A Chinese box office sensation is causing unexpected ripples in Singapore. The film, a patriotic epic about the People's Liberation Army, has ignited a fierce debate about national identity in the city-state. Sources tell me the British High Commission's cultural attaché has been monitoring the situation closely, filing anxious cables back to Whitehall.
The movie, titled 'Great Wall of Steel' in Chinese, chronicles a fictional modern-day conflict where Chinese forces defend a neighboring country from invasion. Its depiction of Chinese military might and selfless internationalism has resonated deeply with Singapore's ethnic Chinese majority. Local cinemas report packed houses, with queues snaking around the block.
But not everyone is cheering. Malay and Indian Singaporeans have expressed unease. 'It feels like a loyalty test,' one Malay community leader told me. 'Are we expected to cheer for China now?' The government has so far stayed silent, but the debate is raging on social media and in coffee shops.
The British angle is delicate. Our High Commission is acutely aware that Singapore is a key partner in the Five Eyes intelligence network and hosts a major naval facility. Any drift in Singapore's orientation would be a headache for London. 'We're watching the mood music,' a FCDO insider confided. 'There are elements in Singapore's establishment who see China as the future. This film is a vehicle for that narrative.'
The cultural attaché, a veteran of postings in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur, has been attending screenings and meeting with film critics. His reports, I'm told, stress the film's sophisticated propaganda. 'It's not crude stuff,' one source said. 'It taps into deep anxieties about being a small state in a great power contest.'
The row has also exposed divisions within Singapore's ruling People's Action Party. Hardliners want to ban the film, fearing it could undermine social cohesion. Pragmatists argue that censorship would only fuel conspiracy theories. 'A ban would be a gift to the Chinese embassy,' a PAP insider told me. 'They'd paint us as anti-Chinese.'
For now, the film continues its run. But the debate shows no sign of cooling. And in a small corner of the British High Commission, a cultural attaché is taking notes. Whitehall will be reading them closely.
This is a developing story. I'll be watching the polls and the backbench murmurs carefully.
