It took a foreigner at a recent conference on foreign interference in a country’s domestic affairs to point out the irony of him speaking on the subject.

He spoke in jest but there is a serious point to his comment.

Singapore is one of the most welcoming countries in the world for foreigners in areas where their expertise is needed.

Yet, it is also one of the most sticky about them interfering in domestic issues, especially its politics.

It can be a delicate balance to maintain, especially in a globalised world.

… The writer is also senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.