Singapore, a Small State with Great Influence, What about Taiwan?

  Singapore, a Small State with Great Influence, What about Taiwan?

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

June 13, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

The "Trump-Kim Summit," which attracted global attention, was successfully held in Singapore on the 12^th, turning a new page in the history of the peaceful development on the Korean Peninsula, and Singapore, as the host country, equally became the focus of global attention. A tiny state geographically that could, following the creation of an economic miracle, use dexterous and active diplomacy to build an important, transcendent, neutral and trustworthy position on the world stage, Singapore’s wisdom demonstrates that a small state could shine brilliantly.

The meeting between U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could be called the most important and most far-reaching dialogue in decades in the world. Both sides chose Singapore for the venue of the talks, showing that both the United States and North Korea trusted that Singapore could provide the best security, facilities and courtesies, while Singapore demonstrated amity, with a transcendent stance, leaving both Trump and Kim at ease. The "Trump-Kim Summit" has catapulted Singapore's international political status several levels in one fell swoop, becoming one of the most appropriate venues for ice-breaking dialogues between traditional foes. Regardless of whether the final agreement signed following the “Trump-Kim Summit” could eventually be fully implemented, Singapore, as the host country, would absolutely be much benefited with a stature of “Switzerland in Asia” in the offing.

More importantly, Singapore knows full-well that small states must, more aptly and appropriately, engage with big countries on the periphery with extremely dexterous and expert diplomacy, and know how to avoid confrontations, but expand mutual benefits, so as to secure more national interests for themselves. Singapore knows that it is a small state, having never made, in a pompous and impetuous fashion, any stupid acts, such as attacking a rock with eggs, as the Chinese saying goes, maintaining vigilant over its ambiance at all times, keeping a sense of crisis towards the future, always keenly grasping the trends of the times and planning to cope with them as early as possible, creating room for survival and development with all efforts, and having broad vista and long-term strategy.

If people on Taiwan always think that their country is small and weak, and is bound to situate in disadvantage when competing with other countries, then the example of Singapore tells us that what limits ourselves is not substantive national territory or population, but vista, broadmindedness and the will. The world is as big as your mind; one can traverse as far how strong the will is. If we close the door and air our grievances and laments, blaming the environment for our failures, it is the shirking of responsibility by the weak, and also the irresponsibility for one’s own destiny.

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