Singapore Hopes US & China Can Practice Self-Restraint

Singapore said it hopes the United States and China can exercise self-restraint and refrain from actions that will further escalate tensions amid concerning “cross-strait developments”.

The 55th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) was convened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at a time of “significant volatility and insecurity”, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a press statement.

“The AMM discussed cross-strait developments with concern,” said MFA.

“Stable US-China relations are vital for regional peace and prosperity. Singapore hopes that the US and China can work out a modus vivendi, exercise self-restraint, and refrain from actions that will further escalate tensions.”

A modus vivendi refers to an arrangement or agreement allowing conflicting parties to coexist peacefully, either indefinitely or until a final settlement is reached.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday night and left on Wednesday evening, after meeting with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen.

China has condemned the visit, calling it a “provocation” by the United States, and said it would carry out military drills around the island.

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister in person of Vivian Balakrishnan attended the meeting in Cambodia. The meeting had extensive discussions on recent regional and global developments, including the situation in Myanmar, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and cross-strait developments.

“ASEAN noted that no progress has been made on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus,” said the MFA statement.

“The decision by the Myanmar military authorities to execute four opposition activists in the week leading up to the 55th AMM was a grave setback for Asean’s efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution and national reconciliation in Myanmar.

“It also disrespected the efforts of the ASEAN Chair Cambodia and the ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar.”

ASEAN also reiterated the importance of the continued implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, said MFA.