Singapore moved slowly towards China, building trade and contacts but delaying formal ties until after Indonesia in 1990.
Singapore was cautious about China. In the 1960s and 1970s China supported communist parties in Southeast Asia. Singapore had fought a communist challenge at home. Its population was mainly Chinese, so it had to show its neighbours that it was not a "third China".
Contacts grew after the USA and China drew closer in the 1970s. Lee Kuan Yew visited China in 1976. Deng Xiaoping visited Singapore in November 1978 and saw its economic success. Lee pressed him on China's support for communist rebels in the region.
Singapore and China opened trade representative offices in 1981. Economic links grew as China reformed under Deng.
Singapore chose to wait until Indonesia restored relations with China. Indonesia did so in August 1990. Singapore followed in October 1990.
- Lee visits China
- 1976.
- Deng visits Singapore
- November 1978.
- Trade offices
- 1981.
- Diplomatic relations
- October 1990, after Indonesia (August 1990).
Worked example: Regional factors shaping policy
Why did Singapore delay diplomatic relations with China until 1990?
- Domestic: the earlier communist threat at home.
- Regional: reassuring Malay neighbours, especially Indonesia.
- China's policy: support for regional communist parties.
- Result: trade first, formal ties only after Indonesia.
Watch out for this
Singapore recognised China soon after independence because of its Chinese population.
Singapore waited until October 1990, after Indonesia, precisely to avoid being seen as a "third China".
Check your understanding
Why did Singapore wait for Indonesia before establishing relations with China?
- To reassure its neighbours that it was not a "third China"
- Because China refused all contact until 1990
- Because the USA forbade it