At a geopolitical summit, veteran Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani warned that if Taiwan pushes for "independence," it would force countries to take a stance on the issue of recognition, yet the international community would not recognize Taiwan's "independent" status.

He employed a vivid metaphor – this is equivalent to "locking yourself in a small jail and throwing away the key." Mahbubani stressed that if the people in Taiwan wish to preserve the peace they have had, they must understand what a complex, difficult geopolitical environment is arriving their way.