Singapore has urged foreign embassies not to stir domestic sentiment over international disputes, after a recent social-media exchange between the US and Chinese embassies over the South China Sea issue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such actions risk dragging Singapore into matters it is not a party to and could affect public perception unnecessarily. The government called for diplomatic channels to be used for dialogue, instead of airing disagreements on social media.
“The Singapore Government rejects attempts by foreign embassies to incite domestic reactions to international issues involving third countries. Complex issues are best resolved through appropriate channels for effective diplomacy,” the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, May 21.
The incident was triggered by a social media post by the US embassy in Singapore.
On Tuesday, May 20, the embassy posted a video likening China’s actions in the South China Sea dispute to inappropriate behaviour sometimes seen in Singapore’s public housing estates — such as cluttering shared spaces and blocking neighbours’ doorways with personal belongings.
“China says it ‘owns’ nearly the entire South China Sea. International law says otherwise,” a post by the US Embassy on Instagram read.
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“In 2016, the Hague tribunal ruled Beijing’s sweeping claims have no legal basis — yet construction, patrols, and coercion continue. From militarized reefs to “gray zone” tactics, this isn’t just a maritime dispute — it’s a test of international order, stability, and peace,” the post, published on May 20, added.
A day later, China’s embassy responded on Facebook, accusing the US of prioritising its own interests over international norms. It criticised Washington for withdrawing from global agreements and organisations, engaging in “bullying and coercion” over issues like tariffs, and allegedly seeking control over strategic locations such as the Panama Canal and Greenland.
In response to media queries, a US embassy spokesperson defended the social media post, stating that the embassy has a responsibility to communicate US government policies and perspectives on matters that impact both the United States and the broader region.
“Drawing an analogy to the local Singapore context, the video explains the US understanding of the dispute by referencing a phenomenon to which anyone around the world can relate,” the spokesperson said, as quoted by Reuters.
