction as a way to promote the country's development.
In the face of the Sino-US dispute, Singapore has chosen a flexible route. Sometimes they are pro-American, and sometimes they are courting China to protect their own interests. On the issue of the establishment of diplomatic relations, they made it clear that they could only establish diplomatic relations with China after the resumption of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China.
Overall, Singapore is a country with a long history and remarkable wisdom. As "helmsmen", they skillfully navigated between the great powers, earning themselves respect and status. May we all learn from Singapore and sail the turbulent world with wisdom and courage.