Lawrence Wong
12 August at 20:30 ·Spoke about various topics from the Covid-19 pandemic to #ForwardSG.
-
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.
- Thread starter LaoTze
- Start date
Spoke about various topics from the Covid-19 pandemic to #ForwardSG.
Lawrence Wong
12 August at 20:30 ·Received many insightful questions and had a great time sharing views.
Lawrence dances with kindergarten kids. 
Joined our PCF kids for a little dance on stage at the PAP Community Foundation National Day Observance Ceremony!
I’ve spent more than ten years in PCF - initially overseeing the Exco and then later the Council. It has been a meaningful journey working together with a highly-committed team of professionals, to continually raise our standards of preschool services and to expand to new areas like senior care, where there are growing needs.
I've handed over the PCF leadership roles to Minister Josephine Teo, and SMS Janil Puthucheary. Wishing them all the best, as they work towards enhancing the well-being of our community through education, welfare and community services. #wesparklelives
Lawrence Wong
13 August at 11:20 ·Joined our PCF kids for a little dance on stage at the PAP Community Foundation National Day Observance Ceremony!
I’ve spent more than ten years in PCF - initially overseeing the Exco and then later the Council. It has been a meaningful journey working together with a highly-committed team of professionals, to continually raise our standards of preschool services and to expand to new areas like senior care, where there are growing needs.
I've handed over the PCF leadership roles to Minister Josephine Teo, and SMS Janil Puthucheary. Wishing them all the best, as they work towards enhancing the well-being of our community through education, welfare and community services. #wesparklelives
Lawrence is heartened by the SingaporeSpirit. 
The Riders Aid Singapore started with a simple idea — a group of motorcycle enthusiasts rallying to do good together.
Glad to do my part to join the RAS and Ride For Charity today — with more than 800 bikers to raise funds for the Singapore Children’s Cancer Foundation.
Seeing so many of us at the event, I am heartened by the #SingaporeSpirit — Singaporeans from all walks of life coming together for the common good and a larger purpose. I am confident that as long as we have the mindset of “paying it forward”, we can turn challenges into opportunities, and build a racially harmonious, caring, and inclusive Singapore for all.
(
: MCI Photos by Terence Tan)
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·The Riders Aid Singapore started with a simple idea — a group of motorcycle enthusiasts rallying to do good together.
Glad to do my part to join the RAS and Ride For Charity today — with more than 800 bikers to raise funds for the Singapore Children’s Cancer Foundation.
Seeing so many of us at the event, I am heartened by the #SingaporeSpirit — Singaporeans from all walks of life coming together for the common good and a larger purpose. I am confident that as long as we have the mindset of “paying it forward”, we can turn challenges into opportunities, and build a racially harmonious, caring, and inclusive Singapore for all.
(
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·I haven't ridden on a bike for about 20 over years. I was glad to have the opportunity to ride with Riders Aid Singapore for a good cause!
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·The event raised more than $32,000 for Children's Cancer Foundation. Thank you, everyone, including all partners and sponsors for your generosity!
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·Happy birthday, Singapore — National Day celebrations with Riders Aid Singapore, Loyang Tua Pek Kong, Children's Cancer Foundation, and all.
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·Glad to see so many motorcycle enthusiasts coming together to do good.
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·Thank you, Riders Aid Singapore for this lovely portrait! It is my pleasure to be able to do my part for charity.
Lawrence Wong
14 August at 20:37 ·With the team from Loyang Tua Pek Kong and Mr Suriya Kumar, President of Riders Aid Singapore.
Lawrence had an engaging discussion.
Had an engaging discussion with John Micklethwait, Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief, about a diverse range of topics including geopolitical issues and its impact on the Southeast Asia region and beyond, as well as fostering an inclusive society here at home.
Even in an increasingly uncertain world, Singapore must continue to be a bastion of stability and opportunity, and work within a world economy that operates on a rules-based multilateral system.
The government will continue to monitor inflation closely and we will provide more assistance, should the situation worsen. We also need to maintain a fair and progressive tax system to ensure that Singapore’s growth is inclusive and everyone benefits from our nation’s progress.
Lawrence Wong
16 August at 21:21 ·Had an engaging discussion with John Micklethwait, Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief, about a diverse range of topics including geopolitical issues and its impact on the Southeast Asia region and beyond, as well as fostering an inclusive society here at home.
Even in an increasingly uncertain world, Singapore must continue to be a bastion of stability and opportunity, and work within a world economy that operates on a rules-based multilateral system.
The government will continue to monitor inflation closely and we will provide more assistance, should the situation worsen. We also need to maintain a fair and progressive tax system to ensure that Singapore’s growth is inclusive and everyone benefits from our nation’s progress.
Lawrence Wong is with 周崇庆 Dennis Chew and Mark Lee Kok Huang.
Yesterday at 14:29 ·和《早安！玉建煌崇》的DJs度过了愉快的上午！我们聊了很多 — 包括童年、兴趣爱好、在美国求学的经验和工作方面的话题。
在访谈结束之前，DJ问我有没有一首最喜欢的华文歌？我最常听的华文歌是《朋友》，所以就特别点了这首歌给97.2FM的听众，希望大家会喜欢！
Happy mid-week! Spent an enjoyable morning with the “Breakfast Quartet” on Mediacorp LOVE 972. Chatted about many things — from my work to childhood memories, hobbies, and movies. Before the end of the session, I also dedicated a Chinese song, “Friends”, to all 97.2FM listeners - hope you like it!
Lawrence was glad to meet everyone.
Last weekend, I was glad to meet everyone at Villa Verde’s Family Day 2022. From carnival games to best dressed pet contest, it was a fun-filled Saturday morning.
As the weekend approaches, take the time to keep in touch with friends and enjoy quality family time!
Lawrence Wong
4 hrs ·Last weekend, I was glad to meet everyone at Villa Verde’s Family Day 2022. From carnival games to best dressed pet contest, it was a fun-filled Saturday morning.
As the weekend approaches, take the time to keep in touch with friends and enjoy quality family time!
from straitstimes.com:
A photo from June 18, 2022, shows attendees at the Pink Dot rally in Hong Lim Park. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Hariz Baharudin
Assistant News Editor
PUBLISHED
AUG 16, 2022, 5:41 PM SGT
FacebookTwitter
SINGAPORE - What Singapore does with its colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men goes beyond the law itself and has broader societal concerns, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
While views on the law and criminalisation of homosexual behaviour have evolved, a large part of the population is concerned about whether the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code will change society's values around family and marriage, he said on Monday (Aug 15).
The Republic's way of addressing the issue is to engage the different groups to reach an accommodation on the way forward without deepening divisions, a process that is under way, he added.
Mr Wong made the point in response to a question by Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait, who had asked him when the law would be scrapped.
Calling Mr Wong a "modern man" and a cosmopolitan who had studied at Harvard, Mr Micklethwait said: "It must be very embarrassing having a law like that when you are trying to bring people to come to Singapore."
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, replied that it is well understood that the law was a legacy left behind by the British, and that the Government is aware that many other Asian countries that were former British colonies have repealed it over the years.
"But we also know that in Singapore, there are many segments who feel that it is not just about the law, but the law is a marker for other things," he said.
"Things that they care about - about society, societal values, about family and about marriage - so it is not about the law per se but about these other things."
Singapore’s highest court had ruled in February that S377A cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.
Mr Micklethwait also noted in the interview that United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought up the law during her visit to Singapore earlier this month.
She had called on business groups to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Singapore.
Whether S377A should go is something for Singapore and Singaporeans to decide, said Mr Wong, a position that the Government has reiterated over the years.
Following Mrs Pelosi's visit, the Ministry of Home Affairs reminded foreign businesses to be careful about advocacy on issues in Singapore that could be socially divisive.
Asked if there was evidence that most Singaporeans are against getting rid of the law or if it was just a substantial majority who are against repeal, Mr Wong repeated that there are two issues at play.
"The law is one matter. Views on the law and criminalisation of homosexual behaviour certainly have evolved, have changed, but there are also views around family and marriage, which are different from the first matter, which I have highlighted," he said.
"People do feel strongly about the latter, on family values and marriage."
The broader issue is therefore not about S377A but how Singapore organises itself as a society, said Mr Wong.
"(This includes) whether or not values around family, around marriage will be changed, and those are the concerns that the larger segment of Singaporeans is concerned about," he said.
"That is why this engagement and this conversation that we are having now with these different segments of society are important."
Mr Micklethwait raised the issue of visas for same-sex spouses, noting how somebody who is legally married to someone elsewhere cannot bring their spouse to Singapore under the same visa.
Mr Wong said he had seen some of that feedback for people who have faced difficulties with partners, adding: "We have been able to deal with some of that on a case-by-case basis."
He said the Government will manage the matter of S377A carefully and sensitively as it pertains to social values and norms, the same way it does for a range of different issues.
"Whether it is race or religion, or whether it is regarding sexuality, we know that these are issues where different segments of society hold deep views and sometimes opposing views."
Way forward with Section 377A has broader societal concerns: DPM Wong
A photo from June 18, 2022, shows attendees at the Pink Dot rally in Hong Lim Park. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Hariz Baharudin
Assistant News Editor
PUBLISHED
AUG 16, 2022, 5:41 PM SGT
FacebookTwitter
SINGAPORE - What Singapore does with its colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men goes beyond the law itself and has broader societal concerns, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
While views on the law and criminalisation of homosexual behaviour have evolved, a large part of the population is concerned about whether the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code will change society's values around family and marriage, he said on Monday (Aug 15).
The Republic's way of addressing the issue is to engage the different groups to reach an accommodation on the way forward without deepening divisions, a process that is under way, he added.
Mr Wong made the point in response to a question by Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait, who had asked him when the law would be scrapped.
Calling Mr Wong a "modern man" and a cosmopolitan who had studied at Harvard, Mr Micklethwait said: "It must be very embarrassing having a law like that when you are trying to bring people to come to Singapore."
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, replied that it is well understood that the law was a legacy left behind by the British, and that the Government is aware that many other Asian countries that were former British colonies have repealed it over the years.
"But we also know that in Singapore, there are many segments who feel that it is not just about the law, but the law is a marker for other things," he said.
"Things that they care about - about society, societal values, about family and about marriage - so it is not about the law per se but about these other things."
Singapore’s highest court had ruled in February that S377A cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.
Mr Micklethwait also noted in the interview that United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought up the law during her visit to Singapore earlier this month.
She had called on business groups to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Singapore.
Whether S377A should go is something for Singapore and Singaporeans to decide, said Mr Wong, a position that the Government has reiterated over the years.
Following Mrs Pelosi's visit, the Ministry of Home Affairs reminded foreign businesses to be careful about advocacy on issues in Singapore that could be socially divisive.
Asked if there was evidence that most Singaporeans are against getting rid of the law or if it was just a substantial majority who are against repeal, Mr Wong repeated that there are two issues at play.
"The law is one matter. Views on the law and criminalisation of homosexual behaviour certainly have evolved, have changed, but there are also views around family and marriage, which are different from the first matter, which I have highlighted," he said.
"People do feel strongly about the latter, on family values and marriage."
The broader issue is therefore not about S377A but how Singapore organises itself as a society, said Mr Wong.
"(This includes) whether or not values around family, around marriage will be changed, and those are the concerns that the larger segment of Singaporeans is concerned about," he said.
"That is why this engagement and this conversation that we are having now with these different segments of society are important."
Mr Micklethwait raised the issue of visas for same-sex spouses, noting how somebody who is legally married to someone elsewhere cannot bring their spouse to Singapore under the same visa.
Mr Wong said he had seen some of that feedback for people who have faced difficulties with partners, adding: "We have been able to deal with some of that on a case-by-case basis."
He said the Government will manage the matter of S377A carefully and sensitively as it pertains to social values and norms, the same way it does for a range of different issues.
"Whether it is race or religion, or whether it is regarding sexuality, we know that these are issues where different segments of society hold deep views and sometimes opposing views."
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - A decision on when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take over as prime minister has yet to be made, but work is under way to prepare for him to take over from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, on Monday (Aug 15) sketched out two possible scenarios for when the leadership transition could take place.
In the first scenario, Mr Wong could take over as prime minister before the next general election, which must be held by November 2025. In such a case, Mr Wong said he would "clearly lead" the People's Action Party (PAP) and its fourth generation of political leaders, or 4G team, in the election.
In the second, he said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong could continue to lead the party in the upcoming election, and then relinquish the position to him if the PAP wins.
Mr Wong was responding to Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait who had asked during an interview on Monday when Mr Wong might assume the role of prime minister and if it will be before the next general election.
"These are the options, but we have still yet to make a decision on the actual timing," said Mr Wong.
For now, what is most important for him is thinking about organising the team of Singapore's leaders and to become familiar with his own expanded role, said Mr Wong.
In June, Mr Wong was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister and will be acting prime minister whenever PM Lee is absent.
Mr Wong also assumed responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister's Office, taking over this role from Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
"My priority for now is really to start thinking about organising the team, how we might want to go about dealing with our immediate priorities and really take this time to settle in to my new expanded responsibilities and portfolios," he said.
"In due course, we will make a decision on this important matter (of succession)."
Mr Micklethwait recounted to Mr Wong how in an interview with PM Lee last November, Mr Micklethwait had compared Singapore's political succession to Squid Game, the popular Netflix drama series which saw contestants violently eliminated as they compete for a prize.
He noted then that key fourth-generation leaders had been chosen to co-lead the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 "to see how they do", to which Mr Lee replied that he had put his best people on the task force as they could make a contribution and not as if they were in a beauty contest.
Mr Micklethwait said on Monday that Mr Wong seemed to have won the "sort of Squid Game competition", to which the minister disagreed.
"It was never a matter of competition, certainly not the Squid Game. We had a very thorough and deliberate process to think about what we might do with succession planning," said Mr Wong.
"The plans were disrupted because of Covid-19. Then we had to come back together, and we wanted a process that would allow us to choose a leader while strengthening the sense of team within the Cabinet, and we have done that."
During their interview, which touched on Singapore's approach to racial harmony, Mr Micklethwait asked Mr Wong if the real test for whether the Republic has come a long way is if it is able to have a leader who is not ethnically Chinese.
Mr Wong replied that Singapore chooses its leaders based on their abilities.
"I would certainly welcome a leader in the future who is not from the majority community," he said.
"We choose our leaders on the basis of merit and if there is a leader that emerges down the road who is not Chinese, I would certainly welcome that person."
No timeline yet for taking over as PM, says Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - A decision on when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take over as prime minister has yet to be made, but work is under way to prepare for him to take over from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, on Monday (Aug 15) sketched out two possible scenarios for when the leadership transition could take place.
In the first scenario, Mr Wong could take over as prime minister before the next general election, which must be held by November 2025. In such a case, Mr Wong said he would "clearly lead" the People's Action Party (PAP) and its fourth generation of political leaders, or 4G team, in the election.
In the second, he said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong could continue to lead the party in the upcoming election, and then relinquish the position to him if the PAP wins.
Mr Wong was responding to Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait who had asked during an interview on Monday when Mr Wong might assume the role of prime minister and if it will be before the next general election.
"These are the options, but we have still yet to make a decision on the actual timing," said Mr Wong.
For now, what is most important for him is thinking about organising the team of Singapore's leaders and to become familiar with his own expanded role, said Mr Wong.
In June, Mr Wong was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister and will be acting prime minister whenever PM Lee is absent.
Mr Wong also assumed responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister's Office, taking over this role from Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
"My priority for now is really to start thinking about organising the team, how we might want to go about dealing with our immediate priorities and really take this time to settle in to my new expanded responsibilities and portfolios," he said.
"In due course, we will make a decision on this important matter (of succession)."
Mr Micklethwait recounted to Mr Wong how in an interview with PM Lee last November, Mr Micklethwait had compared Singapore's political succession to Squid Game, the popular Netflix drama series which saw contestants violently eliminated as they compete for a prize.
He noted then that key fourth-generation leaders had been chosen to co-lead the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 "to see how they do", to which Mr Lee replied that he had put his best people on the task force as they could make a contribution and not as if they were in a beauty contest.
Mr Micklethwait said on Monday that Mr Wong seemed to have won the "sort of Squid Game competition", to which the minister disagreed.
"It was never a matter of competition, certainly not the Squid Game. We had a very thorough and deliberate process to think about what we might do with succession planning," said Mr Wong.
"The plans were disrupted because of Covid-19. Then we had to come back together, and we wanted a process that would allow us to choose a leader while strengthening the sense of team within the Cabinet, and we have done that."
During their interview, which touched on Singapore's approach to racial harmony, Mr Micklethwait asked Mr Wong if the real test for whether the Republic has come a long way is if it is able to have a leader who is not ethnically Chinese.
Mr Wong replied that Singapore chooses its leaders based on their abilities.
"I would certainly welcome a leader in the future who is not from the majority community," he said.
"We choose our leaders on the basis of merit and if there is a leader that emerges down the road who is not Chinese, I would certainly welcome that person."
from straitstimes.com:
DPM Lawrence Wong warned that rising tensions between the two countries could easily result in accidents happening around the Taiwan Strait. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Hariz Baharudin
Assistant News Editor
PUBLISHED
AUG 16, 2022, 2:22 PM SGT
FacebookTwitter
SINGAPORE - Both China and the United States do not want conflict, but strained relations and recent decisions by both superpowers could lead the world into more dangerous territory, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.
In an interview with news agency Bloomberg on Monday (Aug 15), he warned that rising tensions between the two countries, including over Taiwan, could easily result in near misses or accidents happening around the Taiwan Strait or in the South China Sea.
This has happened before, said Mr Wong, who was asked by Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait about US-China tensions and the risk of miscalculation, including over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this month.
On Monday, China's military carried out more exercises near Taiwan, following a separate visit by a group of US lawmakers.
"We are starting to see a series of decisions being taken by both countries that will lead us into more and more dangerous territory. You could easily have near misses or accidents happening around Taiwan Strait or on the South China Sea," said Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister.
He cited a 2001 incident - when US-China relations were much better - in which a US spy plane made an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island after colliding with a Chinese jet. Beijing eventually released the 24 crew members after the US expressed regret.
"If an accident were to happen today, the consequences may be more difficult to manage," said Mr Wong, adding that Singapore hopes the leadership on both sides can continue to engage each other, especially at the highest level.
The US-China relationship is moving in a direction that Singapore worries about, he said. Describing it as a "very consequential bilateral relationship", the minister said that while both sides have said they do not want to go to war, their adversarial relationship is likely to stay for quite some time.
This dynamic is not helped by their domestic politics, making it difficult for either side to concede any ground, he added. The US has its midterm elections in November and China its party congress later this year.
"With how things are unfolding now, we worry that there may be near misses, accidents, miscalculations, and things can get worse," he said.
Mr Micklethwait also asked Mr Wong how likely he thought a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be, noting that the former head of the US Indo-Pacific Command had told Congress it could happen before 2027.
Mr Wong replied: "It is hard to say, especially now, where things are getting more and more uncertain. Taiwan is certainly one flashpoint.
"It can easily become very dangerous, as we have seen in recent events, and can even escalate quite quickly, not because either party deliberately wants this to happen."
He added: "Both sides understand the consequences and really do not want to go into conflict. The leadership on both sides understand this. But as they say, no one deliberately wants to go into battle, but we sleepwalk into conflict, and that is the biggest problem and danger."
He noted that both America and China have an understanding on the one-China policy, and that has enabled both sides to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait for many decades. But this is starting to change amid broader dynamics - the US is concerned that China is rising and going to take its place, while China is concerned that the US is trying to contain its rise.
Mr Wong also notes that the US administration understands the strategic importance of engaging this part of the world, and is sure that it will do everything it can to strengthen and enhance that engagement.
"From Singapore's point of view, we look at it this way - we want to create a framework in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in South-east Asia, where all the major powers have stakes in the region, both the US and China," he added.
"We think that will contribute to a more stable configuration, an overlapping circle of friendships, where everyone has stakes here and hopefully, that will increase interdependencies and help make this a more stable configuration."
Asked whether Singapore has gained from US-China tensions as businesses look at the Republic as a hub compared with somewhere like Hong Kong, Mr Wong stressed that it takes no joy from conflict.
"We will always want Singapore to be the bastion of stability and opportunity even in an uncertain and dangerous world. We take no joy when places around us suffer negative consequences," he said.
"We want to see the world prosper and we want to see stability around the world. We want to see the economy functioning in a rules-based multilateral system."
China and US don't want conflict but could 'sleepwalk' into it amid rising tensions: DPM Wong
DPM Lawrence Wong warned that rising tensions between the two countries could easily result in accidents happening around the Taiwan Strait. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Hariz Baharudin
Assistant News Editor
PUBLISHED
AUG 16, 2022, 2:22 PM SGT
FacebookTwitter
SINGAPORE - Both China and the United States do not want conflict, but strained relations and recent decisions by both superpowers could lead the world into more dangerous territory, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.
In an interview with news agency Bloomberg on Monday (Aug 15), he warned that rising tensions between the two countries, including over Taiwan, could easily result in near misses or accidents happening around the Taiwan Strait or in the South China Sea.
This has happened before, said Mr Wong, who was asked by Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait about US-China tensions and the risk of miscalculation, including over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this month.
On Monday, China's military carried out more exercises near Taiwan, following a separate visit by a group of US lawmakers.
"We are starting to see a series of decisions being taken by both countries that will lead us into more and more dangerous territory. You could easily have near misses or accidents happening around Taiwan Strait or on the South China Sea," said Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister.
He cited a 2001 incident - when US-China relations were much better - in which a US spy plane made an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island after colliding with a Chinese jet. Beijing eventually released the 24 crew members after the US expressed regret.
"If an accident were to happen today, the consequences may be more difficult to manage," said Mr Wong, adding that Singapore hopes the leadership on both sides can continue to engage each other, especially at the highest level.
The US-China relationship is moving in a direction that Singapore worries about, he said. Describing it as a "very consequential bilateral relationship", the minister said that while both sides have said they do not want to go to war, their adversarial relationship is likely to stay for quite some time.
This dynamic is not helped by their domestic politics, making it difficult for either side to concede any ground, he added. The US has its midterm elections in November and China its party congress later this year.
"With how things are unfolding now, we worry that there may be near misses, accidents, miscalculations, and things can get worse," he said.
Mr Micklethwait also asked Mr Wong how likely he thought a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be, noting that the former head of the US Indo-Pacific Command had told Congress it could happen before 2027.
Mr Wong replied: "It is hard to say, especially now, where things are getting more and more uncertain. Taiwan is certainly one flashpoint.
"It can easily become very dangerous, as we have seen in recent events, and can even escalate quite quickly, not because either party deliberately wants this to happen."
He added: "Both sides understand the consequences and really do not want to go into conflict. The leadership on both sides understand this. But as they say, no one deliberately wants to go into battle, but we sleepwalk into conflict, and that is the biggest problem and danger."
He noted that both America and China have an understanding on the one-China policy, and that has enabled both sides to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait for many decades. But this is starting to change amid broader dynamics - the US is concerned that China is rising and going to take its place, while China is concerned that the US is trying to contain its rise.
Mr Wong also notes that the US administration understands the strategic importance of engaging this part of the world, and is sure that it will do everything it can to strengthen and enhance that engagement.
"From Singapore's point of view, we look at it this way - we want to create a framework in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in South-east Asia, where all the major powers have stakes in the region, both the US and China," he added.
"We think that will contribute to a more stable configuration, an overlapping circle of friendships, where everyone has stakes here and hopefully, that will increase interdependencies and help make this a more stable configuration."
Asked whether Singapore has gained from US-China tensions as businesses look at the Republic as a hub compared with somewhere like Hong Kong, Mr Wong stressed that it takes no joy from conflict.
"We will always want Singapore to be the bastion of stability and opportunity even in an uncertain and dangerous world. We take no joy when places around us suffer negative consequences," he said.
"We want to see the world prosper and we want to see stability around the world. We want to see the economy functioning in a rules-based multilateral system."
Similar threads
