Debated in Parliament on 9 Sep 2026.
Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) what assessment has the Ministry made of the risk of accidental escalation in the South China Sea arising from increasingly frequent encounters between military and maritime law-enforcement vessels; and (b) whether ASEAN mechanisms are adequate to manage such incidents.
As a small, trade-dependent nation, Singapore's national interests include maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea (SCS), upholding the right of all states to freedom of navigation and overflight, and supporting the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As a non-claimant state, Singapore does not take sides on the competing territorial and maritime claims in the SCS.
Recent developments have increased the risks of accidents and miscalculations in the SCS. To preserve regional peace and stability, we have consistently called on all parties to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions in the SCS. All parties should manage disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are negotiating the Code of Conduct (COC) in the SCS, and have committed to endeavour to conclude the COC negotiations by this year. ASEAN and China have convened monthly meetings since the start of this year. The negotiations are an important platform for ASEAN and China to put forth their positions and better understand each other, with a view to eventually de-escalating tensions on the ground. Singapore has participated actively in the discussions and will continue to work with China and other ASEAN member states towards an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and that safeguards the rights and interests of all parties in the SCS.
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