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Commentary: Volume 26, 2017 The Little Nation that Can. Singapore’s Foreign Relations and Diplomacy Editor: Gillian Koh Published by: The National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Kent Ridge Guild House 9 Kent Ridge Drive Singapore 119241 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed by Naili Printing Industry MCI (P) 001 / 02 / 2017 COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THE LITTLE NATION THAT CAN. SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY 1 Contents Foreword Chapter Six 5 Foreword 54 - 67 When Relationships Change: Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore-Indonesia Ties after Suharto and the Importance Editor’s Introduction of Growing Together 7 - 15 The Little Nation That Can. Leonard C. Sebastian Singapore’s Foreign Relations and Diplomacy Chapter Seven Gillian Koh 68 - 75 Singapore’s Excellent Relations with Post-War Japan: Chapter One A Convergence of Interests 16 - 21 Singapore’s Foreign Policy: and Values A Pioneer Diplomat’s Lam Peng Er Reflections Tommy Koh Chapter Eight 76 - 82 Singapore’s Robust Relations Chapter Two with the Republic of Korea 22 - 29 Singapore-China Relations: Yip Wei Kiat 2017 – 2027 Lee Huay Leng Chapter Nine 83 - 89 Singapore-India: An Enduring Chapter Three Relationship 30 - 37 Singapore’s Relations with the Gopinath Pillai United States of America Daniel Chua Chapter Ten 90 - 94 The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Chapter Four Ong Keng Yong 38 - 45 Singapore and the ASEAN Secretariat: A Marriage Made Chapter Eleven in Heaven 95 - 100 Singapore and the Middle East Kishore Mahbubani Nazirudin Mohd Nasir Chapter Five Chapter Twelve 46 - 53 Singapore’s Foreign Relations 101 - 107 Singapore-Australia Relations: with Malaysia The Role of Historical Ties, K. Kesavapany Personalities, Values and Interests Eddie Teo COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THE LITTLE NATION THAT CAN. SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY 3 Contents Chapter Thirteen Chapter Twenty 108 - 115 Singapore’s Relations with 159 - 165 The Museum as Cultural Europe Diplomat Tan York Chor Chong Siak Ching and Teo Hui Min Chapter Fourteen 116 - 122 Thinking about Russia: Chapter Twenty-One A Personal Perspective 166 - 172 Singapore and the Bilahari Kausikan Preponderance of Power Khong Yuen Foong Chapter Fifteen 123 - 128 Latin America – A Continent to be Discovered More Fully Choo Chiau Beng Chapter Sixteen 129 - 134 Singapore’s Relations with Africa T. Jasudasen Chapter Seventeen 135 - 142 The Pacific Island States and Singapore Verghese Mathews Chapter Eighteen 143 - 149 Singapore and the United Nations Vanu Gopala Menon Chapter Nineteen 150 - 158 Connecting and Collaborating to Change the World: Diplomacy in the Palms of Citizens Jean Tan 4 COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THE LITTLE NATION THAT CAN. SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY Foreword We are at an inflection point. A multipolar world order has emerged as China and India, two continental-sized economies, have plugged into the global economy and lifted hundreds of millions from abject poverty into the middle class. The enormous economic transformations will inevitably alter the geo-strategic tectonic plates. We hope to see an interdependent world – with a premium on win-win collaboration, economic integration and adherence to international law. But only time will tell. The hitherto global consensus for free trade, mutual investments and economic integration is also fraying as manifest in recent electoral outcomes all over the world. The central political question will be how to resolve the trilemma defined by Dani Rodrik – getting the balance right between hyperglobalisation, national sovereignty and democracy. The digital revolution is still in an early phase, with the emergence of digital oligarchs, increasing inequality and middle class anxiety about jobs and wages. And race, language and religion continue to be abused to generate extremism and violence. Singapore will have to manage our economic restructuring, political transition and diplomacy whilst these trends interact in our region. How we navigate this era of great promise and potential peril will define the next 50 years of Singapore’s history and survival. This diverse compilation of essays and commentaries on Singapore’s foreign relations and diplomacy by NUSS is thus a timely one. Penned by Singapore’s stalwarts in the diplomatic arena, many of whom I have had the privilege of working with, it encapsulates their personal experience and interpretations of Singapore’s foreign policy across various regions, subjects and time periods. I hope that it will allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes for Singapore to remain relevant and successful in an increasingly uncertain world. Vivian Balakrishnan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Singapore COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THETHE LITTLELITTLE NATIONNATION THATTHAT CAN.CAN. SINGAPORE’SSINGAPORE’S FOREIGNFOREIGN RELATIONSRELATIONS ANDAND DIPLOMACYDIPLOMACY 5 Mission Statement To foster a lifelong relationship with NUS and the wider graduate community At NUSS, a lifelong relationship with NUS and the wider graduate community is achieved through two mutually reinforcing thrusts: • promoting the interests of its members and NUS; and • contributing positively to Singapore’s political and intellectual development and helping to cultivate a more gracious social and cultural environment. As the foremost graduate society, NUSS strives to promote the interests of its stakeholders by providing appropriate platforms for all to socialise, build networks, improve connectivity and exchange ideas through a multitude of recreational, academic, political, social and cultural activities. 6 COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THE LITTLE NATION THAT CAN. SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY Editor’s Introduction The Little Nation That Can. Singapore’s Foreign Relations and Diplomacy Gillian Koh Gillian KOH is Deputy Director (Research) at the Institute of Policy Studies, which is part of the National University of Singapore (NUS) where the area of civil society and its development is one of her research interests. An NUS alumnus herself, she is proud to be a member of NUSS. COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THE LITTLE NATION THAT CAN. SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY 7 Editor’s Introduction The Little Nation That Can. Singapore’s Foreign Relations and Diplomacy In December 2016, I found myself in the He added: company of two senior foreign diplomats, as well as business and community leaders, We asked that the Singapore some of whom were Singaporeans. It was Government strictly abide by the one- inevitable that the conversation would turn China principle.2 to how it came to be that Singapore’s military assets – nine Terrex armoured Framed in that manner, public chatter on vehicles – would be impounded by the this disturbing event was that China would Hong Kong Customs authority on 23 no longer acquiesce to the military exercises November. Singapore had with the former’s renegade state, Taiwan. Earlier in January 2016, The vehicles were bound for Singapore Taiwan had elected a pro-Independence after the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) leader, Ms Tsai Ing-Wen, as president which had conducted, as it had done in previous raised the ire of the Chinese ruling elites. years, military exercises in Taiwan and the shipper APL transited in Hong Kong In this relationship, who changed? Clearly (HK), which is a Special Administrative Taiwan did. But over the lunch table, the Region (SAR) of China. Customs officials argument was whether it was China that alleged that APL did not have the requisite had changed, or Singapore. A fellow diner permits to take the vehicles through their said it was Singapore; that it had been port. SAF’s army chief said the same discourteous to China by commenting logistics arrangement had been used in the when China’s claims to territories in the past without encountering any difficulty. South China Sea and the development of In describing the situation, a Chinese some reefs there had been ruled unlawful Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng by the Permanent Court of Arbitration Shuang, referred not only to the need empowered by the United Nations for Singapore to abide by the laws Convention on the Law of the Sea of HKSAR and cooperate with its (UNCLOS) in July. This was in favour of government, but added, rather curiously: the Philippines that had brought the action against China in January 2013. The Chinese government has always firmly opposed countries that have According to some around the dining table, diplomatic ties with China to have any since Singapore had no claim to territories form of official exchange with Taiwan, in the region, it seemed unnecessary and including military exchanges and even audacious to have made a statement cooperation.1 that it supported “the peaceful resolution 1 Sim, Royston, “SAF vehicle seizure: Shipping firm APL had used Hong Kong as transit point without issues, says Army Chief ”, 29 November 2016, The Straits Times. 2 Sim, Royston, Ibid. 8 COMMENTARY VOLUME 26, 2017 THE LITTLE NATION THAT CAN. SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DIPLOMACY Editor’s Introduction The Little Nation That Can. Singapore’s Foreign Relations and Diplomacy of disputes among claimants in accordance This stilled the conversation at the table. with universally recognised principles of The Singaporeans knew what he meant. international law, including UNCLOS.”3 We were reminded that in the midst of the shifting geopolitical realities of our region, Then, a Singaporean business leader with our country’s viability as a sovereign people interests in China described how his rests on the rule-based international order Chinese counterparts – not party elites but and, more critically, on citizens being able mere businessmen – had pressed him to to recognise and defend our strategic account for the Government’s statement. interests; not cowed by might but standing First, he noted how surprisingly up for our right to autonomy and widespread, fierce and negative the public independence.