Supplementary Questions for MFA Political Office Holders during the Committee Of Supply Debate, 27 February 2026

Question 1

MP Ang Wei Neng: 我想询问高级政务部长沈颖女士,在当前中美地缘政治紧张的背景之下，她如何描述新加坡与中国目前的关系？最近我们在国际网络看到许多针对新加坡尖锐的批评, 尤其是那些华语视频的批评。这对我国与中国的双边关系有何影响? 除了《联合早报》的7分钟视频之外,政府怎样更好地帮助国人防范那些利用人工智能制作的视频来分化国人?

Translation: I would like to ask Senior Minister of State Sim Ann: Against the backdrop of current geopolitical tensions between China and the US, how would you describe the relationship between Singapore and China? Recently, we have seen many sharp criticisms of Singapore circulating online internationally, especially in Chinese-language videos. What impact might this have on our country’s relations with China? Apart from the 7-minute video released by Lianhe Zaobao, how can the Government better help Singaporeans be on our guard against such Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated videos that are being used to sow division among our people?

Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs Sim Ann:  谢谢洪维能先生的提问。新加坡和中国的关系非常好，我们有着多层的合作，而且我们的合作领域也十分广泛。去年，我们庆祝了新中建交35周年。我们之间有着许多的协议，而且我们也有很多的合作项目。

至于刚才洪先生所提到的视频，这类视频它其实来自网络各种各样的信息，我们不一定知道这些信息来自什么地方, 不过我觉得最重要的是国人在接获这些信息的时候应该有所警惕。首先，国人必须要对新加坡自身的核心利益有非常清醒的认识, 要知道我们是一个多元种族，多元宗教的国家。我们需要捍卫新加坡的独立自主，新加坡的安全和新加坡的繁荣。网络信息内容的真伪其实是很容易查询。大家不需要看到一则标题很吸引人或者是很耸动的新闻时就觉得这一定是真的。有的时候，标题越耸动，内容可能越虚假。大家在急着要转发这类信息之前, 不妨到官方网站或者新加坡主流媒体网站稍微查询一下，就能知道这些其实都是虚假的。如果大家急着转发, 那可能就中圈套了。所以我觉得我们在辨识这些不同的网络信息的时候, 大家如果冷静一下，淡定面对，我觉得会更好。

Translation: Thank you, Mr Ang Wei Neng, for your question. Relations between Singapore and China are very good. We share multifaceted cooperation, and our areas of collaboration are wide-ranging. Last year, we commemorated the 35^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. We have concluded numerous bilateral agreements and undertaken many joint projects together.

Regarding the videos Mr Ang mentioned, such content often draws from a wide array of online sources, and we may not always know where this information originates from. However, I believe the most important point is that Singaporeans should remain vigilant when encountering such material. Singaporeans must have a clear understanding of our core national interests. We are a multi-racial and multi-religious society. We must safeguard Singapore’s independence and sovereignty, as well as our security and prosperity.

It is actually not difficult to verify the authenticity of online information. There is no need to assume that a story is true simply because its headline is eye-catching or its content is sensational. In fact, the more sensational the headline, the more likely it is that the content may be false. Before forwarding such information, it would be prudent to check official sources or the websites of Singapore’s mainstream media first. A quick search would be enough to determine that these claims are entirely untrue. However, if we rush to share them, we may end up being tricked.

Therefore, when assessing different types of online information, it is better for us to do so calmly and with level heads.

Question 2

MP Ang Wei Neng: Mr Speaker, in English please. Separately, I would like to ask the Minister whether the current unrest in Mexico will affect the timeline and resolve to open a resident embassy in Mexico. Thank you.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: No.

Question 3

MP Gerald Giam: Sir, I thank the Minister for reaffirming our commitment to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Since the ASEAN Secretariat plays such a key role in ASEAN, can the Minister share how many Singaporeans are currently among the over 270 staff at the Secretariat, besides the current Deputy Secretary General, and how many more are going to be seconded there, especially in preparation for Singapore's chairmanship in 2027? Secondly, on people-to-people relations, does MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) work with MOE (Ministry of Education), SportSG (Sports Singapore), national sports associations, and youth cultural organisations to use regional competitions and performances as platforms for deeper people-to-people exchanges with our ASEAN neighbours? I ask this because if this is not done deliberately, there may be a tendency for participants to mingle mainly with their own compatriots, especially when they are there in large groups.

Minister Balakrishnan: I do not have the specific number (of Singaporeans working in the ASEAN Secretariat). Perhaps you can file a Parliamentary Question for that, and I will provide the information to you later.

To your second point on people-to-people relations, this is absolutely critical, and I would say it goes beyond MOE, it goes beyond MCCY (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth). But even when people make trips with their organisations or religious organisations, these are all avenues in which deeper understanding and stronger people-to-people relations are built. I will give you some examples, because I used to be in MCYS (Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports).  I can assure you that our athletes in the sporting villages do not confine their interactions to only Singaporeans or even people from our immediate neighbourhood. The second example I will give is that you will be surprised how much goodwill is generated by trips made by volunteers to do projects which you may consider quite prosaic, whether it is digging a well, a ditch, improving sanitation, or more sophisticated volunteer projects where surgeons go to repair cleft lips, cleft palates, or provide primary health care. All these things add up and makes a difference to the consciousness of an ASEAN identity.  It shows that Singaporeans care for our neighbourhood and the people in ASEAN, and that we do make a positive contribution.

Question 4

MP Yip Hon Weng: Thank you Mr Chairman. The Minister spoke about supporting the rules-based multilateral system and the architecture of norms and institutions that give small states like Singapore some measure of protection. In this context, can the Minister elaborate further why our nomination of Ambassador Rena Lee as a candidate for a Judge of the International Court of Justice matters for Singapore and the global community? If elected, how can Ambassador Lee contribute? Thank you.

Minister Balakrishnan: First, I would like to highlight Ambassador Rena Lee’s invaluable contribution in landing the High Seas Treaty, which determines the protection of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. To have arrived at a globally binding treaty, by consensus, given the current state of the world, is an incredible achievement. Whatever happens in the election to the International Court of Justice, there is no taking away from this achievement.

The second point I would make is that it goes beyond the person – to the fact that she is a Singaporean. Those of you who have been on the international stage will know that being a Singaporean leader, public official or diplomat already opens doors for you. People expect competence, trustworthiness, reliability, transparency – all the attributes that go into defining a Singaporean. That helps facilitate the constructive work which we try to do on the international stage.

Third, we have nominated Ambassador Rena Lee for elections, which will be due later this year, for a seat on the International Court of Justice.   This reflects, first, our commitment to international law, which Singapore as a small city state relies on. Second, we believe she is a credible candidate whom other countries should consider on her merits and track record. That is the spirit in which we have put her up.

Members of the House may also be aware that Mr Daren Tang, who is leading the World Intellectual Property Organisation, has been nominated for a second term by an overwhelming margin – a margin which politicians in this House can only envy. Again, full credit to him, but it also helps that he is Singaporean.

Question 5

NMP Associate Professor Dr Kenneth Goh: Thank you Chairman, I just wanted to build on member Gerald Giam’s question about person-to-person exchanges through sport, and to bring up the idea of sports and art events as a strategy for diplomacy. I bring this up because I had the honour and privilege of being a part of the World Aquatics Championships last year and saw the opportunities for establishing diplomatic ties in such events. Trade, economy, transport, defence, and energy – all these priorities are important and critical – but I think sports, arts, and cultural events play a part as well. I will give you another example. We are currently hosting the Singapore Smash 2026 table tennis competition, and just a few days ago, our table tennis duo Izaac Quek and Koen Pang showed sportsmanship to their Argentinian competitors. I think it really displayed Singaporeans’ reputation for trust, respect for fair play, and respect for the law. I think they probably made a few good friends through that exchange, which helps with our outreach to Latin America, which Minister of State Zhulkarnain mentioned as well. So, I was wondering if we can be more deliberate about using arts and sports events, and hosting these events here as part of our strategy for diplomacy? Thank you.

Minister Balakrishnan: In short, I completely agree with you, and that is why we have been hosting these events. In your own capacity as a national athlete and as an official now, you have seen how it works in practice. I cannot emphasise enough how much our national athletes, artists, and other creative personnel are ambassadors for Singapore.  They fly the flag for us and fly it well. I want to express my appreciation to every athlete and artist.

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng: And if I could just add likewise, inter-parliamentary ties also add to our diplomacy.

Question 6

MP Eileen Chong: Thank you, Mr Chairman. I think there is broad consensus in this house that foreign policy begins at home. I have one clarification about the various engagement sessions that MFA conducts. I would like to ask what MFA’s benchmarks are for whether such sessions are effective in building durable understanding, and whether MFA tests or tracks this, since durable understanding of the public does serve as a strong foundation for us to make hard choices and to sustain them. Thank you.

Minister Balakrishnan: I know where you are coming from as a former diplomat. First, you would agree with me that we need to do these engagement sessions. Mr Foo Cexiang has also emphasised that it is not a morality play. It is not a simple binary – black and white, good and evil. There may be multiple answers. But what is more important is understanding and understanding why. So the main purpose of these sessions is to provide safe, open, and candid platforms for these interactions to occur. We obviously do post-event analysis, but I would not be too caught up with that. Yes, it will help us understand which questions are more interesting, and which speakers may be more effective. But the more important point which I would take away is that we need to do this, we need to do more of it, and we need to engage across a wider spectrum of the public, including differing views. As long as people can agree on the national interests and agree on why we have to adopt certain positions, I think we can courteously have some divergence on the specific recommendations. It is the spirit in which these engagements occur. You have been posted overseas, so you would know – it is how we carry ourselves, as Singaporeans. I am always humbled by the fact that doors open for us simply because of that red passport. But I also feel an extra burden: do not let the team down and do not besmirch the reputation which countless generations have built for us to gain the unusual level of access and opportunity which all of us have as Singaporeans, as athletes, as artists, as businessmen, as enterprises, as parliamentarians. I think all of you who have travelled and represented Singapore in some capacity or another will know what I am referring to. I thank all who participated in these sessions, and we will continue to do more of them.

Question 7

MP Dennis Tan: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did not file a cut for MFA this year, but I do have a clarification I would like to seek. I thank Minister of State Zhulkarnain for mentioning the significance of setting up an embassy in Mexico – the first embassy in the Spanish-speaking world. Given the ongoing unrest and violence created by the drug gangs at the moment, what is MFA’s position on our plans to set up the embassy, and will the ongoing issues affect our plans? Thank you.

Minister Balakrishnan: No, it will not affect our timeline but let me give you a fuller explanation. It is also part of Singapore’s DNA that when the going gets tough, we do not leave the scene, and we do not abandon the commitments which we have made. In fact, a crisis is precisely the moment to demonstrate resolve, reliability, and trustworthiness. While we do have a travel notice for Mexico right now, because we certainly do not want Singaporeans to get into trouble, I would not change our timeline for establishing an embassy in Mexico because all the strategic reasons for doing so remain salient, and they will notice if we were to back off. Now the additional point I will make, and this is something which Minister of State Gan Siow Huang said just now. I have never, in all the decade plus in MFA, ever had an officer come to me and say, “You are posting me to a dangerous post. Can you please find someone else?” Never. In fact, the converse is true. When we had to evacuate people from Wuhan during the early phase of COVID-19, we asked for volunteers and we had volunteers who got on board a plane and went into ground zero. Again, this speaks volumes to the sense of mission, commitment, and responsibility of our diplomats. For all these reasons, I would be very, very reluctant to change plans, even amid a crisis. And the larger point I made in during the COS was that precisely because the world is in such a difficult, prickly, volatile, and dangerous state, if we keep our wits about us, maintain unity, and continue to have this clear-eyed, realistic but principled approach, there are many opportunities for Singapore. That is why we should not lose hope. This is a time to stand up, to stand on our own two feet, be confident and realistic, and keep the flag flying high.

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