Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China make it to Soft Power 30 list
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: Singapore, which stole international limelight in 2018 for its successful hosting of the historic Trump-Kim summit, has been ranked 21st in a 30-nation global survey on soft power for 2019. Topping the list is France (80.28 points) while fellow Asian states Japan came eighth (75.71), South Korea 19th […]
Taking Singapore-ROK strategic partnership to higher levels
By Ivan Lim AJA Former President Singapore: Singapore is seen as a bridge straddling troubled international waters that will pave the way for South Korea’s New Southern Policy (NSP) of boosting ties with the 10-member- states of Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations). The NSP is designed to advance President Moon Jae-in’s dream of an […]
Haze testing Asean solidarity, capabilities in tackling complex transboundary problem
By Ivan Lim Former AJA president Singapore: Microscopic specks of dust from forest fires have blanketed the atmosphere over South-east Asia, blotting out the sun, and painting the blue skies a dirty shade of grey. The worsening acrid haze, emanating from fires in the Indonesian territories of Sumatra and Kalimantan and spreading across to Malaysia […]
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan cast as contrasting figures in dramatic events unfolding in Hong Kong
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President Singapore: Two iconic Hongkong martial artistes, the late Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan have been cast as contrasting faces of the civil disobedience movement that is roiling Hong Kong in the past four months. Organisers of the anti-government movement have attributed their flash-mob street demonstrations, that quite often caught […]
Singapore responds to Hong Kong
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: In 2016, a Singaporean civic activist Jolovan Wham was found guilty of organising an illegal public assembly without a police permit. The theme of the indoor conference was Civil Disobedience and Social Movements. There was a Hong Kong connection: Joshua Wong was a pro-democracy student leader who […]
Singapore affirms pragmatic stand as it navigates U.S.-China-rivalry
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: As the Sino-American rivalry intensifies, especially over the South China Sea, Singaporeans are increasingly concerned about being drawn unwittingly into the big-power test of strength. First, there is the pull of ethnicity, as the city-state has a predominantly Chinese population whose forebears had migrated from China. […]
Singapore election fever
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: Election fever is in the air in Singapore. The worsening economy – GDP growth forecast down to 0.1 to .1 percent from 2 to.2.5 percent arising from global slowdown — has spurred talk of a snap election. Pundits say the government may capitalise on the ensuing crisis […]
South China Sea Code of Conduct
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: The long-awaited South China Sea Code of Conduct for peaceful resolution of disputes will be ready in three years, China and Asean have agreed. This was the key outcome of the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting with their Chinese counterpart.at their annual gathering in the Thai capital, Bangkok […]
Celebratory Singapore remains confident as world faces “very different future”
By Ivan Lim AsiaN Contributor Singapore: Singapore marks its 54th annual birthday bash today (August 9) with a marchpast of contingents and musical performances at the historical Padang square. The National Day Parade that coincides with the Republic’s Bicentennial (founding by British adventurer Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819) will be highlighted by a musical […]
Being politically correct on festival greetings
By Ivan Lim Contributor to AsiaN Singapore: In an Age of Innocence, people all over the world send out greetings to one another during religious and cultural festivals. They spread the message of friendship, goodwill and well wishing. to families and friends without fear of being called out for political and or cultural / […]
Singapore, Former President of Asia Journalist Association 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
