[Asia Report] Lawrence Wong's Singapore: A Quiet Landslide Victory

Prime Minister Wong Leads People's Action Party to Landslide Victory
Economic Recovery, Neutral Diplomacy, and Public Trust as Foundations
PAP Secures 87 Out of 97 Parliamentary Seats

Singapore, the economic hub of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), is a small city-state with a population of 5 million, but it is considered an extremely important partner for South Korea. The first reason is that Singapore skillfully balances its position between the two global powers, China and the United States. The second is that it serves as a key axis in the rapidly emerging "Global South" region. South Korea and Singapore share similar concerns, and if the two countries cooperate, they can expect greater-than-anticipated synergy in fields such as trade and technology. Earlier this month, a significant election took place in Singapore. A general election was held to determine the direction of power.

On May 3, Singapore once again chose an overwhelming victory for the People’s Action Party (PAP). The young Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, age 53, had his leadership endorsed by the public through his first general election. The PAP secured 87 out of 97 seats, and its total vote share rose by 4.4 percentage points from the previous election to 65.57%. Prime Minister Wong became the first in PAP history to earn the title of "Prime Minister who increased support in his first election."

Another Landslide Victory, Mandate for Prime Minister Wong

This victory is significant not only as a renewal of trust but also because it demonstrates that the PAP has precisely met the public’s political expectations through economic recovery and strategic diplomacy over the past five years. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore recovered rapidly and emerged as a top alternative destination for global companies seeking to move away from China and Hong Kong. Its per capita GDP now hovers around the $100,000 mark. Major global corporations have chosen Singapore as their "Asian base," overtaking the previous status of Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Lawrence Wong Singapore Prime Minister. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Although economic growth in the first quarter of 2025 was somewhat modest at 3.8%, proactive investment in advanced industries such as semiconductors, life sciences, and green energy provided medium- to long-term stability. Employment also rebounded more quickly than in most advanced countries. Voters judged these achievements as "growth within stability."

Since his tenure as Finance Minister, Prime Minister Wong has prioritized "fiscal sustainability" and "building a digital foundation," maintaining a balance in welfare and housing policies while minimizing fiscal deficits and restructuring burdens. The "Forward Singapore" roadmap, implemented in 2024, won voters' trust with its three pillars: industrial transformation, strengthening the social safety net, and intergenerational equity.

The key to understanding this election lies in Prime Minister Wong's "skillful diplomatic balancing act." In the "S. Rajaratnam Lecture" on April 16, he made Singapore’s principle of neutral diplomacy clear by saying, "We want to be good friends with the United States, China, and Europe. We do not want a world with just one friend." While continuing former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's policy of "balanced diplomacy," Wong has placed even greater emphasis on ASEAN solidarity and a rules-based international order.

Despite the strengthening of U.S. protectionism, Singapore did not view this simply as external pressure. Prime Minister Wong warned that "our exports gain added value through ASEAN and China," and that unilateral U.S. actions would have a direct impact on Singapore’s economy. After consultations with ASEAN, Singapore chose a compromise: avoiding retaliation while strengthening joint responses. Wong’s view that diplomacy is not the exclusive domain of the government but a responsibility of society as a whole further solidified the legitimacy of his administration, emphasizing that the media, businesses, academia, and civil society must all contribute to the nation’s principled conduct.

Stagnant Opposition, Chee Soon Juan’s Disappointment

Meanwhile, this election also revealed a shift in voters’ political consciousness. In the past, support for opposition parties was driven by a desire to "check the PAP," but now voters demand policies, trust, and vision from the opposition as well. The National Solidarity Party (NSP), the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), and the People’s Power Party (PPP) all suffered the humiliation of losing their election deposits. This sends a clear message that Singaporean voters will no longer support political forces that merely oppose without offering alternatives.

Singapore’s political structure is based on single-member constituencies without proportional representation, and the ruling party enjoys overwhelming advantages in campaign activities, financial resources, and media access. Amid these circumstances, the Workers’ Party (WP) retained its 10 seats and remained the only surviving opposition force. Although it did not gain additional seats, it continued to receive steady support based on policy expertise and strong local roots. Party leader Pritam Singh pledged, "We will start again," reaffirming the WP’s role as the main opposition. The WP, which has established an image as a "rational check-and-balance force" especially among younger voters, is now seen as the only hope for realizing a multi-party system in Singapore’s political future.

The most poignant name in this election was Dr. Chee Soon Juan, age 63. As leader of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), he has challenged the PAP system in every election since 1992. He achieved a high vote share of 46.81% in the Sembawang West constituency but narrowly missed victory. In the past, he was repeatedly imprisoned and fined for unauthorized speeches, acts of civil disobedience, and publishing bans. Nevertheless, his political perseverance and moral consistency continue to resonate with many people.

In 2021, he and his wife opened a cafe called "Orange & Teal," creating a space for political communication. This demonstrated that politics is not confined to competition within parliament, but is also practiced in civil society and public discourse. His remark, "I have not given up on politics, but my approach has changed," sounds less like the lament of a defeated politician and more like a profound insight into politics itself.

The 2025 general election showed that Singapore remains a society that values stability and pragmatism. Prime Minister Wong earned the public’s trust by managing the domestic economy steadily, and his ASEAN-centered diplomacy and strategies for responding to global supply chain changes also received positive reviews. However, past success does not guarantee the future.

Strategic competition between the United States and China is intensifying, and the global trend toward protectionism poses a fundamental threat to trade-dependent city-states like Singapore. Strengthening Singapore’s position within ASEAN, rebuilding its technological innovation ecosystem, and alleviating the instability of the middle class are major challenges that lie ahead. Prime Minister Wong’s victory is both an "opportunity" and a "responsibility" in the face of these tasks. Whether his leadership will continue to be evaluated as not only competent but also flexible will be the real test from now on.

Jung Hojae, Secretary General, Asia Vision Forum