Singapore Is Still Not An Island

by Bilahari Kausikan, Tan Lian Choo

Retired Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan gives his perspectives on regional and global developments that pertain to Singapore’s foreign policy. A first collection of essays and public speeches, covering theperiod from Singapore’s independence in 1965 to 2017, was published under the title Singapore Is Not An Island. This second collection of articles and speeches builds on this and covers events up to 2023. Sharing his strategic insights through various essays, talks and papers, Bilahari shows why and how Singapore and Asean should navigate the new strategic environment. Global and regional issues are examined through the realistic lens of Singapore’s foreign policy interests.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Asia

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2023

Reviews

[Vidhya Nair]

This was an excellent book on foreign policy. The sections on US, China relations, Middle East crisis and Singapore’s position in all scenarios are illuminating. The collection of published essays and speeches does make it impersonal as a book but its content is sorely lacking in an unintellectual society like Singapore. Bilahari should teach courses at university on diplomacy and his appreciation of the history of politics in the world and locally has shaped his analysis. He highlights the growing Chinese chauvinism we see in Singapore, misguided as he calls it from lack of knowledge. He should write more books in the first person that will appeal to a thinking younger audience

[Bernard Tan]

This book is a second book featuring a collection of speeches by senior and respected retired Singapore diplomat, Bilahari Kausikan, over the course of the five years preceding the publication of this book (2023). It has been on my shelf for some time, but recent events has given me the impetus to pick it up and finish it.

The speeches lay the foundation of the foreign policy of Singapore, as this island nation seeks to maximise space to succeed in a tumultous and complex world.

Bilahari understands that realpolitik drives what happens in the world. Many not in the practice of foreign affairs prefer to draw on morality and idealism. Bilahari does not suffer fools gladly and relishes the opportunity to "educate" inferior minds on this point. When he was in public service, he had to be slightly more circumspect with his remarks - only slightly. But retirement has freed Bilahari somewhat, and he tells it like it is. It is a good primer for anybody wanting to understand how the world operates. It is actually quite poignant that what he spoke about before 2023 is actually incredibly coherent with what is happening in 2026.

But there is a downside to having a collection of speeches in a book rather than one . The key points are repeated again and again in multiple speeches. Also, speeches prevent the fuller development of arguments or the telling of diplomatic stories, which would have been fun.

[Sanford Chee]

Book launch
https://www.rsis.edu.sg/event/rsis-di...

Wong Kan Seng, GoH
S’pore needs to remain relevant in an interconnected world
Cannot insulate itself unlike a remote island
US-China is the defining geopolitical r/s
Decoupling soft paddled to “de-risking”

Bilahari
Singaporeans needs to be >exposed to the complexities of international affairs
Multiracialism = core value of SG
Strategic Triangle of Cold War no longer exists
Risks of accident getting out of hand
Domestic policy is key for determining core National interest in foreign policy

Panelists: Chan Heng Chee, Peter Ho
Hyper realist, hard truths, realpolitik
1/ leaders matters. Have to be aware of your base.
2/ narratives matters
Eg Why SG decided on sanctions on Russia
3/ Retail foreign policy matters
Poisoned shrimp defence, Global City, Non-Aligned, Multi-lateralism
Bldg networks eg FTA, ASEAN, RCEP, TTIP, trans Pacific partnership (TPP) etc

[Nicholas Koh]

As always, Bilahari’s writings are a pleasure to read. He helps you to sharpen your thinking and delivers insights to the geopolitical contests between the major powers, and what it means for Singapore.

[Melvyn Foo]

Bilahari's acerbic wit is on full display — as usual — which makes for a fun read. I especially appreciated the unequivocal pronouncement of several principles and definitions, including on Singapore's identity and China's interests.

[Vanessa]

A rather thought-provoking and insightful collection of essays on foreign policy from a Singaporean POV with a uniquely ASEAN focus. Do wish the essays could be edited or condensed to avoid the repetition of points.

[Ming]

Rehashes plenty of the arguments from the first book. I found the analysis in the new chapters on US-China relations most instructive.