新加坡领导人称，东盟成员国不想在华盛顿和北京之间选边站队。“没有人愿意处于我们必须遏制中国崛起或限制美国存在的境地。”他还表示，“在该地区朝任何一个方向采取的任何举动都不会有多少国家跟随，因为东盟没有人希望看到爆发‘新冷战’”。在海外问答网站Quora上，美国网友问：为什么新加坡不在中国和美国之间选边站？我们看看各国网友的回答。

新加坡网友Chance Teo的回答

Only children choose to take sides in a fight, while adults value profit.

只有孩子在打架时才选择站在一边，而成年人则看重利益。

Taking sides means completely siding with one country and enmity with another. It’s a very old Cold War mentality. Now in the 21st century, we are concerned about the thinking of a community of common destiny. There can be only one winner in the Cold War, but cooperation can achieve win-win results. Countries around the world should strengthen communication and cooperation.

选择站队意味着完全倒向一个国家，敌视另一个国家。这是一种非常古老的冷战思维。现在是21世纪，我们关注的是命运共同体的思考。冷战只有一个赢家，但合作可以实现共赢。世界各国应加强沟通与合作。

1. Status Quo of Singapore (Geographical advantages)

1、新加坡现状(地理优势)

The geographical environment of a country is the most basic condition for its development. Why has America become the most powerful country in the world? Why has the British Navy been so powerful throughout history? Why has China’s territory barely changed for thousands of years? Why is Russia always on the offensive? Geography plays a very important role in this. The premise of formulating national strategy is the accurate understanding of national geography.

一个国家的地理环境是其发展的最基本条件。为什么美国能成为世界上最强大的国家?为什么英国海军在历史上如此强大?为什么中国的领土几千年来几乎没有变化?为什么俄罗斯总是保持进攻姿态?地理环境在其中起着非常重要的作用。制定国家战略的前提是对国家地理的准确认识。

The extremely important geographical position determines the development direction and national strategy of Singapore.

极其重要的地理位置决定了新加坡的发展方向和国家战略。

A. Excellent geographical location

A. 优越的地理位置

Located at the intersection of major shipping routes, Singapore is a major logistics hub and conduit for global trade. In the Logistics Performance Index released by the World Bank, Singapore was ranked as the best logistics hub in Asia. Singapore is an ideal place for large logistics companies to operate. Twenty of the world’s top 25 logistics companies have operations in Singapore.

新加坡位于主要航线的交汇处，是全球贸易的主要物流枢纽和管道。在世界银行发布的物流绩效指数中，新加坡被评为亚洲最佳物流中心。新加坡是大型物流企业经营的理想之地。全球前25大物流企业中，有20家在新加坡开展业务。

B. Financial center

B. 金融中心

Singapore is also a very strong financial center in Asia, with more than 1,000 financial institutions, taking full advantage of a stable socio-political environment and strong economic fundamentals. Singapore’s banking and finance sector employs 190,000 people and accounts for 12 per cent of its gross domestic product.

新加坡也是亚洲非常强大的金融中心，拥有1000多家金融机构，充分利用了稳定的社会政治环境和强大的经济基础因素。新加坡的银行和金融业雇佣了19万人，占其国内生产总值(GDP)的12%。

The Singapore International Financial Exchange (SIMEX) is Asia’s first financial futures exchange and Singapore’s main wealth management centre. In 2013, SIMEX managed over $1.8 trillion in assets, making it the fastest growing wealth management center in the world.

新加坡国际金融交易所(SIMEX)是亚洲首家金融期货交易所，也是新加坡主要的财富管理中心。2013年，SIMEX管理着超过1.8万亿美元的资产，成为全球增长最快的财富管理中心。

2 Singapore’s development direction (time advantage and leadership advantage)

2新加坡的发展方向(时间优势和领导优势)

The best thing about Singapore is that it has found its own direction and can find different directions at different stages. China has a saying called “time advantage, geographical advantage, leadership advantage”, and Singapore has achieved it. If Singapore’s geographical location is a “geographical advantage”, then Singapore’s leaders are a “leadership advantage” and different historical stages are a “time advantage”.

新加坡最好的一点是，它找到了自己的发展方向，在不同的阶段可以找到不同的方向。中国有句话叫“时间优势、地理优势、领导优势”，新加坡做到了。如果新加坡的地理位置属于“地理优势”，那么新加坡的领导者是“领导优势”，不同的历史阶段是“时间优势”。

(A) Export-oriented industries from 1965 to 1975

A. 1965年到1975年的出口导向型产业

Under the guidance of the export-oriented economy, Singapore began to develop labor-intensive industries. Early industries in Singapore were mainly vegetable oil, cosmetics, wigs, mosquito coils, hair creams, etc., and higher value-added industries were ship breaking and scrap steel coils.

在外向型经济的导向下，新加坡开始发展劳动密集型产业。新加坡早期的产业主要是植物油、化妆品、假发、蚊香、发霜等，附加值较高的产业是拆船和废钢卷。

In October 1968, Texas Instruments began investing, followed by the National Semiconductor Plant. Then Texas Instruments’ rival Hewlett-Packard decided to start manufacturing in Singapore. Other electronics companies in the United States followed suit. American multinationals have laid the foundation for Singapore’s high-tech electronics industry. The electronics industry not only solved the problem of unemployment, but also enabled Singapore to become a major exporter of electronics in the 1980s.

1968年10月，德州仪器开始投资，紧接着是国家半导体工厂。后来，德州仪器的竞争对手惠普公司决定在新加坡开始生产。美国的其他电子公司也纷纷效仿。美国跨国公司为新加坡的高科技电子产业奠定了基础。电子工业不仅解决了失业问题，而且使新加坡在20世纪80年代成为电子产品的主要出口国。

In 1975, Singapore’s industry overtook trade as the largest component of the economy for the first time.

1975年，新加坡的工业首次超过贸易，成为经济的最大组成部分。

B. Capital-intensive industries and finance, 1975-1990

B. 1975 – 1990年的资本密集型产业和金融业

After 1975, Singapore focused on the development of capital-intensive industries and finance: petrochemicals, electronics, finance, and real estate. Under the trend of free competition in European and American countries, Singapore developed state capitalism and focused on national priorities. Do you think you know it?

1975年以后，新加坡重点发展资本密集型产业和金融业:石油化工、电子工业、金融业、房地产业。在欧美国家自由竞争的趋势下，新加坡发展国家资本主义，注重国家重点工作。你认为你熟悉它吗?

(C) Development of knowledge-intensive industries after 1990

C. 1990年后发展知识密集型产业

After 1990, the service sector became the engine of economic development. Singapore has shifted its focus from manufacturing to major emerging industries such as chemicals, electronics and engineering. The Economic Development Board has also started to develop the biomedical science industry with its leading edge in pharmaceutical biotechnology and medical technology.

1990年以后，服务业成为经济发展的引擎。新加坡已将发展重点从制造业转向化工、电子和工程等主要新兴产业。经济发展局也凭借其在医药生物技术和医疗技术等行业的领先优势，开始发展生物医学科学产业。

Now Singapore has become more developed and beautiful.

现在的新加坡变得更加发达和美丽。

All States shall respect the national independence and sovereignty of Singapore

3各国应尊重新加坡的国家独立和主权

Singapore is an independent country and every country needs to respect the choice of the Government and people of Singapore.

新加坡是一个独立的国家，每个国家都需要尊重新加坡政府和人民的选择。

Whether Singapore aligns itself with China or the United States, the end result will not be good.

无论新加坡与中国结盟还是与美国结盟，最终的结果都不会好。

When Singapore chooses either side, it offends the other side. The United States can provide security for Singapore, and China is Singapore’s largest trading partner. It would be dangerous to fall completely on either side.

当新加坡选择任何一方时，都会冒犯对方。美国可以为新加坡提供安全保障，而中国是新加坡最大的贸易伙伴。完全倒向任何一方都是危险的。

Advantages are often disadvantages, and disadvantages sometimes become advantages. Due to its unique geographical location and strong economic strength, Singapore is bound to be exposed to many international influences. Singapore is a multi-ethnic and independent country with its own views and positions, and acts on principle in all circumstances. Therefore, Singapore would do well not to take sides and remain neutral.

优点往往是缺点，缺点有时又变成优点。新加坡由于其独特的地理位置和强大的经济实力，必然会受到许多国际影响。新加坡是一个多民族的独立国家，有自己的观点和立场，在任何情况下都要按原则办事。因此，新加坡最好不要选边站队，保持中立。

At the same time, the key to solving this problem lies not in Singapore, but in China and the United States, and even in the White House. The “magic president” Trump has added a lot of uncertainty and destruction to the world. Forcing any country to take sides will make them uncomfortable. Most importantly, all countries will lose.

同时，解决这个问题的关键不在于新加坡，而在于中美，甚至在于白宫。“魔法总统”特朗普曾给世界增添了许多不确定性和破坏力。强迫任何国家选边站都会让他们感到不舒服。最重要的是，所有国家都会输。

Like I said at the beginning, kids pick sides in fights, while adults should weigh pros and cons when doing things.

就像我一开始说的，孩子在打架时会选择立场，而成年人在做事时应该权衡利弊。

Finally, I want to say that I like Singaporean stars very much. When we were young, we were very fond of the TV dramas of Consort Kwok and Siu-Jin Cheng. My school days were accompanied by Stefanie’s song, Bless Singapore.

最后，我想说，我非常喜欢新加坡的明星。当我们年轻的时候，我们非常喜欢郭妃丽和郑秀珍的电视剧。我的学生时代伴随着孙燕姿的歌，保佑新加坡。

海外网友杨潇的回答

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and US Vice President Mike Pence pose for a group photo during the 13th East Asia Summit in Singapore, Nov 15, 2015.

11月15日，在新加坡举行的第13届东亚峰会上，俄罗斯总统普京、新加坡总理李显龙、泰国总理巴育和美国副总统彭斯合影留念。

The city-state of Singapore has established itself as a financial, trade and investment hub in Southeast Asia. Singapore is a small territory, so people and businesses must rely on close ties with international companies.

新加坡这个城市国家已经树立了其作为东南亚地区金融、贸易和投资中心的形象。新加坡的领土面积很小，因此人民和企业必须依靠与国际公司的紧密联系。

In diplomatic disputes, Singapore has a strong economic incentive to remain neutral and forge friendships with anyone interested in expanding their business in the city-state.

在外交争端中，新加坡有强烈的经济动机保持中立，并与任何有意在这个城市国家扩大业务的人建立友谊。

Even if there is a major dispute between Asian countries, Singapore will not take sides unless it is something directly related to them. Therefore, if Japan and South Korea have a disagreement, the Singapore government will urge the international community to ease tensions, but if Malaysia infringes on Singapore’s territorial sovereignty, Singapore will fight back.

即使亚洲国家之间发生重大争端，新加坡也不会偏袒任何一方，除非是与他们直接相关的事情。因此，如果日本和韩国发生分歧，新加坡政府会敦促国际社会缓和紧张局势，但如果马来西亚侵犯新加坡的领土主权，新加坡将予以反击。

Singapore is very proud of its sovereignty and all able-bodied adult males are required to do military service for about two years. They learn to adapt to strict military discipline, stay in shape to maintain combat readiness, and work in a cohesive way with a team of citizens of all backgrounds, rich and poor.

新加坡对自己的主权非常自豪，所有身体健全的成年男性都必须服兵役两年左右。他们学会适应严格的军事纪律，保持体形以保持战备状态，并以一种有凝聚力的方式与一个由各种背景的公民组成的团队合作，无论贫富。

Despite its small size, Singapore can boast of having a strong armed forces that can stand up to adversaries if necessary. Singapore’s independence is deeply rooted in the hearts of its citizens, which allows them to remain neutral without fear of the possible negative consequences of taking such a stance.

尽管国土面积小，但新加坡拥有一支值得夸耀的强大的武装部队，可以在必要时对抗对手。新加坡的独立深深扎根于其公民的心中，这使得他们可以保持中立，而不必担心采取这种立场可能带来的负面后果。

As a result, Chinese companies and investors are thriving in Singapore, but Americans enjoy the same privileges. If Singapore takes sides between Beijing and Washington, it will lose out in international deals.

因此，中国公司和投资者在新加坡蓬勃发展，但美国人也享受着同样的特权。如果新加坡在北京和华盛顿之间站队，它将在国际交易中吃亏。

The late Apple founder Steve Jobs was once asked why he never disclosed the political organizations he donated to or told Americans whether he voted Democratic or Republican. He responded that if he disclosed his political leanings, Apple would lose half of its customer base.

已故的苹果公司创始人史蒂夫·乔布斯曾经被问到，为什么他从来没有披露过他捐赠的政治组织，也没有告诉美国人他是投票给民主党还是共和党。他回应说，如果他披露自己的政治倾向，苹果将失去一半的客户群。

That’s a good answer for a businessman. If Jobs had said he was a Republican, Democrats would have boycotted Apple, and vice versa. The same is true of Singapore when it comes to Sino-US diplomatic tussles.

这对商人来说是个好答案。如果乔布斯说他是共和党人，民主党人就会抵制苹果，反之亦然。在中美外交角力方面，新加坡也是如此。

Singapore is a cosmopolitan city-state that welcomes foreign businesses from all over the world. Indians can open a clothing store in the city-state and Pakistani retailers can do the same. Local government officials simply insisted that foreigners remain peaceful and not attack others because of religious, ethnic or racial differences.

新加坡是一个国际化的城市国家，欢迎来自世界各地的外国企业。印度人可以在这个城市国家开一家服装店，巴基斯坦零售商也可以这样做。当地政府官员只是坚持要求外国人保持和平，不要因为宗教、民族或种族差异而攻击他人。

Singapore welcomes people of different backgrounds, religions, countries and races to live together in peace, and that is why Singapore is so successful.We can learn about Singapore’s model of diplomatic neutrality through an article from Channel NewsAsia:

新加坡欢迎不同背景、不同宗教、不同国家、不同种族的人和平共处，这就是新加坡如此成功的原因。我们可以通过亚洲新闻频道的一篇文章来了解新加坡外交中立模式：

According to Channel News Asia, Mr Chan said that looking overseas, as Singapore’s hinterland, it is necessary for us to better connect with the world and access resources and markets.

据亚洲新闻频道报道:陈振聪表示，放眼海外，作为新加坡的腹地，我们有必要更好地与世界接轨，获取资源和市场。

This means expanding the market portfolio to spread risk and moving beyond the traditional dimensions of air, land and sea connectivity into areas such as data, finance, talent and technology.

这意味着扩大市场组合以分散风险，并超越空中、陆地和海上连通的传统维度，进入数据、金融、人才和技术等领域。

He added that as global production and supply chains shift, Singapore must remain agile to adapt to these changes.

他补充说，随着全球生产和供应链的转变，新加坡必须保持敏捷，以适应这些变化。”

Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing explained the city-state’s strict neutrality in May 2018.

新加坡贸易和工业部长陈振声在2018年5月解释了这个城市国家的严格中立。

Therefore, Singapore should not side with Beijing or Washington, which may be beneficial to many other countries. The city-state could act as a mediator, resolving diplomatic disputes and bringing peace to Asia and the world.

因此，新加坡不应该站在北京或华盛顿一边，这可能对许多其他国家有利。这个城邦可以扮演调停者的角色，解决外交争端，为整个亚洲乃至世界带来和平。

新加坡网友詹姆斯•吴的回答

Singapore continues to exist only because it adheres to the global order of the Westphalian system, which is based on territorial sovereignty regardless of its size. In other words, a small country like Singapore cannot exist in an unprincipled world where might makes right. Singapore is divided by treaty, not geography or a long history.

新加坡继续存在，只是因为它遵守威斯特伐利亚体系的全球秩序，该体系的基础是领土主权，而不论其大小。换句话说，像新加坡这样的小国不可能在一个强权即公理的无原则世界中存在。新加坡是由条约划分的，而不是地理位置或悠久的历史。

Internationally, Singapore has always been a principled nation, with an extraordinary voice as a small island nation of six million people. We are honest and thoughtful realists with a long-term vision.

在国际上，新加坡一直是一个有原则的国家，作为一个拥有600万人口的小岛国，新加坡有着非凡的发言权。我们是诚实和深思熟虑的现实主义者，有长远的眼光。

Neutrality provides room for diplomatic maneuverability and flexibility. We don’t have to bind our foreign policy strictly to the whims of great powers like America’s Allies. Japan and South Korea have greatly benefited from US protection, but, as President Trump has shown, they could be subject to blackmail. An alliance with any one power could undermine our freedom of action in domestic and foreign policy.

中立性为外交上的可操作性和灵活性提供了空间。我们不必把我们的外交政策严格地束缚在像美国盟友这样的大国的心血来潮中。日本和韩国从美国的保护中受益匪浅，但正如特朗普总统所表现的那样，它们可能受到勒索。与任何一个大国结盟都可能损害我们在内政和外交政策上的行动自由。

Protecting country has influence over us and can dictate to us. And you don’t want nasty westerners lecturing us on human rights and democracy, do you? Nor do we want to become a vassal state of China and part of the “Greater China region,” as so many sadly misguided ultranationalists believe.

保护国会对我们有影响力，可以向我们发号施令。你也不想让讨厌的西方人在人权和民主问题上教化我们，对吧?我们也不想成为中国的附属国，成为“大中华区”的一部分，就像许多可悲的误入歧途的极端民族主义者所认为的那样。

Staying neutral allows us to get the maximum economic and security benefits from both powers. I’ve heard it called “strategic .” In fact, I think a certain amount of U.S.-China competition is good for small countries like ours. The balance of power is a good thing because it creates strategic space for us. Small countries exist in the gap between big countries. When great powers collude, look at the partition of Poland, etc.

保持中立使我们能够从两个大国那里获得最大的经济和安全利益。我听说这被称为“战略性外交”。事实上，我认为一定程度的美中竞争对我们这样的小国是有好处的。力量平衡是一件好事，因为它为我们创造了战略空间。小国在大国之间的夹缝中生存。当大国勾结时，看看瓜分波兰，等等。

Regional considerations: The ASEAN Free Trade Area Treaty prohibits outside powers from interfering in the internal affairs of the region. Traditionally, Indonesia and Malaysia have not been friendly to intervention by outside powers in the region or to our policy of promoting a US military presence

区域考虑:东盟东盟自贸区条约禁止外部势力干涉该区域的内部事务。传统上，印尼和马来西亚对该地区的外部势力干预或我们促进美国军事存在的政策并不友好。

Ethnic sensitivity: alliance with China may destroy the structure of our multicultural and multi-ethnic society, which will also prove that Malaysia and Indonesia suspect that we are the “third China”. China also firmly implements the nonalignment policy. Undoubtedly, the majority of Singapore’s population may be distant relatives in terms of culture and race, but politically, we are a sovereign country. We are not loyal to China and have absolutely no obligation to bow to its interests. Our location is in Southeast Asia, alongside our neighboring countries.

民族敏感性:与中国结盟可能会破坏我们多元文化、多民族社会的结构，也将证实马来西亚和印度尼西亚对我们是“第三中国”的怀疑，中国也坚定执行不结盟政策。毫无疑问:新加坡的大多数人口可能是文化和种族上的远亲，但在政治方面，我们是一个主权国家。我们不效忠中国，也绝对没有义务向其利益卑躬屈膝。我们的位置在东南亚，和我们的邻国在一起。