Issue 9/2020

1. MAKING STRIDES FOR MULTILATERIALISM At the end of the ASEAN Summit on 15 Nov 2020, , along with 14 other Asia-Pacific (APAC) economies, signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – the largest free trade agreement in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). PM and Minister for Trade and Industry said that the agreement was significant as it: • Signalled collective commitment to maintain a multilateral trading system, build interdependence, and maintain supply chains amidst global tendencies Image: MCI towards de-globalisation and protectionism.

• Would attract investment to APAC and spur recovery as the global economy recovers. It established new rules in emerging areas such as e-commerce, intellectual property, and competition policy rights. It also provided support for businesses to capitalise on regional value chains. This was particularly beneficial for emerging economies in ASEAN.

• Simplified trade between signatory states through improved customs procedures and tariff elimination on at least 92 percent of goods, which went beyond what existing free trade agreements (FTA) allowed. It would also allow Singapore’s exports to enjoy preferential market access to China, Japan and South Korea.

What is the RCEP? Launched by China in 2012, the RCEP consists about 30 per cent of global GDP and about a third of the world’s population. Here are some reasons to take note of the RCEP: • RCEP’s sheer size: Compared to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – later renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – the RCEP’s market size is nearly five times larger and its annual trade value and combined GDP are nearly double. It is also bigger than the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the European Union (EU).

• Broad geopolitical involvement: RCEP includes the 10 ASEAN countries – who were key in brokering this unprecedented deal – as well as South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. India, who was part of initial negotiations, pulled out of the RCEP last year, concerned about lower tariffs hurting their domestic market.

• Came after eight years of negotiations: States negotiated key terms such as market access and movement of labour, and worked through geopolitical considerations in order to achieve compromise.

[Sources: TODAY, 15 Nov; BBC, 16 Nov]

1 2. TERRORISM IN EUROPE & REACTIONS IN SINGAPORE

In recent months, France has been hit by a slew of terrorist attacks, with one attack in late Sep and more in the month of Oct. Media reports stated that these attacks were sparked by French magazine Charlie Hebdo republishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed on 1 Sep. After the attacks on 29 Oct, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron defended the publication of these cartoons, citing freedom of expression and secular values. These remarks, however, sparked off criticism and a series of protests across the Muslim world directed at France, including an attack near the French embassy in Jeddah on 11 Nov.

In Singapore, leaders have emphasised that the attacks are not reflective of the Islamic community as a whole.

Minister for Muslim Affairs, , 1. commented that Muslims in Singapore have reacted Their actions are a clear desecration of his teachings and have no place moderately, guided by values of love, compassion whatsoever in Islam or any religion.” and patience. This then, he said, would give other communities in Singapore confidence that they – Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, the highest authority on Islam in Singapore on 30 Oct respected one another here in Singapore. [Sources: CNN, 11 Jan 2015; BBC, 1 Sep; CNA, 25 Sep; BBC, 20 Oct; ST, 29 Oct; BBC & ST, 30 Oct; The Guardian & ST, 31 Oct; ST, 1 Nov; CNA, 2 Nov]

Singapore’s Heightened Security According to MHA, these incidents are a reminder that Posture towards Terrorism terrorism is an ongoing threat that continues to evolve. th In a press release on 24 Nov, the Ministry of Home Affairs Speaking at the 16 Religious Rehabilitation Group Seminar (MHA) said the security situation around the world has on 24 Nov, Minister of Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam deteriorated since the recent events in Europe. There has said that though the Islamic State has lost much of its physical been an uptick in terrorist rhetoric online, and Singapore territory, it continues to maintain a network, propagating its has been on heightened security alert level since. views and radicalising individuals over social media.

The Internal Security Department (ISD) and Singapore The government cannot do this alone. We need Police Force (SPF) conducted investigations into 37 the community to come in. Only the community can protect itself. Community leaders can individuals – some had made social media posts intended protect the community from extremism and to incite violence or stoke unrest, and showed support for terrorism. It takes a whole-of-society effort.” the attacks in France, while others were suspected of being radicalised. – Minister K Shanmugam on 24 Nov

[Sources: CNA, MHA & ST, 24 Nov]

2 3. CLIMATE SECURITY: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES At the Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources on 5 Nov, Minister for Sustainability and Environment underscored that climate change would exacerbate our resource constraints and security. To address this challenge and work towards a more sustainable future, Singapore would need to:

• Build a zero waste, circular economy where limited resources are constantly Image: MSE being put to new use. This will allow us to be more resilient despite our constraints. To this end, we should support innovation that could improve resource-efficiency. • Harness partnerships between government, industry, and civil society oranisations to pool resources and co- create solutions for environmental protection. • Foster regional cooperation within ASEAN as climate issues are often transboundary problems. Singapore could learn from the agricultural advancements of our neighbours and lead the building of ASEAN-wide capabilities in weather forecasting and haze monitoring.

Similarly, in Parliament on 5 Nov, Minister of State for Sustainability and Environment Desmond Tan said that one avenue of climate opportunity for Singapore, as a financial hub, is “green finance”. This refers to banking and investments that support projects which take environmental impact and issues into account. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic offered opportunities for countries and companies to move towards “net-zero” emissions.

A Bright Green Spark: Singapore’s Energy Projects

At the Singapore International Energy Week on 26 Oct, Minister Chan shared that to optimise resource use, Singapore needed to re-evaluate how it consumed and managed energy. Here are some of the green energy projects in the pipeline: • Import of electricity from Malaysia. This two-year trial would allow Singapore to test the waters for technical and market challenges in allowing the region to share clean energy resources. • Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project. Being part of this project, which is a key stepping-stone towards an ASEAN power grid system, would allow Singapore to access and make use of cleaner energy resources. • Solar energy from Australia. There are plans for the world’s largest solar farm in Australia to eventually generate electricity to power Singapore by around 2027.

[Sources: Guardian, 21 Oct; CNA and MTI, 26 Oct, 4, 6 Nov; MSE, 4 Nov]

4. A NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES After the declaration of the US Election results on • US-Singapore relations. The US and Singapore have 8 Nov, several Singapore leaders – PM Lee Hsien had long-standing partnerships in areas such as the Loong, DPM and President economy, defence and security, infrastructure Halimah Yacob – congratulated President-Elect development and cybersecurity. Singapore is the US’ Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. largest trading partner, and its only Major Security Here are the key highlights of their messages: Cooperation Partner. Singapore supports the US’ use of our military facilities, and their presence remains • Cooperation with US on global issues. vital for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Singapore looks forward to working together under the global leadership of the US to • A historic moment. President Halimah noted that Ms overcome world challenges, such as the Harris’ win as the US’ first female, black and South- COVID-19 pandemic, and to enhance bilateral Asian Vice President was an inspiration to women cooperation and strengthen the US’ minorities globally. engagement of Asia-Pacific. [Sources: CNA & ST, 8 Nov]

. . . . .

[Any feedback on this issue? Let us know through https://go.gov.sg/feedbacknif, or email us at [email protected].]

3