Singapore minister Chan Chun Sing’s Mandarin diplomacy strikes China chord

Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing's use of Mandarin and Chinese philosophy in his speech at a major security forum in Beijing has won him praise on Chinese social media, while shedding light on how cultural familiarity and language can be diplomatic tools for the city state. Asst Prof Stefanie Kam, from RSIS, described Chan's switch to Mandarin as deliberate and a "clear effort to show cultural awareness and diplomatic tact". Assoc Prof Dylan Loh, from NTU, said the speech showed Singapore's bilingualism and an ability to code-switch. Asst Prof Benjamin Ho, Coordinator of China Programme at RSIS, said Chan's speech was broad and in line with the city state's "pro-Singapore" policy.

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