https://www.scmp.com/rss/518650/feed The latest news on Lawrence Wong, Singaporean politician, economist, former civil servant and Prime Minister of Singapore, including political news and updates. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com CNA CNA Singapore and New Zealand on Monday signed the world’s first legally binding bilateral agreement to keep essential supplies – including food, fuel, healthcare products and chemical and construction materials – flowing even during crises. The Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies was signed by Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Tan See Leng and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay at the Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352337/singapore-nz-sign-worlds-first-bilateral-treaty-protect-essential-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352337/singapore-nz-sign-worlds-first-bilateral-treaty-protect-essential-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 06:59:47 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has sought to reassure workers amid concerns about the AI revolution, vowing that the city state will carve out fresh opportunities even as the new technology renders some jobs obsolete. In the annual May Day rally on Friday, Wong acknowledged the anxieties but urged workers and firms to build artificial intelligence capabilities and harness its benefits. Demand would rise for AI-savvy workers, and new doors would open as global companies expanded their... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352118/singapores-lawrence-wong-reassures-workers-over-ai-fears-vows-job-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352118/singapores-lawrence-wong-reassures-workers-over-ai-fears-vows-job-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 05:35:46 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Chinese chipmakers rallied on Friday while artificial intelligence application firms retreated, as investors rotated into semiconductor stocks on expectations of stronger demand for computing power following a new model release by start-up DeepSeek. Shares of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp rose 10 per cent by the close in Hong Kong, while Hua Hong Semiconductor surged 15 per cent, extending a broader rally among mainland chipmakers. In contrast, several AI application developers... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351328/investors-rotate-chinas-chipmakers-deepseek-intensifies-ai-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351328/investors-rotate-chinas-chipmakers-deepseek-intensifies-ai-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:03:43 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been putting her own spin on omotenashi, the Japanese concept of hospitality, to build personal rapport with foreign leaders as her diplomatic skills are put to the test about six months into office. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, who was not widely known for her diplomatic experience before taking office, has been adding an element of entertainment to summit talks and relying on personal gifts to win over her counterparts. Most... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350665/how-sanae-takaichi-redefining-japanese-diplomacy-personal-touches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350665/how-sanae-takaichi-redefining-japanese-diplomacy-personal-touches?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:40:14 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz only hours after its reopening is a tactic by Iran to gain leverage over the United States before possible negotiations, according to Chinese analysts. With the clock counting down to the end of a two-week ceasefire with the US on Wednesday, a deal with Washington was still possible and the likelihood of Tehran imposing a toll on the waterway was low, they added. The assessment came as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350588/closed-open-closed-why-iran-changing-course-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350588/closed-open-closed-why-iran-changing-course-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,He Huifeng Xiaofei Xu,He Huifeng With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. When Lawrence Wong decided to set up a toy factory in Vietnam last year, he had a clear plan: 600 square metres (6,458 sq ft) of floor space at the start of 2026, with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350477/chinese-manufacturers-recalibrate-overseas-expansion-plans-wake-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350477/chinese-manufacturers-recalibrate-overseas-expansion-plans-wake-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore and Australia pledged on Friday to keep fuel and gas flowing between them as the Middle East conflict rattled global energy markets, with both sides also working towards a legally binding agreement on essential supplies. At a joint press conference in Singapore, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra stood ready to supply more liquefied natural gas (LNG) if the city state needed it, while Albanese’s Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong said his government would... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349689/singapore-australia-vow-uninterrupted-fuel-supply-amid-global-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349689/singapore-australia-vow-uninterrupted-fuel-supply-amid-global-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:40:41 +0000 CNA CNA A Workers’ Party disciplinary panel looking into secretary general Pritam Singh’s conduct has completed its investigation into whether the chief had contravened the party’s constitution, after his court conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. “The panel will present its finalised report and recommendations to the Central Executive Committee in April,” Singapore’s opposition party said in a statement on Saturday. “The Notice of the Special Cadre Members’ Conference will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349015/singapores-workers-party-finishes-investigation-chief-pritam-singhs-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349015/singapores-workers-party-finishes-investigation-chief-pritam-singhs-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:43:15 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has met Hong Kong political heavyweights and business leaders – including former Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang and Richard Li Tzar-kai, the son of tycoon Li Ka-shing – in what he described as a “short but meaningful visit” to the city. Wrapping up his first official visit to the city since he became prime minister in 2024, Wong said in a Facebook post on Saturday that closer cooperation between the two Asian financial centres would contribute to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348251/singapores-lawrence-wong-wraps-short-meaningful-visit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348251/singapores-lawrence-wong-wraps-short-meaningful-visit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:51:53 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Singapore will explore opportunities arising from Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject and its coming five-year development plan, the city state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said, stressing that relations between the two sides are “more important than ever” in a fragmenting world. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday that Wong’s visit – his first official trip to Hong Kong since becoming prime minister in 2024 – was indicative of the strong ties and friendship between the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348166/singapore-explore-opportunities-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-lawrence-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348166/singapore-explore-opportunities-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-lawrence-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:01:07 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China could lead the way in Asia in forging new pathways for plurilateral cooperation, Singapore’s prime minister has said, calling for smaller groups of like-minded countries to work together to address challenges in multilateralism. Delivering a keynote address at the Boao Forum for Asia on Thursday, Lawrence Wong also said Beijing could spearhead areas such as AI governance and play a greater role in promoting economic prosperity across Asia, noting Singapore was willing to collaborate with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347989/singapore-leader-sees-china-helping-small-groups-realise-big-results-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347989/singapore-leader-sees-china-helping-small-groups-realise-big-results-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:44 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has told the Boao Forum for Asia – a high-level gathering of governments and business leaders – that power politics should be rejected in favour of economic development and conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. “The people of Asia, having endured the scourge of war and chaos, deeply understand the value of peace and stability,” said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:39:36 +0000 Danny Mok,Natalie Wong Danny Mok,Natalie Wong Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday for a three-day visit, meeting the city’s leader, politicians and businesspeople, and will also examine key sites in the Northern Metropolis megaproject to explore collaboration opportunities. It will be Wong’s first working visit to Hong Kong since he assumed office as Singapore’s fourth prime minister in May 2024. The visit will follow Wong’s attendance at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan province,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347743/singapores-lawrence-wong-visit-hong-kong-after-boao-forum-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347743/singapores-lawrence-wong-visit-hong-kong-after-boao-forum-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:54:37 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng As China undergoes a sweeping economic transition, its regions are also in the process of embracing change. The powerhouses of yesteryear must adapt or risk falling behind, as traditional industries become less reliable growth drivers and new sectors take prominence. In this series, we explore three representative areas of the country as they attempt to navigate this rapidly changing environment. One morning in December, Zhang Li showed up for work as normal at Everwin Toys in Dongguan to find a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347333/how-chinas-tech-transformation-putting-worlds-factory-tough-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347333/how-chinas-tech-transformation-putting-worlds-factory-tough-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 06:00:32 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has kicked off his visit to Japan, where he is expected to address strategies with counterpart Sanae Takaichi on enhancing cooperation against a backdrop of economic uncertainty brought on by the Iran war. Both leaders are likely to tread cautiously in discussions to avoid antagonising any superpower, analysts say. The three-day trip, which began on Tuesday, marks Wong’s first official visit to Japan since he became Singapore’s prime minister in May... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346929/singapores-lawrence-wong-seeks-stronger-ties-japan-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346929/singapores-lawrence-wong-seeks-stronger-ties-japan-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:15:44 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau When Joshua Tan turned up to Chinese New Year dinner last month, he hadn’t expected to spend the evening defending his career. He was 27 and freshly employed as a junior software engineer in Singapore. The questions from relatives were pointed: is your job safe? Can’t the computer just do it? It was an awkward conversation, equal parts interrogation and familial concern. But Tan knew the anxiety behind the questions was real. Not so long ago, he and his classmates had been so sought-after by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3345747/singapores-workers-brace-ai-disruption-its-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3345747/singapores-workers-brace-ai-disruption-its-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s long-standing effort to stay equidistant between the United States and China is entering a more volatile phase, with recent comments by officials reflecting their awareness of the mounting strain, analysts have said. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday told parliament that Singapore would not act as a proxy for any major power, stressing that the city state must be prepared to “courteously stand up and say no”. Observers say his remarks come at a time when geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345152/singapore-strives-remain-equidistant-amid-us-china-rivalry-same-same-different?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345152/singapore-strives-remain-equidistant-amid-us-china-rivalry-same-same-different?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:00:29 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s unexpectedly large budget surplus arises from tough decisions to raise taxes earlier and means that the country is now in a position of strength, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said, after MPs questioned the accuracy of his government’s budget forecasts. Earlier this month, Wong revealed in his budget statement that Singapore expected a surplus of S$15.1 billion (US$12 billion), or 1.9 per cent of gross domestic product, for the 2025 financial year ending March, more than double an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344736/singapore-budget-surplus-poor-fiscal-marksmanship-or-prudent-forecast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344736/singapore-budget-surplus-poor-fiscal-marksmanship-or-prudent-forecast?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:30:09 +0000 CNA CNA Hundreds of AI-generated Chinese-language YouTube videos have been targeting Singapore and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as part of an ongoing disinformation campaign. Seven in 10 videos attack Wong specifically, fabricating narratives about his leadership role being under threat and spreading conspiracy theories about political infighting in Singapore. The videos have racked up millions of views since surfacing late last year, though experts suggested that bot traffic or automation could be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344522/singapore-prime-minister-attacked-hundreds-chinese-language-fake-ai-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3344522/singapore-prime-minister-attacked-hundreds-chinese-language-fake-ai-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 01:31:19 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide electoral victory on Sunday signals a troubling shift: Japan’s unsettling turn to the right. In a post-US-led world order, safeguarding Japan’s security will require reaffirming, not abandoning, its post-war pacifist constitution. At the recent World Economic Forum annual meeting at Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a telling admission about the US-led international rules-based order: it was never truly fair. Canada benefited from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343064/takaichis-anti-china-stance-wont-bolster-japans-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343064/takaichis-anti-china-stance-wont-bolster-japans-security?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore expects a surplus of S$15.1 billion (US$12 billion) or 1.9 per cent of gross domestic product for the 2025 financial year, more than double an initial projection of S$6.8 billion, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said as he unveiled an aggressive bid to pursue AI ambitions in his annual budget speech. The higher revenues came from corporate income tax and asset-related revenue collections, including stamp duty and vehicle quota premiums, Wong said on Thursday. For the 2026 financial... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343310/singapore-budget-lawrence-wong-unveils-ai-ambitions-uncertain-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343310/singapore-budget-lawrence-wong-unveils-ai-ambitions-uncertain-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:30:30 +0000 CNA CNA The median monthly household income in Singapore rose to S$12,446 (US$9,250) last year, up from S$11,558 the year before, an increase of 6.8 per cent after adjusting for inflation. After accounting for household size, the median monthly household income per household member rose by 7.5 per cent in real terms, from S$3,837 in 2024 to S$4,160 in 2025. The figures were released on Monday in the Key Household Income Trends 2025 paper by the Singapore Department of Statistics (Singstat). In a video... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342918/singapore-wage-growth-outpaced-inflation-most-2025-wong-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342918/singapore-wage-growth-outpaced-inflation-most-2025-wong-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:06:41 +0000 Sophie Wushuang Yi Sophie Wushuang Yi For decades, the defining debate in international relations centred on whether China, as it developed into the world’s second-largest economy, would seek to revise the established world order. Would Beijing demand a greater share of global resources? Would it challenge American primacy? The non-Chinese speaking world watched anxiously for signs of Chinese revisionism, debating the “Thucydides Trap” – the theory that a rising power and an established hegemon are destined for conflict. Enormous... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3341875/forget-china-threat-real-disruption-trumps-us-old-order-not-coming-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3341875/forget-china-threat-real-disruption-trumps-us-old-order-not-coming-back?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:00:15 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Recent comments by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong about an inclusive “we first” society potentially involving foreigners have drawn the ire of some locals, with experts noting that a cultural shift and greater cooperation are necessary to attain the goal. The “we first” society call was first raised by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his National Day Rally last year, when he stressed that Singaporeans had to band together to write the next chapter of their story. On Monday, Gan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341573/who-are-we-why-some-singaporeans-bristle-we-first-inclusive-society-call?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341573/who-are-we-why-some-singaporeans-bristle-we-first-inclusive-society-call?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:48:03 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau As a Singaporean urban farming company in the land-scarce city state, Archisen found itself in need of more land, ready talent and lower costs of production that would allow it to access the local market. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) has provided an attractive solution, according to chief executive Vincent Wei. The economic zone, the world’s first involving two countries, was officially launched a year ago, with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Singaporean... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3341140/how-johor-singapore-sez-delivering-businesses-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3341140/how-johor-singapore-sez-delivering-businesses-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 05:30:08 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday accepted the Workers’ Party’s (WP) rejection of his invitation to nominate a replacement for the Leader of the Opposition (LO) role, saying that it would be left vacant. In a statement hours after the WP turned down the offer, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said: “The office of the LO will therefore remain vacant until such time that the WP is ready to nominate someone to take on this responsibility.” The PMO agreed that the leader of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340689/singapores-workers-party-rejects-leader-opposition-position?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340689/singapores-workers-party-rejects-leader-opposition-position?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:02:15 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘No oil here’: Malaysians turn US embassy space post into foreign-policy satire A well-intentioned US embassy post featuring a satellite image of Malaysia has sparked a distinctly local burst of self-deprecating humour, with social media users quipping in response to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3340496/malaysians-foreign-policy-satire-japans-fighter-jet-project-boost-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3340496/malaysians-foreign-policy-satire-japans-fighter-jet-project-boost-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Just under a third of Singapore residents in a recent survey by global communication firm Edelman believe that the next generation would be better off than the current one – a drop of 11 percentage points from last year’s findings. The Edelman Trust Barometer 2026 figures showed Singapore as being among four other Asian countries that registered a double-digit decrease, with the city state’s 31 per cent mark just under the global average of 32 per cent. The 26th edition of the annual survey,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340345/most-singaporeans-not-upbeat-future-next-generation-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340345/most-singaporeans-not-upbeat-future-next-generation-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:00:20 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A peculiar gridlock has settled on Singapore’s political scene with the position of Leader of the Opposition (LO) vacant after Pritam Singh was removed from the post by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, with public discourse now centred on the constitutional basis, or lack thereof, for the role. Created in 2020 by then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after Singh’s party won a record 10 seats in parliament, the non-statutory position contrasts sharply with its counterpart in Westminster systems, where... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340308/singapores-leader-opposition-debate-draws-comparisons-westminster-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340308/singapores-leader-opposition-debate-draws-comparisons-westminster-system?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 07:21:55 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has stripped the Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh of his role as the city state’s first Leader of the Opposition following Singh’s conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. Singh assumed the official role in 2020 following the general election where his party secured a record 10 elected seats in parliament. Then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during a press conference that Singh would be provided with staff and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340003/singapores-pm-lawrence-wong-removes-pritam-singh-leader-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340003/singapores-pm-lawrence-wong-removes-pritam-singh-leader-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:04:17 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s parliamentarians on Wednesday voted Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh unsuitable as Leader of the Opposition following his court conviction for lying to a committee, with his opponents questioning his integrity and leadership, while supporters suggested there was a political agenda against him. The heated discussion in Singapore’s typically sterile parliament, which saw WP MPs repeatedly calling points of order, centred on Leader of the House Indranee Rajah’s motion calling on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339895/singapores-pritam-singh-debate-mps-trade-barbs-over-bid-remove-opposition-leader?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339895/singapores-pritam-singh-debate-mps-trade-barbs-over-bid-remove-opposition-leader?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:42:58 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim For businesses in Singapore, such as skincare chain Kskin, the global trade environment has become more challenging in recent years as a result of hurdles ranging from rising costs and US tariffs to fast-changing regulations. Kskin began venturing overseas in 2023 and has opened outlets in Malaysia, the Philippines and the US. Due to the tariffs, the costs of Kskin’s equipment and products have risen in recent months. Brian Ng, the firm’s director, told This Week in Asia: “Our margins [at... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339397/singapore-businesses-list-rising-costs-and-tariffs-their-biggest-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339397/singapore-businesses-list-rising-costs-and-tariffs-their-biggest-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 06:30:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau In an unprecedented move in Singapore, Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh could be stripped of his title as Leader of Opposition and lose his privileges when Singapore’s parliamentarians debate his suitability for the role next week, legal experts say. Singh was the first to be appointed to the official role in 2020 by then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after the general election that year, when the WP won a record 10 out of 93 seats. On Friday, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah tabled a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339351/could-singapore-remove-pritam-singh-leader-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339351/could-singapore-remove-pritam-singh-leader-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:30:14 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore and the United States have started the new year by reaffirming their partnership, with 2026 marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the nations. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had a telephone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said. “PM Wong and President Trump noted that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and the United States,” the ministry said in a press statement. “They... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338588/lawrence-wong-thanks-trump-g20-invitation-singapore-us-mark-60th-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338588/lawrence-wong-thanks-trump-g20-invitation-singapore-us-mark-60th-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:44:24 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore’s pharmaceutical and electronic manufacturers powered the economy in the final three months of 2025, pushing full-year growth to the fastest since its rebound from the pandemic despite fears of a shock from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Gross domestic product last quarter grew 5.7 per cent from the same period a year ago, according to an advance estimate on Friday from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. That compares with a 6.3 per cent median estimate in a Bloomberg survey and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338460/singapore-defies-trumps-tariffs-manufacturing-drives-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338460/singapore-defies-trumps-tariffs-manufacturing-drives-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 03:54:00 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk The Philippines is adding a dash of star power to next year’s Asean summit by tapping Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez, and one famous fan of hers is said to be looking forward to her performance: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. While meeting with Sanchez on Tuesday in Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said that he had invited the America’s Got Talent season 20 winner to the bloc’s May diplomatic gathering in Cebu. Speaking during the meeting, first lady Liza Marcos said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3338321/singapore-pm-excited-about-jessica-sanchezs-philippines-show-marcos-wife-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3338321/singapore-pm-excited-about-jessica-sanchezs-philippines-show-marcos-wife-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:26:24 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang US President Donald Trump’s hopes for a grand deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping are being undercut by American allies’ self-interested amplification of the “China threat”. This year’s Nanking massacre memorial was particularly poignant in light of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial remarks on Taiwan. Beijing warned that any attempt to challenge the post-war international order or undermine established historical truths would be “doomed to failure”. Meanwhile, Singaporean... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338033/if-trump-wants-deal-china-he-must-rein-us-allies-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338033/if-trump-wants-deal-china-he-must-rein-us-allies-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore saw plenty of drama unfold this year, from pickleball courts to the Supreme Court. The city state was gripped by election fever in May, when the People’s Action Party maintained its dominance at the polls. On the trade front, Washington’s imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on Singapore elicited a strong reaction from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The jury is still out on whether US President Donald Trump would introduce levies on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, which could deliver... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337732/singapore-2025-election-fever-courtroom-drama-pickleball-mania?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337732/singapore-2025-election-fever-courtroom-drama-pickleball-mania?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Aidan Jones,Ushar Daniele,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Aidan Jones,Ushar Daniele,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Daniel Ho’s clients want the best money can buy: branded residences and glass-wrapped penthouses complete with panoramic views and high-rise parking spots fit for supercars in the elite enclaves of Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila. A world away, or so it seems, mid-level asset manager Charoen Kijvekin sees a very different reality playing out. His clients are debt-stricken Thais trying to claw back repossessed homes from auction and families on the bottom rung of the property ladder... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3336254/southeast-asias-rich-buy-sky-garages-while-middle-class-lose-their-homes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3336254/southeast-asias-rich-buy-sky-garages-while-middle-class-lose-their-homes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Singapore’s government on Friday gazetted as a national monument the former home of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, a site long at the centre of a bitter family dispute among his children. The action marks a pivotal moment in the saga that has gripped the city state since Lee’s death in 2015, when his children publicly clashed over whether the bungalow at 38 Oxley Road should be preserved or torn down. Lee’s oldest son, and former prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, favoured preserving the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336284/lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-officially-declared-singapore-national-monument?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336284/lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-officially-declared-singapore-national-monument?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:37:04 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia said on Thursday that it would consider a proposal by Singapore to jointly develop water infrastructure in southern Johor, signalling the intention of both sides to move beyond decades of rancour over the vital resource. The two countries have for years disagreed over various issues related to water supply, ranging from prices to the interpretation of the 1962 water agreement signed by them. Malaysia has argued that Johor’s water is sold too cheaply to Singapore. With Johor experiencing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3335228/malaysia-weigh-singapores-water-project-plan-anwar-says-no-longer-contentious-issue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3335228/malaysia-weigh-singapores-water-project-plan-anwar-says-no-longer-contentious-issue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:40:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has voiced hope that China and Japan can de-escalate tensions, following a row sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on the Taiwan Strait. At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Wednesday, Wong said Singapore and fellow Southeast Asian states supported Tokyo stepping into a bigger role in the region, including on the security front, for greater stability. Takaichi earlier this month said Japan could deploy its military in the event... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333451/singapore-pm-hopes-china-japan-find-ways-resolve-taiwan-strait-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333451/singapore-pm-hopes-china-japan-find-ways-resolve-taiwan-strait-row?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:45:32 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s acting sports minister has conceded he “should have been more respectful” after calling Hong Kong football fans and players “idiots” in a locker room pep talk to his side, following the city state’s historic win on Tuesday night in Hong Kong. Singapore came back from a goal down to beat Hong Kong 2-1 in the Asian Cup qualifier match in front of a record 47,762-strong crowd in Kai Tak Stadium, sealing their qualification for a major football tournament on merit for the first time. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3333416/singapore-minister-sorry-derogatory-remarks-hong-kong-football-team-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3333416/singapore-minister-sorry-derogatory-remarks-hong-kong-football-team-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:49:09 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau It has been six months since the national polls concluded in Singapore, but the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is not resting on its laurels. A popular line among party faithfuls is that the PAP begins preparing for the next election the day after winning one. But a recent series of salvoes against its main opponent, the Workers’ Party (WP) and leader Pritam Singh suggests a new intensity, if not strategy. Observers point to a calculated PAP approach outside election season as its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332868/why-singapores-pap-taking-aim-opposition-wp-so-soon-after-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332868/why-singapores-pap-taking-aim-opposition-wp-so-soon-after-election?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 04:00:10 +0000 CNA CNA In the lead-up to the 2025 general election, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong received cautionary messages from People’s Action Party (PAP) members and supporters urging him to “be prepared” to lose some seats. Speaking at the PAP Awards and Convention on Sunday, Wong said these well-wishers had shared various predictions, prompting him to mentally prepare for all possible outcomes. “When the results came out, the same people who had messaged me earlier said to me: ‘Sorry, we should have... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3332089/singapore-pm-reflects-election-win-says-pap-faced-very-tough-fights-several-wards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3332089/singapore-pm-reflects-election-win-says-pap-faced-very-tough-fights-several-wards?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:03:02 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Land-scarce Singapore officially remains non-committal about building a nuclear reactor, but experts say all signs point to the city state turning to atomic energy to meet its net-zero goals by 2050. The discourse around civilian nuclear energy has picked up in recent years, with Singapore studying its deployment, developing expertise and partnering with established companies and nuclear nations such as the United States and France to prepare for a possible shift. The government, however,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3331109/atomic-ambitions-singapore-eyes-nuclear-option-net-zero-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3331109/atomic-ambitions-singapore-eyes-nuclear-option-net-zero-future?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 04:00:14 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong will continue to uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system in the face of global economic uncertainty, the city’s chief executive has pledged at an Apec gathering in South Korea, as he encouraged the leaders of Singapore and the United Arab Emirates to invest in major local projects. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu also pitched Hong Kong’s strengths to officials from around the world on Friday, meeting the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and several... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331120/hong-kong-will-uphold-global-trading-rules-john-lee-pledges-apec-gathering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331120/hong-kong-will-uphold-global-trading-rules-john-lee-pledges-apec-gathering?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:58:15 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Despite the superficial conviviality of Donald Trump’s whistle-stop tour through Asia this week, we watched first-hand the dysfunctional reality of the US’ disengagement from the world of multilateralism. Trump delivered a speech at the US-Asean Summit in Malaysia, but skipped the main Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ meeting in South Korea. Overall, he was more interested in cutting bilateral deals on the sidelines of the summits. In Malaysia, he finalised unilateral tariff... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330940/trumps-asia-tour-made-us-distaste-multilateralism-obvious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330940/trumps-asia-tour-made-us-distaste-multilateralism-obvious?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:30:15 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow America’s volatile trade policies have forced Canada to seek greener pastures in Southeast Asia as it forges deeper ties in search of predictability. But observers also warn that Canada’s trade diversification runs the risk of being merely “window dressing”, unless it can prove that it is in the region for the long haul. Speaking on Sunday at the opening of the Asean summit, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the region’s leaders on the importance of “reliable partners who honour... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3330806/can-canada-be-dependable-partner-asean-its-search-trade-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3330806/can-canada-be-dependable-partner-asean-its-search-trade-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:30:18 +0000 CNA CNA Malaysian broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has apologised for getting the names of three Southeast Asian leaders wrong during a live broadcast of the opening ceremony of the 47th Asean Summit. RTM had misidentified the leaders of Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia during the live broadcast on Sunday. In statements issued in Malay on social media, the broadcaster apologised for the mistakes. RTM said in its statement that a broadcast commentator had misidentified Singapore’s Prime... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3330411/malaysias-rtm-apologises-misnaming-singaporean-thai-indonesian-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3330411/malaysias-rtm-apologises-misnaming-singaporean-thai-indonesian-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:14:42 +0000