Singapore’s Ukraine war debate: As citizens take pro-China, pro-West sides, what’s next for its foreign policy balancing act?

Singapore’s government rarely faces dissent over its embrace of all major powers. But its support of US-backed sanctions against Russia has drawn criticism

Experts say support of Moscow and China’s stance is due to social media echo chambers, propensity to view external powers in ‘black or white’ terms

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People view sunrise at the Merlion Park in Singapore. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30am, 2 Apr 2022

In the hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his “special military operation” against Ukraine on February 24, several Southeast Asian nations released carefully couched statements that balanced their concerns about the invasion with a wariness about angering one of the world’s most powerful nations.

Singapore however stood out. Within hours of Russian tanks rolling into Ukrainian territory, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s government outrightly condemned the “unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country”.

Unlike its neighbours, the republic directly named Russia in its statement.

Days later, the Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced unilateral sanctions on Russia – only the second time in the country’s history it was censuring another nation without the United Nations Security Council’s approval.

Singapore’s UN Ambassador Burhan Gafoor addresses the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly on February 28. Photo: AP

The government’s stout support for Ukraine earned it plaudits on social media across different age groups and political tribes.

However, some – like commentator Tay Kheng Soon – were not pleased with Lee’s administration sticking the country’s collective neck out on behalf of the now war-ravaged Eastern European nation.