So you want to talk about free speech?

Insights into Pew Research Center's latest survey on government criticism and free speech across Asia.

Row of flags at the Mint Toy Museum in Singapore. Photo credit: Justin Henry/Flickr

On Monday, July 15, DC-based think tank Pew Research Center published a short report highlighting surveys conducted over the past two years on government criticism and freedom of speech across Asia.

The surveys asked adults in 11 Asian countries about whether they believed people who disagree with their government’s actions should be able to publicly criticize the government, and whether the right to speaking one’s mind is more important than preserving group harmony.

Results of the first survey pointed to a consensus: the majority of adults in Asia believe that people should be able to publicly criticize their government for its actions, with three East Asian territories — namely South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong — topping the charts as over 80% of respondents expressing this view. The latter particularly stands out in light of the large-scale protests held in 2019-2020 over the controversial national security law.

Sitting at the lowest end of the survey is Singapore, where a resounding 41% of respondents believe people should not be able to publicly criticize the government, a 5-point contrast with the second-lowest ranking country, Malaysia.

Source: Pew Research Center

Singapore’s rank is not surprising in the slightest, and is in fact very much reflective of the approach its political leaders have often chosen to respond to criticism of government actions.