Indeed, Singapore jumped out, and its ministers publicly declared that if a war was launched in the Taiwan Sea, it would be the same as China and the United States launched a war.

Singapore can always play balance on the international stage, but Wang Yikang's recent remarks still make many people feel that it can't help jumping out. In the final analysis, Singapore is sandwiched between China and the United States. It cannot be economically separated from the China market, and it relies on the support of the United States for security. This kind of life is like walking on a tightrope, and if you are not careful, you will get your head broken. As early as the 1990s, Singapore signed a defense cooperation agreement with the United States, allowing the U.S. military to use Changi Naval Base to supply aircraft carriers. This move was a steady move because the Strait of Malacca is the lifeblood of global trade, and 80% of China's oil imports come from here. After passing by, the United States naturally can't bear to part with Singapore's card slot.

But China is not vegetarian, Singapore is one of China’s largest trading partners, the bilateral trade in 2024 exceeds 100 billion, Huawei, Alibaba’s investment in Singapore is everywhere. Wang Binkom’s speech, just struck this pain point, he listed Taiwan, China, the United States as “friends”, which in the diplomatic dictum listened to neutrality, but actually through the blurred stance of the stock. Taiwan has never been an independent player, it is a part of the Chinese territory, this is recognized by the majority of countries internationally, the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Announcement.

The reality, however, is not so simple. The philippine front car is there, Marcus came to power and opened the military base doors to the United States for use, as a result of the South China Sea, the United States will only send a destroyer cruise demonstration, the key moment is never a real weapon. In 2024, the reef incident, the Philippine vessels were stopped by the Chinese naval police, calling the United States to help, the U.S. symbolically turned two rounds, no substantial support. Singapore is smarter than the Philippines, not as bold and bold, but relying on the U.S. military presence as much as the risk. After the Cold War, the U.S. in Southeast Asia is more and more difficult, P-8A anti-submarine, offshore combat ships are in Singapore

Wang Yikang, a man, has climbed all the way from a doctor to a politician to a coordinating minister, with a bright resume, but the choice of words and sentences in this speech reveals Singapore's consistent pragmatic abacus. On October 9, 2025, at the closing dialogue of the Asia Future Summit, he faced questions from the audience and directly pointed out that "if war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, it will be a direct confrontation between China and the United States." This sounds straightforward, but it is actually wrapped in diplomatic skills. He didn't take sides, didn't criticize anyone, just listed the facts: both sides had nuclear weapons, and the escalation of conflicts suffered all over the world. Singapore is influential and can act as a bridge to pull Taiwan Province, China and the United States to sit down and talk.

This is not a personal impromptu performance by Wang Yikang, but a continuation of Singapore's long-term diplomatic line. The tone was set in the Lee Kuan Yew era that both China and the United States should make good friends. However, in terms of core interests, China's reunification with Taiwan is the red line, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy is a reality. After Singapore established diplomatic relations with China, bilateral relations have been as stable as an old dog. In 2024, the two countries celebrated the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The trade volume broke a record. Wang Yikang personally went to the embassy to exchange congratulatory messages. During the same period, the U.S. Seventh Fleet frequently docked in ports, and Singapore also upgraded Paya Lebar Air Force Base and deployed Aegis equipment. This dual track parallel makes Singapore unique in ASEAN. It is neither overly pro-US like the Philippines, nor pro-China and sparsely US like Indonesia.

He was born in 1979, a doctor of medicine, in early years as a serious doctor at a children's hospital, and has dealt with numerous emergency cases, which brought calmness to politics, and showed no end when dealing with the epidemic. In 2020, the new crown peak, he was in charge of transportation and health, two ministers part-time, vaccination rate global leader. In 2021, focusing on health, promote the digital health system, increase the sustainability, environmental protection and education in 2024. This summit spoke, he linked geographic risk to social policy, stressed that Singapore should focus on economy, society, diplomacy, and not look at war assumptions.

But then again, Wang Yikang's "three friends theory" is controversial. Calling Taiwan Province a "friend" alone ignores the historical fact that it is a part of China. From the sending of ships to Yizhou by Wu in the Three Kingdoms, to the establishment of Taiwan Province Province in the Qing Dynasty, and then to the victorious return of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, this chain is ironclad. Singapore's statement may be to save face for Taiwan. After all, Singapore has close economic and trade relations with Taiwan, and bilateral investment will exceed 20 billion in 2024. However, in international law, this is tantamount to acquiescing that Taiwan Province has independent diplomatic space, which is easily regarded as ambiguous by China. According to experts' analysis, Singapore's confidence comes from the support of the United States, but the commitment of the United States to its allies has always been rich. During the Iranian hostage crisis, it abandoned the Pahlavi dynasty, Ukraine sought NATO protection, but the United States did not send troops to aid weapons. Singapore had to weigh it carefully.

After Wang Yikang's speech, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore issued a statement on October 10th, reaffirming its commitment to peace, without mentioning the Taiwan Strait. This step is quick, which shows that the top management is controlling the field. But in the long run, how far can this vague position go? The decoupling between China and the United States has intensified, the chip ban has escalated in the first half of 2025, and Singapore's semiconductor industry has been attacked. TSMC is expanding its factories locally, but it has to prevent the Sino-US conflict from affecting. Wang Yikang's consideration, in the final analysis, is the survival technique of Singapore as a small country: talk more about peace and touch the red line less, but reality always forces it to express its position.

China's media reaction was the fastest, the Global Times posted on October 10, naming Singapore "misread the Taiwan Sea issue", criticizing it as an independent entity, ignoring the unified trend. But the tone of restraint, did not upgrade to the level of diplomatic protest, after all, Singapore is China's important partner, the "Belt and Road" project in 2024 landed in Singapore a lot.