Beijing’s campaign to co-opt Chinese diaspora gains urgency amid pressures

It was in Beijing, that Mr Philip Chan Man Ping, 59, a Hong Kong-born real estate investor, implored ethnic Chinese around the world to band together to “tell the China story well”. The Singapore authorities have now signalled that they intend to use a new anti-foreign interference law against Mr Chan by designating him a “politically significant person” because his activities were “directed towards a political end in Singapore”. Veteran diplomat Ong Keng Yong, who is also executive deputy chairman of the RSIS, said the ease of doing business and operating among foreign corporations and organisations via Singapore, has emboldened Chinese companies and entities to use Singapore to reach out to others in the region and beyond. “In this endeavour, the pool of Chinese expatriates or naturalised Singapore citizens of Chinese origin is important. Initially, cultivation efforts revolved around business and some ancestry ties. This has now become more obvious and those inside this circle have become bolder and outgoing,” he said, adding that Mr Chan is one such individual. Asst Prof Dylan Loh, who researches Chinese foreign policy at NTU, said the timing of Mr Chan’s case could be attributed to how Fica has now provided the tools for the Government to act in this calibrated way.

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