Relations Between Singapore and the People’s Republic of China in the Light of Donald Trump’s New Southeast Asia Policy

Authors

  • Mateusz Chatys University of Lodz, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Department of Asian Studies

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1641-4233.23.09

Keywords:

China, USA, Singapore, Southeast Asia, pivot to Asia, Donald Trump, Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze the relationship between Singapore and the People’s Republic of China in the light of the current policy of the President of the United States Donald Trump. The point of reference for the presented analysis is the foreign policy of the former President Barack Obama, based on the strategy known as “pivot to Asia” – the strategic turnabout of the United States to the Asia-Pacific region. One of its main objectives was the signing of a multilateral agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), bringing together 12 countries. The main subject of the present analysis is to examine the impact of Donald Trump’s decision of January 2017 to withdraw from the TPP trade agreement on the relations between the remaining signatories of the agreement, as well as to examine Beijing’s actions, which may seek to increase its sphere of influence in Asia through the breakdown of TPP. The main part of the research is focused on the triangle politics concept in international politics, which will include China, Singapore and the United States. Besides the two largest economic powers, Singapore is included because of its membership in the TPP and ASEAN, and due to its strong economy and its population (predominantly) of Chinese origin it can be viewed as the “fifth column” or may otherwise play a role in the Greater China concept.

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Author Biography

Mateusz Chatys, University of Lodz, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Department of Asian Studies

Mateusz Chatys - graduate of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz, Oriental specialty. Student of third-degree studies in political sciences at the Department of East Asia, Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz. Active member of the Student Scientific Circle of East Asia and the Pacific, as well as scholarship holder of the EU Window Chinese Government Scholarship program in China at Hainan University in 2015. Leader of the volunteer team during the first edition of summer school for students from China, Understanding Poland: Economy, Society and Science in Lodz in 2017.

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Published

2019-07-15

How to Cite

Chatys, M. (2019). Relations Between Singapore and the People’s Republic of China in the Light of Donald Trump’s New Southeast Asia Policy. International Studies. Interdisciplinary Political and Cultural Journal, 23(1), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.18778/1641-4233.23.09