Singapore seeks stronger regional ties as US-China tensions rise

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan sit during the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers retreat in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. - AP

SINGAPORE, Feb 27 (Bloomberg): Singapore’s top diplomat lauded recent inroads made with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei as part of a strategy to build "overlapping circles of friends” amid worsening geopolitical tensions in the region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan told parliament Monday that Singapore is advancing regional ties that will help to prevent any one major power from dominating in the Asia-Pacific.