The Domestic Determinants of Hedging in Singapore's Foreign Policy

• Published in: Contemporary Southeast Asia Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 77 - 102
• Main Author: LEE, TERENCE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute 01-04-2024; ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute; Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)
• Subjects: Banking industry; Chinese foreign relations; Foreign policy; International economic relations; Political activity; Political aspects; South China Sea; United Kingdom; Southeast Asia; Singapore; China
• ISSN: 0129-797X; 1793-284X
• DOI: 10.1355/cs46-1d

In response to the intensifying US-China rivalry, Singapore ostensibly "hedges", a strategy that avoids choosing between Washington and Beijing and maximizes gains from cooperating with both powers while avoiding confrontation. Hedging also extenuates Singapore's central location in Asia and its role as an established commercial and financial hub. As such, it appears to reflect the imperative of any small state: survival. However, in contrast to the argument that domestic politics does not matter in Singapore's foreign policy, this article demonstrates how the domestic imperative of legitimizing the political dominance of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) shapes the government's hedging strategy.