During his first trip to China as Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong addressed journalists in Beijing on June 25, 2025, highlighting the increasing trend of countries weaponizing economic interdependencies and identifying choke points as leverage amid geopolitical tensions. Responding to questions about U.S. tariffs, Wong noted that such actions prompt nations to seek alternative solutions, potentially diminishing perceived leverage over time, as seen with high-end semiconductors or rare earth materials.
Weaponizing economic interdependencies
He expressed confidence in China’s ability to navigate imposed restrictions. Wong met with Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping, and spoke at the World Economic Forum event. He described the U.S. tariff situation as evolving and unpredictable, urging constructive U.S.-China engagement. Wong also noted ASEAN’s efforts to lower U.S. tariffs on its members, ideally to 10 percent, though still triple the previous rate, emphasizing Singapore’s hope for regional stability stability.
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