Summary of Key Points
The Teochew-language film "A Letter to Grandma" has become a sensation in Singapore, not only reflecting the strong desire of the local Chinese community for their native dialect culture but also contributing to a slight adjustment in Singapore's language policies (by relaxing restrictions on the screening of dialect films). Additionally, Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat addressed the issue of low birth rates during the National Day celebration, introducing new parental support measures, and responded to the United States' accusations regarding Singapore's role in trade facilitation.
I. The Success of Dialect Films: The Chinese Community's Craving for Cultural Roots
How popular was "A Letter to Grandma" in Singapore? Initially, only 8 screenings of the Teochew-language version were scheduled, and the 4,800 tickets were sold out within 2 hours. Even after additional screenings were added, they were still not enough, prompting many people to travel across the border to Johor, Malaysia, where there are no restrictions on dialect films. The reason is simple: 20% of Singapore's Chinese population has ancestors from Chaoshan, and the older generation speaks Teochew. The dialect serves as a link between them and their elders, as well as their cultural heritage. Previous policies that restricted dialect use had suppressed this demand for a long time, and the film恰好 tapped into people's emotional need for memories of their grandparents and their cultural roots.
II. The Shift in Language Policies: From Restriction to Accommodation
Singapore's language policies have not always been like this. In 1979, Lee Kuan Yew launched the "Speak Mandarin Movement," encouraging the Chinese community to speak Mandarin rather than dialects, arguing that learning three languages—English, Mandarin, and dialects—was too burdensome, and priority should be given to mastering English and standard Mandarin. As a result, dialects almost disappeared from the media, with even dialect lines in TV dramas being removed. Why the change now? Times have changed; dialects are no longer an obstacle to promoting standard Mandarin; instead, they can stimulate young people's interest in the language (for example, by introducing them to culture through dialect films, which may motivate them to learn Mandarin). Therefore, Heng Swee Keat announced that as long as there is a Mandarin dubbed version of a film, the number of screenings of dialect films will no longer be limited. This is a minor adjustment to the policy, which retains the previous language framework (with English as the primary language and Mandarin as the secondary one) while addressing the cultural needs of the population.
III. The Challenge of Low Birth Rates: Will Government Spending and Extended Holidays Encourage More Births?
Singapore's birth rate is dangerously low, with each woman averaging only 0.87 children (while a stable population requires 2.1 children). In 2025, the number of newborns is expected to fall below 30,000 for the first time. The government previously only provided subsidies during childbirth, but with little effect. This time, the approach has changed to address the issue of raising children after birth—for instance, by increasing parental leave for working parents, with each child receiving nearly 70,000 Singapore dollars (about 370,000 RMB) in subsidies from birth to the age of 17. However, Heng Swee Keat also acknowledges that having children is a personal choice, and policies can only help those who wish to have them by reducing their financial burdens, not by forcing them.
IV. The Trade Dispute: How Does Singapore Respond to the United States' Accusations of Being a "Transit Hub"?
The United States has recently accused Singapore of being an illegal trade transit hub. Heng Swee Keat's response was straightforward: Singapore does not allow illegal trade, and if there is evidence, it will be investigated. However, Singapore is an important global transit center, and the goods passing through come from all over the world; it is impossible to inspect every aspect of the supply chain. In other words, Singapore follows the rules but cannot be held accountable for others' actions—this statement clarifies its stance while defending its role as a key trade hub.
Conclusion
The policy adjustments made in this National Day speech represent Singapore's "precision-tuned" responses to current challenges: language policies address cultural needs, birth rate policies address concerns about parenting, and trade policies protect the country's position. Each step is a subtle adjustment within the existing framework, maintaining strengths (such as English's status as an international language) while addressing new issues (cultural roots and low birth rates).