PEACE has prevailed in the Asia-Pacific region for so long that it is difficult to imagine things being different, but the troubling developments in Europe point to the need to be “psychologically prepared”, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 21).

“Look at how things have gone wrong in Europe. Can you be sure that things cannot go wrong in our region too? Better get real, and be psychologically prepared,” he said at the annual National Day Rally.

He outlined the ways that Singapore’s external environment had become “very troubled”, even as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reiterating the profound implications that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has on the world and Singapore, PM Lee said the war has not only created deep hostility between Russia and other states, but it has complicated the already strained relations between the United States and China.

“We can expect more geopolitical contestation in the Asia-Pacific,” he said. “Some countries will choose a side. Others, like Singapore, will try our best to avoid being caught up in the major power rivalry.”

But he emphasised the need for Singapore to take a strong stance against Russia’s attack on Ukraine, since the Republic’s security and existence rely on countries upholding the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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“Russia claims that what it calls a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine is justified by ‘historical errors and crazy decisions’. If we accept this logic, what happens if one day others use the same argument against us?” said the prime minister.

Meanwhile, US-China relations, which set the tone for global affairs, are worsening, with the world’s two largest economies divided over many issues, he said.

These include their rival ideologies and systems of government and China’s growing influence in the world, as well as specific problems that involve trade disputes, cyber espionage, the South China Sea and Hong Kong.

Most recently and worryingly, tensions over Taiwan have also sharply escalated, said PM Lee. Yet, both powers need to work together on many pressing global issues, including climate change, pandemics and nuclear proliferation.

“Their tense relationship is making this almost impossible,” he said. “This is bad news for the world.”

Neither side expects relations to improve any time soon, despite a recent video call between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping and an agreement by the 2 leaders to meet in-person, he noted.

“We must all hope there are no miscalculations or mishaps, which will make things much worse,” said PM Lee.

The prime minister outlined 3 things Singapore can do about these external dangers, the first of which is to stand firm on fundamental principles of international law.

It’s also important to take National Service seriously and keep the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team strong and credible. And most importantly, he stressed that Singaporeans must stay as one united people.

“Never allow ourselves to be divided – whether by race, religion, income, social differences or place of birth,” he said. “Stay alert against foreign actors who are looking to exploit our vulnerabilities and to influence our people for their own interests.”

In an earlier portion of the National Day Rally speech delivered in Mandarin, PM Lee said it may be tempting to believe what one reads on social media, but he cautioned that certain messages may carry an agenda, with the aim to sway public opinion or weaken the people’s trust in the government.

Citing the Ukraine war as an example, he noted that some text messages circulating on social media - in both English and Chinese - have the intention to stir up anti-US sentiments, while others are on a smear campaign against Russia and China.

He urged Singaporeans to be vigilant and to consider the source of these messages, their possible agenda and whether it is necessary to forward them to their friends.

“Do not believe everything that you read online is true,” he said in his English speech. “If we are taken in and divided, we will stand no chance. But united, we can deal with any problems that come our way.”

Click here for the full list of stories from the National Day Rally 2022.