新加坡對自己的主權非常自豪，所有身體健全的成年男性都必須服兵役兩年左右。他們學會適應嚴格的軍事紀律，保持體形以保持戰備狀態，並以一種有凝聚力的方式與一個由各種背景的公民組成的團隊合作，無論貧富。
Despite its small size, Singapore can boast of having a strong armed forces that can stand up to adversaries if necessary. Singapore's independence is deeply rooted in the hearts of its citizens, which allows them to remain neutral without fear of the possible negative consequences of taking such a stance.
儘管國土面積小，但新加坡擁有一支值得誇耀的強大的武裝部隊，可以在必要時對抗對手。新加坡的獨立深深紮根於其公民的心中，這使得他們可以保持中立，而不必擔心採取這種立場可能帶來的負面後果。
As a result, Chinese companies and investors are thriving in Singapore, but Americans enjoy the same privileges. If Singapore takes sides between Beijing and Washington, it will lose out in international deals.
因此，中國公司和投資者在新加坡蓬勃發展，但美國人也享受著同樣的特權。如果新加坡在北京和華盛頓之間站隊，它將在國際交易中吃虧。
The late Apple founder Steve Jobs was once asked why he never disclosed the political organizations he donated to or told Americans whether he voted Democratic or Republican. He responded that if he disclosed his political leanings, Apple would lose half of its customer base.
已故的蘋果公司創始人史蒂夫·喬布斯曾經被問到，為什麼他從來沒有披露過他捐贈的政治組織，也沒有告訴美國人他是投票給民主黨還是共和黨。他回應說，如果他披露自己的政治傾向，蘋果將失去一半的客戶群。
That's a good answer for a businessman. If Jobs had said he was a Republican, Democrats would have boycotted Apple, and vice versa. The same is true of Singapore when it comes to Sino-US diplomatic tussles.
這對商人來說是個好答案。如果喬布斯說他是共和黨人，民主黨人就會抵制蘋果，反之亦然。在中美外交角力方面，新加坡也是如此。
Singapore is a cosmopolitan city-state that welcomes foreign businesses from all over the world. Indians can open a clothing store in the city-state and Pakistani retailers can do the same. Local government officials simply insisted that foreigners remain peaceful and not attack others because of religious, ethnic or racial differences.
新加坡是一個國際化的城市國家，歡迎來自世界各地的外國企業。印度人可以在這個城市國家開一家服裝店，巴基斯坦零售商也可以這樣做。當地政府官員只是堅持要求外國人保持和平，不要因為宗教、民族或種族差異而攻擊他人。
Singapore welcomes people of different backgrounds, religions, countries and races to live together in peace, and that is why Singapore is so successful.We can learn about Singapore's model of diplomatic neutrality through an article from Channel NewsAsia:
新加坡歡迎不同背景、不同宗教、不同國家、不同種族的人和平共處，這就是新加坡如此成功的原因。我們可以通過亞洲新聞頻道的一篇文章來了解新加坡外交中立模式：
According to Channel News Asia, Mr Chan said that looking overseas, as Singapore's hinterland, it is necessary for us to better connect with the world and access resources and markets.
據亞洲新聞頻道報道:陳振聰表示，放眼海外，作為新加坡的腹地，我們有必要更好地與世界接軌，獲取資源和市場。
This means expanding the market portfolio to spread risk and moving beyond the traditional dimensions of air, land and sea connectivity into areas such as data, finance, talent and technology.
這意味著擴大市場組合以分散風險，並超越空中、陸地和海上連通的傳統維度，進入數據、金融、人才和技術等領域。
He added that as global production and supply chains shift, Singapore must remain agile to adapt to these changes.
他補充說，隨著全球生產和供應鏈的轉變，新加坡必須保持敏捷，以適應這些變化。」
Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing explained the city-state's strict neutrality in May 2018.
新加坡貿易和工業部長陳振聲在2018年5月解釋了這個城市國家的嚴格中立。
Therefore, Singapore should not side with Beijing or Washington, which may be beneficial to many other countries. The city-state could act as a mediator, resolving diplomatic disputes and bringing peace to Asia and the world.
因此，新加坡不應該站在北京或華盛頓一邊，這可能對許多其他國家有利。這個城邦可以扮演調停者的角色，解決外交爭端，為整個亞洲乃至世界帶來和平。
新加坡網友詹姆斯•吳的回答
Singapore continues to exist only because it adheres to the global order of the Westphalian system, which is based on territorial sovereignty regardless of its size. In other words, a small country like Singapore cannot exist in an unprincipled world where might makes right. Singapore is divided by treaty, not geography or a long history.
新加坡繼續存在，只是因為它遵守威斯特伐利亞體系的全球秩序，該體系的基礎是領土主權，而不論其大小。換句話說，像新加坡這樣的小國不可能在一個強權即公理的無原則世界中存在。新加坡是由條約劃分的，而不是地理位置或悠久的歷史。
Internationally, Singapore has always been a principled nation, with an extraordinary voice as a small island nation of six million people. We are honest and thoughtful realists with a long-term vision.
在國際上，新加坡一直是一個有原則的國家，作為一個擁有600萬人口的小島國，新加坡有著非凡的發言權。我們是誠實和深思熟慮的現實主義者，有長遠的眼光。
Neutrality provides room for diplomatic maneuverability and flexibility. We don't have to bind our foreign policy strictly to the whims of great powers like America's Allies. Japan and South Korea have greatly benefited from US protection, but, as President Trump has shown, they could be subject to blackmail. An alliance with any one power could undermine our freedom of action in domestic and foreign policy.
中立性為外交上的可操作性和靈活性提供了空間。我們不必把我們的外交政策嚴格地束縛在像美國盟友這樣的大國的心血來潮中。日本和韓國從美國的保護中受益匪淺，但正如特朗普總統所表現的那樣，它們可能受到勒索。與任何一個大國結盟都可能損害我們在內政和外交政策上的行動自由。
Protecting country has influence over us and can dictate to us. And you don't want nasty westerners lecturing us on human rights and democracy, do you? Nor do we want to become a vassal state of China and part of the "Greater China region," as so many sadly misguided ultranationalists believe.
保護國會對我們有影響力，可以向我們發號施令。你也不想讓討厭的西方人在人權和民主問題上教化我們，對吧?我們也不想成為中國的附屬國，成為「大中華區」的一部分，就像許多可悲的誤入歧途的極端民族主義者所認為的那樣。
Staying neutral allows us to get the maximum economic and security benefits from both powers. I've heard it called "strategic ." In fact, I think a certain amount of U.S.-China competition is good for small countries like ours. The balance of power is a good thing because it creates strategic space for us. Small countries exist in the gap between big countries. When great powers collude, look at the partition of Poland, etc.
保持中立使我們能夠從兩個大國那裡獲得最大的經濟和安全利益。我聽說這被稱為「戰略性外交」。事實上，我認為一定程度的美中競爭對我們這樣的小國是有好處的。力量平衡是一件好事，因為它為我們創造了戰略空間。小國在大國之間的夾縫中生存。當大國勾結時，看看瓜分波蘭，等等。
