Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not issue advisories on wait times at overseas airports. Travellers may wish to monitor airline and airport websites, as well as news reports for real-time information on wait times and potential disruptions at specific airports.”
“When the conflict in the Middle East deteriorated and commercial flights were halted in March 2026, the Singapore Government mounted four repatriation flights from Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah to bring stranded Singaporeans home.”
“The Government has stepped up public engagement to explain our foreign policy fundamentals and responses to key international developments to Singaporeans and to hear their views. We do this through dialogue sessions across segments of society, including students, youths, businesses and community leaders.”
“And the larger point during the Committee of Supply was that precisely, because the world is in such a difficult, prickly, volatile and dangerous state, actually, if we keep our wits about ourselves, we maintain unity and we continue to have this clear eye-realistic, but principled, approach, there are many opportunities for Singapore.”
“Well, in short, I completely agree with you. And that is why we have indeed been hosting these events and in your own capacity as a national athlete and also as an official now, you have seen how it works in practice.”
“Since 2022, about half of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) employees are women. The proportion of women in senior appointments has remained stable at about a quarter. We recognise that overseas postings are disruptive for officers with families, especially female officers who bear greater caregiving responsibilities.”
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“We believe that having a Central Addressing Scheme is one way to get a move-on with e-payments in Singapore. We have actually been too slow in this area. Similarly, some of you may notice that if you go to retail points, there is a Unified Point of Sale terminal. This terminal is a "bao kar liao" thing. It can read all kinds of cards, all different technologies, including magnetic stripes, EMV chips and NFC chips. 3.45 pm We are taking a similar approach for transport and we are piloting account-based ticketing. Commuters can also use their contactless MasterCard and not just have to find the right EZ-Link cards for travel. If this is successful, we will bring this on board and bring in other payment providers as well. Again, to make it easier, to make it more convenient. For Government apps, I take the point that we want platform unification. But I am not sure we need everyone to use the "mother of all apps". In fact, I have told the Government departments that if someone else from the private sector comes up with a better and more effective app that makes available Government services, we should encourage that. We should not allow the Government to have the monopoly on app production to access Government services. Another example is that we also need to get away from the agency-centric approach. There is an LTA app, NEA app and so on and so forth. We have to look at it through a more citizen-centric model. One way which MOF is looking at is to group them by milestones. When you were born, what services do you need? When you have a child, or when you go to hospital or when you work, they are moments in life; and you can cluster these services, make it more citizen-centric rather than agency-centric.”
“We all have got too many cards and, sometimes, there is the incompatibility issue, it is really irritating and inconvenient. Today, we have got contactless credit cards, mobile payments, smart phone payments, and I agree with the Members, there is a proliferation of mobile apps as well. But yet, a very simple thing, like transferring funds from me to you securely and without cost, it is not so easy to do. For instance, if I want to transfer to you, I need to know your bank account number. We are working with the industry to roll out a Central Addressing Scheme, which will better enable or facilitate digital cash transfers. This works like a register which maps mobile numbers to bank account numbers, or to the unique entity number of businesses. So, you can look forward to being able to use your existing mobile or Internet banking service to send funds to friends. The only thing you need to know is their phone numbers, and even if they have accounts in different banks. I know I am standing right in front of Mr Liang, and I know DBS already has Paylah!, but I want this to be open to everyone. I also agree with Miss Cheng Li Hui's concern about the proliferation of payment modes. I agree that there is scope for consolidation. But I believe that we should consolidate at the infrastructure level, at the platform level, at the back office level, to enable compatibility. We do not need consolidation at the front office, the retail level, the front, the customer-facing side, because we want competition and we want choice for the customers. But we need interoperability so that it becomes convenient, there are lower barriers to entry and it is secure. We need to work on this duality.”
“Let me go through a few examples. One big project we are working on now is digital identity. Digital identity or the authentication of digital identity is actually a very difficult challenge. And yet, if you think about it, it is absolutely essential if we are going to have secure transactions in the digital world. I am glad to report that one of our home-grown companies, V-Key, has quietly been providing this technology, a very novel and interesting technology, to a wide range of companies, ranging from DBS to Alibaba. It works behind the scenes. If you think about what we currently use today, we have got SingPass. To be honest with you, it is not good enough. And yet today, we use SingPass to file our income tax. In fact, so many of our Government interactions depend on SingPass. We need to quickly upgrade this. We need to make sure that it is good enough as a secure digital identification system. I have asked the team to look at three features in the short term. One, to include biometric elements; two, to enable encryption; and three, to have open APIs so that SingPass is not something only used for Government, but that the infrastructure behind that is available to the private sector as well. We need to do all these in order to engender greater confidence, to reduce transaction cost, to allow information to be exchanged securely and seamlessly to create new services and to improve customer experience. Now, the point is we can provide these platforms, but we actually have to enable our companies to ride on these platforms to derive the competitive advantage. Another area we are working on in the next year is on e-payments. And I have heard the calls. You say we have too many cards.”
“So, our only option is to ensure that our people and our businesses have the skills needed for the digital economy. You have heard Deputy Prime Minister Teo just now explained to you. Even within Government, we have an urgent need for new specialists in areas such as cybersecurity, data analysis, software development, user interface/user experience designers and network engineering. If you take the private sector − take Garena, which is probably one of the largest unicorns in Southeast Asia, founded and headquartered in Singapore. They run a business in digital content, e-payments and e-commerce. They are expanding rapidly throughout the region and they urgently need more people. They need more people with the skills. But we do not just need techies and coders. We need people who can apply tech to the real world to make a real difference in addressing the needs of real people. I also agree that we need to help our businesses, our enterprises, especially our SMEs, to identify and to adopt the new technologies in order to make them more competitive. This is something which we will have to work through the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), because each industry will have its own specific needs and it is not a tech issue, it is an application of tech challenge. Minister Yaacob will share our progress in this and how we intend to build up the talent pipeline, so that our SMEs and our large local enterprises will have the talent that they so need. The second thing is that we need to build more integrated digital platforms. You will notice that I use the word "integrated". I have heard the calls for integrated Government. These platforms must provide us with the capabilities that enable innovations that benefit citizens in a real way and reduce business cost.”
“I thank the Members for their vision, their imagination, especially Ms Chia Yong Yong's heartfelt plea. We are living amidst an accelerating digital revolution. This is a revolution of a much greater intensity and scale than the previous revolution that we have lived through, and there will be profound changes: changes to the way we do business, the way we live, the way we interact, the way we mobilise, the way we socialise, politics and the way we interact with each other as well. But, let me start with a more serious note. It is also going to disrupt jobs. It is going to disrupt even hitherto safe middle-class white collar work, and it will impact wages. It will also, initially, increase inequality. Because the people and the companies and, if I may add, the nations that master the technology first, the new digital oligarchs, these people and these companies will have enormous reach because their market is the entire world. Our political challenge is to democratise these new technologies so that it empowers all citizens to harvest opportunities in this brave new world and thereby spread the fruits of this harvest more broadly. If you think about it, this disruption is already happening all around us. Take finance as an example. There are already artificial intelligence boards which trade funds on the soft market. These AI engines can look through far more data than a human being can, make hopefully more unbiased assessments, improve their learning algorithms over time and conduct trades in milliseconds. The same thing is happening in surgery and similar things are happening in the legal and accounting professions. And so, the top priority for Smart Nation has to be jobs, jobs, jobs. In Singapore, protectionism and building walls are not a recipe for protecting jobs.”
“There are 45 Non-Resident Ambassadors (NRAs) appointed between 2011 and 2016 who are still holding their appointments as of date. They are accredited to 48 countries and four International Organisations (UNESCO, Pacific Islands Forum, CARICOM and African Union). The names of these NRAs are published on the MFA website (https://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/missions/singapore_mission/mission_locator.html) which Ms Sylvia Lim could refer to for more details.”
“No resident Heads of Overseas Missions are political appointees. All our resident Ambassadors are Foreign Service Officers, recruited and appointed strictly based on merit, like the entire Foreign Service and, indeed, Civil Service. Our diplomats operate in a challenging and uncertain global environment. They are expected to robustly defend and advance Singapore’s interests in the international arena. To build the strongest possible team of diplomats for Singapore, the Foreign Service recruits both fresh graduates and mid-career professionals through rigorous recruitment processes. In particular, mid-career officers are considered based on their past experience, performance and relevant skillsets. Appointments of senior Foreign Service Officers are also subject to approval by the Special Personnel Board in the Civil Service or Public Service Commission. Currently, about 10% of Ambassador-level Heads of Missions joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) mid-career. Our guiding principle is to appoint the best person for the job, whether he or she has joined the Foreign Service as a fresh graduate or mid-career recruit. We will not allow any compromise to the professionalism and excellence of our Foreign Service.”
“We continue to encourage all parties, including the Myanmar Government and international community, to continue working together towards a long-term solution so that affected communities can rebuild their lives. In Singapore, our local communities initiated a fundraising campaign in December 2016 to provide humanitarian support to affected communities in Rakhine State, as well as those affected by the earthquake in Aceh. It is heartening that Singaporeans across various communities have come forward to contribute more than $350,000. The funds raised will be divided and distributed equally to affected communities in Rakhine State and Aceh. The funds for Rakhine State will be channelled through Myanmar-based organisations to assist all affected communities, regardless of ethnicity and religion. President of the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS) Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Bin Hassan had also written to the Prime Minister to offer PERGAS' assistance. In his reply, the Prime Minister encouraged PERGAS to contribute to humanitarian relief efforts through the fundraising campaign.”
“On 19 December 2016, I attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat, which was an informal meeting called by Myanmar's State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to brief ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the situation in Rakhine State. The meeting was timely and useful in helping the ASEAN member states better understand Myanmar's efforts to address the complex situation. There was an open, frank and constructive exchange of views among the Ministers. The Ministers also discussed how ASEAN can best support the Myanmar Government in its efforts to find a viable, long-term and sustainable solution to the problems in Rakhine State. The focus was on making sure that humanitarian aid would reach the communities in need. Following the meeting, the Myanmar Government has expressed readiness to grant necessary humanitarian access and to continue to keep ASEAN informed on developments in Rakhine State. On Singapore's end, we have emphasised that every government must ensure the safety and protection of its people, regardless of race and religion, and that all people must enjoy the same basic rights. At the same time, it is also the right and the responsibility of every state to secure its borders and maintain internal security. Issues of race, language and religion in every country, including Singapore, are sensitive and complex. Similarly, inter-communal relations in Rakhine State are highly complicated with long-standing historical roots. These issues are not going to be resolved easily or quickly in the short term. Patience, restraint and time will be required to build trust among the different stakeholders and communities, foster racial harmony and to restore peace and stability.”
“The Malaysian Government reaffirmed its commitment to uphold Singapore's rights under the 1962 Water Agreement. Malaysia has informed us that it plans to implement schemes to increase the yield of the Johor River and ensure that Singapore can reliably abstract our entitlement under the 1962 Water Agreement even during periods of dry weather. Singapore will cooperate with Malaysia to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. The senior officials of our water Ministries will discuss and identify possible solutions. Our agencies have an excellent working relationship and will continue to work closely together to sustain our water supply.”
“Linggiu Reservoir regulates the flow of the river, discharging water into the river to supplement the natural flow and to help contain salinity intrusions into the river from the sea. In August 2016, the Johor River Barrage became operational. This has helped to keep out salinity intrusions. However, even with the Johor River Barrage, the Johor River is unable to sustain both PUB’s entitlement of 250 mgd, as well as the current abstractions by Johor's Semangar and Loji Air Water Treatment Plants, which are upstream of PUB's waterworks. In order to support the current rate of abstraction, PUB has been discharging more water from Linggiu Reservoir. As a result, the water level in Linggiu Reservoir has dropped drastically over the past few years, from 84% at the start of 2015, to 49% at the start of 2016, to the lowest recorded level of 20% in October 2016. It stands at 27% as of 1 January 2017. There is a significant risk that Linggiu Reservoir may fail, that is, drop to 0%, in 2017 if it turns out to be a dry year. Should Linggiu Reservoir fail, there will be many more occasions when it will not be possible for PUB to abstract its entitlement of 250 mgd, and the current abstractions by Johor’s Semangar and Loji Air Water Treatment Plants will also be affected. This will cause severe problems for both Malaysia and Singapore. Given the importance of Linggiu Reservoir to Singapore's overall water supply, the Singapore Government is watching the situation closely, and has raised the matter with the Malaysian Government, most recently during the Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat on 13 December 2016. The Prime Ministers agreed on the importance of ensuring reliable and adequate water supply from the Johor River.”
“The 1962 Water Agreement grants to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) a right to abstract 250 million gallons per day (mgd) from the Johor River. It was guaranteed by both the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore under the 1965 Separation Agreement, which was deposited with the United Nations. The 1962 Water Agreement is sacrosanct to Singapore. Under the 1962 Water Agreement, PUB has "the full and exclusive right and liberty to draw off, take, impound and use the water from the Johore River up to a maximum of 250 million gallons per day". In return, Johor is entitled to a daily supply of treated water from Singapore "not exceeding at any time two per cent of the total quantity of water supplied to Singapore from twelve midnight of any one day to twelve midnight of the following day". In other words, Johor is entitled to buy up to about five mgd of treated water provided that Singapore is first able to abstract its entitlement of 250 mgd of water from the Johor River, and to subsequently import about 245 mgd of treated water in any given day. However, out of goodwill and without prejudice to our rights under the 1962 Water Agreement, Singapore has, in practice, supplied Johor with treated water in excess of Johor's entitlement, even on occasions when PUB is unable to abstract its 250 mgd entitlement, for example during dry weather. Singapore has, in fact, been regularly supplying Johor with 16 mgd of treated water. In addition, we have supplied a further five to six mgd of treated water on a case-by-case basis at Johor's request during dry weather, for example, in June and July 2016, as well as when Johor's water treatment plants are partially shut down for their monthly operational maintenance. We are concerned with the current situation at the Johor River.”
“I do not have specific information on that particular case, nor am I in a position to advise on the security situation in the Rakhine state and whether there are any specific threats that that poses to us. I do not have any specific information. However, I would state, as a general principle, that having any area in Southeast Asia where there is an unresolved, festering conflict, especially one that involves race, language or religion, poses an immediate and urgent threat to the country, but also to Southeast Asia as a whole. So, yes, we do remain concerned. We hope that we will not end up with areas in Southeast Asia which act as a haven or act as a point where extremism, violence and terrorism can be fomented. That means we also need to resolve this at all levels: support the local authorities in resolving the local issues, ensure humanitarian access flows and also, to ensure that our operation and security agencies exchange necessary information and take the necessary precautions. But I agree with the Member entirely that, if left unchecked or unresolved, this does pose a problem to all of us.”
“First, let me express our appreciation to the Member Mr Louis Ng who has personally visited these refugee camps. If Members speak to him, I am sure he would be able to attest to you that there are real people, vulnerable people and children, who are victims of circumstances beyond their control. It is important that we exercise collective human compassion to help these people. On the exact modalities, this is something which we will continue to engage both the Myanmar government as well as the relevant non-government organisations − whether it should be specific items or whether it is best handled in cash. These are issues which I would rather resolve on the ground by people who are actually present and familiar with the situation and familiar with the needs of the people. We have not made any decision on the matching funds but I would like to inform Members that the ASEAN countries have established a trust fund to support emergency humanitarian and relief efforts in the event of refugee flows within Southeast Asia. The Singapore Government has made an initial contribution of US$200,000 to this trust fund and this trust fund is administered by the ASEAN Secretariat. The other ASEAN countries are also expected to contribute financially. The larger point is this: the more avenues there are for assistance and for compassion to be applied, people to people, non-governmental organisations and government, the better. The larger point is that you need a political solution. The salutary reminder to us in Singapore is the absolute essential need to maintain harmony regardless of race, language or religion.”
“Patience, restraint, and time will be required to build up trust among the different stakeholders and communities, foster racial harmony and restore peace and stability for the long term. We continue to encourage all parties, including the Myanmar government and the international community, to continue working together towards a long-term solution so that affected communities can rebuild their lives. In Singapore, our own local communities initiated a fundraising campaign in December 2016. I am very heartened to note that Singaporeans from across all communities have come forward to contribute more than S$350,000; I think it is closer to S$400,000. The funds that have been raised will be distributed equally to the affected communities in Rakhine state and Aceh. The funds for the Rakhine state will be channelled through Myanmar-based organisations to assist all affected communities, regardless of ethnicity and religion. The President of the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS) Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Bin Hassan had also written to the Prime Minister to offer PERGAS' assistance and the Prime Minister has replied. This is another occasion in which all Singaporeans can demonstrate compassion and collectively contribute to humanitarian relief efforts.”
“On 19 December 2016, I attended an Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN's) Foreign Ministers' informal meeting which was called by Myanmar's State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to brief all of us on the situation in Rakhine State. The meeting was timely and useful in helping ASEAN member states to better understand the situation and also to understand Myanmar's efforts to address this complex situation. There was an open, frank and constructive exchange of views amongst all the Ministers present. We discussed how ASEAN can best support the Myanmar government in its efforts to find a viable, long-term and sustainable solution to the problems in Rakhine state. The focus was on making sure that humanitarian aid would reach the communities in need. Following the meeting, the Myanmar government expressed its readiness to grant necessary humanitarian access and to continue to keep ASEAN informed on developments in Rakhine state. From a Singapore perspective, we have emphasised that every government must ensure the safety and protection of all its people regardless of race or religion, and that all people must enjoy the same basic rights. At the same time, it is also the right and the responsibility of every state to secure its borders and maintain internal security. Issues of race, language and religion in every country, including Singapore, are always sensitive and complex. Similarly, inter-communal relations in Rakhine state are highly complicated with long historical roots. These issues are not going to be resolved easily or quickly in the short term.”
“Mdm Speaker, can I take the next two questions, Question Nos 11 and 12, together?”
“Let us give this incident every opportunity to resolve itself in, I hope, an appropriate and sensible way. Thank you.”
“When I first got to MFA, the first lesson the diplomats told me was "assume nothing". So, I do not want to make any assumptions or presumptions. But having said that, I do not want to engage in conspiracy theories either. So, I want to go on face value. Hong Kong has told us they are conducting investigations. They told us that they will handle this in accordance with their laws. Both the Minister for Defence and I stand before you, and I am sure the message will be conveyed to them that we welcome this position, that Hong Kong will handle this according to its laws. I should add that China also has publicly stated that this will be handled according to Hong Kong SAR's laws. So, this is the position which we welcome, and we await a resolution of this matter on that basis. The Member has raised the other important point, which is on our One China policy. Again, because this is so important, I hope Members will bear with me if I repeat word-for-word what I said earlier. Our relations with China and our interactions with Hong Kong and Taiwan are based strictly on our One China policy. We have consistently abided by this policy and the understandings reached when we established diplomatic relations with China in 1990. This is a long-standing position. We have always abided by it and I am standing here to state that we will continue to do so. Some of the nuances of what I have said here may not be immediately obvious to everyone listening to this. But let me assure Members that the senior leadership in China, who are au fait with this issue, will understand exactly what I am referring to. So, I beg the indulgence of this House ‒ let us avoid politicising this and let us avoid megaphone diplomacy.”
“Mr Low Thia Khiang, I am glad to say ‒ and I hope Mr Low will agree with me ‒ that this is an issue on which the Workers' Party, in fact, hopefully, all Members of this House, whether from the Opposition, Non-Constituency Members of Parliament or Nominated Members of Parliament, stand with the Government, that this is one of those occasions for us to learn the right lessons, to stand together because, ultimately, foreign policy begins at home. Thank you. [Applause.]”
“This is a matter of the way Singapore got its Independence and the way Singapore will continue to remain an independent, viable nation. Similarly, for free trade. Whether it is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) or any other free trade agreement, the point is this: trade represents three times our gross domestic product. This is a ratio which I think no other country has. And because of that, for us, trade is not a negotiating point; it is not a debating point. Trade is our lifeblood. So, when we go round the world saying, "Look, we want to lower the barriers for trade because we believe this is a formula that has generated enormous opportunities and wealth for so many of us", that does not mean that free trade is an unalloyed good. You have to be aware that for each nation that engages in this negotiation, you also have to ensure that you protect the vulnerable groups in our society. Members of the House will also appreciate, in fact, that that is what we have been doing for the last 10 years. So, we are trying to find that happy balance ‒ that happy balance between free trade and social security, between expanding opportunities and making sure no one gets left behind, between sometimes having to stand up to the big powers to tell them that we will have to have a polite disagreement, but we are still for you and we are not against you. Do not force us to make invidious choices. So, that is really the strategic backdrop to the decisions that we make, the actions and the words we put. I hope Members in this House and, in fact, I hope all Singaporeans will, therefore, understand. Take this in our stride, remain calm, understand the big picture, do not panic. Most important, do not be divided.”
“These have been ingredients for us all to achieve progress and prosperity without war and conflict. So, looked against this light, we must welcome a rising China, a stronger China, an economically more integrated China. And we have to focus on the opportunities whilst at the same time recognising that there will be issues to resolve from time to time. This is where we have to learn to take things in our stride. We are a tiny city-state. We are a multiracial society and we are located in the centre of Southeast Asia. These circumstances are permanent. What this means ‒ and I said it earlier ‒ is that, from time to time, other countries, big countries, will place expectations, quite frankly, sometimes, they will put pressure on us because they want us to completely align ourselves with their interests. This is where we, sometimes, from time to time, have to courteously, respectfully, differ and remind everyone, big or small, that please let Singapore be Singapore. We may be small but we are an independent, sovereign nation. We have our own permanent interests. We want to maintain our independence and to have as many friends as possible. We cannot be at the beck and call, or act at the behest of any single superpower. Let us be ourselves. And if that means, from time to time, I have to have a difference with you, so be it. But I am not against you; I am completely in support of your rise. As to our attitude to international law, because of our circumstances and our Independence, the circumstances of our existence in the heart of Southeast Asia, international law and adherence to agreements are absolutely crucial to us. So, again, this is not personal.”
“I thank Mr Low for the questions. On the first question, I do not want to speculate. Let the investigations be complete and let us see what conclusions Hong Kong arrives at. This is for the question on whether or not APL complied with the regulations that they were supposed to abide by. I do not want to speculate or prejudge the issue. The second and third questions are really a broader issue, which is, that as China rises, as China gains both economic and military strength, what implications have that on us and the way they conduct international affairs and, indeed, on their relationships with the rest of the world? The first point I want to make is that Singapore has been a long-term, reliable and consistent friend of China. And I say this not in a facetious way, but I say this because we believe that a rising China, a strong China, one that is deeply engaged with the rest of the world and economically integrated is one that brings enormous benefits. If we look at it from the historical point of view, never before in history have hundreds of millions of people been raised from abject poverty into an opportunity now where they can enjoy the prospect of being in the middle class and consuming at the middle class. This is an enormous achievement of China in the last 70 years. Secondly, this emergence of China as both a manufacturing, service and consumption hub provides enormous opportunities to the rest of the world. If we look at the way Southeast Asia and even Singapore have progressed over the last 70 years since the end of the Second World War, there were several critical ingredients to this. One is that we had peace and stability. Two, we had international law. Three, we have had reasonably free trade.”
“In this specific case, I expect APL to have complied with the local regulations. The other thing that we expect is that the law will take its course. So, in this specific case, we have been informed, in fact, we have been assured by Hong Kong that investigations are ongoing. They need more time. But the important point that it will be handled in accordance with their law is a very important assurance, and one that we welcome because it is best that this matter be handled through the proper legal process. There is no need to politicise it. There is no need to engage in megaphone diplomacy. So, let us have some patience and give this matter time to resolve through an appropriate legal or judicial process.”
“I thank the Member for the three relevant supplementary questions. First, on the discourse which you hear in the media, we live in a new media age. The tone of the discourse which you hear on private social media like WhatsApp versus public social media like Facebook, versus even the new media platforms of established government organisations or even state-owned enterprises, will differ in tone and will differ in the positions that are taken. What I will say, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), is that I do not believe in megaphone diplomacy. I do not believe in engaging in a whole lot of invective and in conducting affairs in a way which generates more heat than light. So, it is important that we maintain communications and engagement at the top level, similarly at the functional level, and also to continue interactions, businesses and people-to-people level. That relates to the Member's second question. As far as I know, so far at this point in time, there has not been any formal restrictions on market access of Singaporean parties, whether commercial, clan associations or the rest. In fact, I want to encourage that these interactions on the business, commercial, cultural, educational and people-to-people levels should continue. We should insulate these from issues that will come up from time to time. However, if any association or any company has specific concerns, they can always approach me or the Ministry. The final supplementary question on whether we have opened dialogue with China, the short answer is no, we have not. Let me explain. As far as I am concerned, and I have stated this before, we expect service providers providing services to the Government to comply with all local regulations.”
“Singapore's relations with China and our relations with other major powers should not be seen as a zero-sum game. We believe in an interdependence characterised by an open, inclusive regional architecture that promotes collaboration and win-win outcomes. If I were to be allowed to paraphrase President Xi, ideally, we should all be part of a common circle of friends.”
“This attitude to international law and scrupulously respecting agreements is basic to the rules-based international order that benefits all countries and is especially crucial for our long-term survival and independence as a small state. Our relations with China, and our interactions with Hong Kong and Taiwan are based strictly on our "One China" policy. We have consistently abided by this policy and the understandings reached when we established diplomatic relations with China in 1990, and we will continue to do so. We are not a party to the disputes in the South China Sea. Our position on the South China Sea has been articulated on many occasions, including by our Prime Minister, and our position reflects Singapore's need for peace and stability in our region, for freedom of navigation and overflight in major trade routes, and respect for international law. Singapore and the Chinese leaders and officials have continued to interact and we cooperate in many areas of mutual interest. Just last year alone, I made four working trips to China. We remain committed to the three government-to-government projects, namely, the Suzhou Industrial Park, the Tianjin Eco-city and the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative. We continue our engagement with our Chinese partners at multiple levels. We are also engaging China in new areas, such as the Belt and Road initiative, and we are working together to conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This partnership encompasses ASEAN, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. We welcome China's growing engagement of our region as this creates new opportunities for mutual growth and prosperity.”
“As the Minister for Defence has already addressed the specific issue of the SAF's Terrex vehicles, I will focus my reply on the second and third part of the Member's question. The Singapore-China relationship is a long-standing, multifaceted and mutually beneficial one. Since 2013, Singapore has been China's largest foreign investor and China has been Singapore's largest trading partner. Our top leaders meet regularly and there is a constant stream of official visits at all levels from both sides. When Prime Minister Lee met Chinese President Xi Jinping in September last year on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Hangzhou, for which Singapore was invited by China, both our leaders agreed to strengthen our mutually beneficial relationship based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual understanding. And over the years, we have built up a significant reservoir of trust and respect with our Chinese partners and stakeholders. In international relations, it is natural for countries to want other parties to act entirely in line with their own national interests. As a small state, Singapore will, from time to time, encounter such expectations from other countries, and many of these other countries will be much bigger than Singapore. This is realpolitik. However − and this is important − it is important for us to conduct our foreign policy as a sovereign, independent nation, and not be seen as acting at the behest of any other country. This is essential for our international credibility, standing, relevance and usefulness to our partners and friends. We must also maintain our emphasis on upholding international law and scrupulously respecting agreements which have been entered into with other countries.”
“Hence, when Prime Minister Lee was invited to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by China and met President Xi in Hangzhou this September, the two leaders agreed to strengthen our mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principle of mutual respect and mutual understanding. The Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, our third Government-to-Government project, is also making good progress. People-to-people exchanges continue to be robust. Just recently, we hosted a Guangdong delegation under the Singapore Cooperation Programme to exchange views on developmental experience. On the Government's part, we continue to support private-sector efforts through initiatives, such as the proposed upgrade of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Page: 92”
“The Global Times, a Chinese tabloid, made a false allegation that Singapore tried to unilaterally insert South China Sea-related language into the Final Document of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Venezuela. Since our factual rebuttals of the false allegations are known publicly, I will not repeat them here. As Members know, Singapore has a long-standing and broad relationship with China. We celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations and upgraded our relationship into an "All-Round Cooperative Partnership Progressing with the Times" last year when President Xi Jinping made a state visit. Singapore’s cooperation with China remains deep and multi-faceted. China is our top trading partner and we have been China’s top foreign investor since 2013. Singapore has also been a consistent advocate of a free and open international trade system. We were a founding member of the P4, which subsequently developed into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is intended to be an open and inclusive agreement. Singapore welcomes China to join the TPP when they are ready to do so, in the same way that we supported China's accession to the World Trade Organisation. Singapore’s position as a non-claimant state in the South China Sea disputes has been articulated in this House on several occasions, including the Committee of Supply Debate in February this year. Prime Minister Lee also explained in considerable detail our position during this year’s National Day Rally. It will be useful for the Member and her party to state, for the record, whether they agree with the Government's position. If not, what is their position? The Chinese leaders know Singapore's position and also understand that our bilateral relations extend far beyond a single issue.”
“Mdm Speaker, the person here that the hon Member refers to is not a member of this House and is not a civil servant. I am not going to defend his positions or his speeches or articles. If the Member has a question on Government policy, I will answer it. Otherwise, the Member can have a discussion with the person in question outside this House. As far as Government policy is concerned, we have designated ambassadors to conduct diplomacy with the respective countries that we need to engage and if there are any messages that need to be transmitted or any negotiations that need to be conducted, they will be done through proper channels. I do not want to open up this House into an avenue for any Member, regardless of which party you are from, to discuss the writings and the speeches of other citizens, private citizens of Singapore.”
“Let us go back to the basics. He is not a civil servant. He is a retired civil servant. He is not our ambassador to Malaysia or to any other specific country. And as I have explained just now, his speeches, his essays are not cleared by me, they do not reflect or represent nor does he even attempt to say that they are the positions of the Singapore Government. He is free to speak and to comment, in the same way you are free to speak and comment as a private citizen.”
“Would the Member like to be more specific as to which particular case and which Ambassador-at-Large he is referring to?”
“Nevertheless, all of them are expected to exercise good judgement and to do their best to uphold and promote Singapore's national interests and I believe all of them do so in good faith, honourably and diligently.”
“Diplomacy is a very labour-intensive exercise. Even in this era of emails and video-conferencing, there is still a need for human beings to meet, to assess the warmth of the handshake and sincerity in their eyes. However, in the case of Singapore, because we are so small and the limits of our talent pool, we have found the need to induct talent from both within and outside the Civil Service. Consequently, we supplement our pool by appointing outstanding persons with relevant skills from society at large, including successful businessmen, senior executives and retired senior civil servants, and they may serve as our Non-Resident Ambassadors, Ambassadors-at-Large or Special Envoys. In fact, we also have distinguished foreign businessmen, non-citizens of Singapore, who have volunteered to be our Honorary Consuls General in a number of countries and these gentlemen or ladies will provide assistance to Singaporeans who are travelling overseas in countries where we do not have a Mission. All these individuals, that means, the Non-Resident Ambassadors, Ambassadors-at-Large, Special Envoys or Honorary Consuls General are all expected to discharge their duties of safeguarding and advancing Singapore's national interests, explaining and defending Singapore's policies, as well as upholding the integrity and reputation of Singapore at all times. However, I want to make this very important differentiation. Non-Resident Ambassadors, Ambassadors-at-Large and Special Envoys are not civil servants. They are engaged for a specific role only. Beyond their specific Ministry of Foreign Affairs commitments and role, we do not restrict their private engagements and this includes giving speeches or contributing articles in their personal capacities.”
“Mr Low asked whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has done a risk assessment and planned for mitigation measures in relation to China's planned floating nuclear power plants which may be deployed in the South China Sea. We are unaware of any official announcements by the Chinese government of specific plans to deploy floating nuclear power plants in the South China Sea, although there have been some media reports on this. As a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a party to various nuclear-related international legal instruments, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China would be aware of its obligations pertaining to the safety and security of its nuclear-related activities, and its responsibilities to protect the general public as well as the marine environment.”
“Mr Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) would consider increasing Singapore’s financial contribution to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in order to provide more support to Syrian refugees in light of the ongoing Syrian conflict. Singapore commends UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations for their tremendous efforts to save lives in Syria in challenging conditions. As I said in this House in January this year, Singapore will continue to support the work of UNHCR and humanitarian groups as they seek to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Singapore has been providing voluntary financial contributions to UNHCR annually. We are not a major donor but a small country with limited resources. But as a responsible global citizen, we have increased our contributions to UNHCR this year from US$50,000 to US$60,000. This is in recognition of the acute demands placed on UNHCR, not just in Syria, but all around the world. Our contribution is comparable to those made by other ASEAN countries. The Syrian conflict is now into its sixth year. More than 400,000 Syrians have been killed. There are now more than 4.8 million Syrian refugees and millions of internally displaced. The key actors in this conflict have acknowledged that the only way to end this conflict is to reach a political solution. We hope they can achieve this as soon as possible while ensuring the safety of civilians and that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.”
“It is not enough to just talk about freedom of navigation and overflight but we all know that there needs to be a sense of security and stability, so that people who are transiting goods, services, flowing through the South China Sea will be able to do so with some certainty and clarity. This, therefore, makes it very important that all stakeholders do not unnecessarily escalate tensions in order to make a point because such escalation of tensions will have a profound impact on global trade and will affect even non-claimant states like us. The other question on what will we do if China does not comply, I will consider that to be a hypothetical question and, with due respect, I do not wish to engage in speculation at this point. As for the Member's fourth supplementary question on military activities, I would say I have addressed it earlier on. The key point is to reduce tensions and to look for peaceful resolution of differences. We believe this is still possible and we hope that cooler heads will prevail.”
“Let me deal with the first question: will there be a joint ASEAN statement? First, we will have to see what the ruling is tomorrow. I am not privy to it and I think all of us, all stakeholders and all interested parties, will have to study it in great detail. That is the first point. Secondly, it would be ideal that ASEAN speaks with a common voice but on the basis of consensus, because that is a key tenet by which ASEAN arrives at decisions. So, I cannot at this point in time give an answer with any certainty on whether there will be a joint ASEAN statement. It depends on the ruling, the respective analysis and assessments by the sovereign countries and whether there is a consensus. So, we will have to wait and see. I am going to be quite busy for the next few days. Where does Singapore stand? As I have said, first, we are not a claimant state, fortunately, so we have no dispute with China. We have no overlapping claims with any ASEAN member in the South China Sea. What we stand for is we believe in a rules-based world order where decisions are made on the basis of law, on the basis of international law and not on the basis of might or size. We believe in a peaceful resolution of disputes and, as I have said earlier in my answer, including negotiations, adjudication or arbitration. In the case of Singapore, we have, on more than one occasion, used adjudication or arbitration to successfully settle disagreements. It has worked for us. Third, we need freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea because the South China Sea is a crucial avenue through which at least five trillion dollars' worth of global trade flows through it.”
“Our officials have also begun looking at possible elements of the Code of Conduct but, quite frankly, this will take time. Progress has been extremely slow on this front. As the country coordinator for ASEAN-China dialogue relations and as the co-chair of the DOC process, Singapore will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to advance ASEAN unity, credibility and centrality.”
“ASEAN, at the highest levels, has also consistently reaffirmed the principle that disputes should be settled peacefully, with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, and this was most recently issued by our Leaders in the Sunnylands Declaration after the Special ASEAN-US Leaders' Summit in February 2016. As the current country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations, Singapore will fully support and we will facilitate the existing ASEAN-led processes to manage or to help manage the tensions in the South China Sea. We will continue to perform this role in a transparent and objective manner, with the aim of preserving ASEAN unity and credibility whilst simultaneously advancing our multi-faceted and mutually beneficial relationship with China. This includes the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the expeditious conclusion of a legally-binding Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC). We have made some, albeit slow, progress in confidence-building and conflict-prevention measures. At the recent ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meetings on the Implementation of the DOC that were co-chaired by Singapore and China, we adopted the MFA-to-MFA hotline for maritime emergencies, which will be manned on a 24/7 basis. This hotline will help build confidence amongst parties to the DOC and, hopefully, help prevent ground accidents. We have also started preliminary discussions on a proposed Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), to be applied in the South China Sea, on which I had previously briefed Members. We hope that the observance of CUES will send a positive signal and help manage the situation at sea and prevent miscalculations.”
“The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled in two weeks' time and I am sure this issue will arise again. Page: 42 On our part, I just want to emphasise that Singapore is not currently the Chairman of ASEAN and we are also, very importantly, not a claimant state in the South China Sea. We have consistently stated that Singapore takes no position on the merits of the specific territorial claims, and the Philippines' arbitration proceedings against China was a national decision undertaken by the Philippines without consultation with the rest of us. Singapore's position on this matter has been clearly articulated in January 2013 by my predecessor, Minister K Shanmugam, here in Parliament. In brief, our position is that the overlapping sovereignty claims in the South China Sea should be settled by the parties concerned. However, this should be done in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). All parties should refrain from provocative behaviour that could raise tensions in the South China Sea. Territorial claims could be resolved by negotiations, adjudication or arbitration. The Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea that was adopted by ASEAN in 2012 clearly states that ASEAN supports the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. In fact, seven out of the 10 ASEAN Member States have used adjudication and/or arbitration to resolve disputes in the past.”
“Mdm Speaker, this question comes at a sensitive moment because the arbitral tribunal will be publishing its findings tomorrow. I hope Members will appreciate that I have to be extra careful in my reply. ASEAN's last consensus position on the South China Sea was reflected in the Chairman's Statement following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Vientiane in February this year. The Chair, Lao PDR, had emphasised that all 10 ASEAN Foreign Ministers remained seriously concerned over the recent and ongoing developments in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence. In addition, there is a need for all stakeholders to exercise self-restraint in their conduct of activities and to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law. This sentiment was most recently conveyed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers during the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting which we held in Kunming, China, on 14 June. We had a very frank and robust exchange of views on issues of mutual interest, including the situation in the South China Sea. The ASEAN Member States and China broadly reaffirmed the importance of our multi-faceted and mutually beneficial relationships. We also underscored the importance of ASEAN unity and centrality on issues of common interest to ASEAN, including the absolute need for peace and stability and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. The media attention that occurred after that meeting on the failure to issue an ASEAN Joint Press Statement, in fact, reflects the importance that the international community places on ASEAN's unity and the developments in the South China Sea.”
“That is a very sensitive question which I am not going to be able to give the Member a detailed answer to. Let me get this House to take a step back to understand that Singapore is a financial centre. It is in our long-term strategic interests to be above board, to be kosher, to have the rule of law and integrity being the hallmarks of our system. Regardless of who and where and what those transactions are, I would expect MAS and the Ministry of Finance – unfortunately, they are not here to answer that – but I would expect that they would pursue and investigate and take all the necessary actions in order to maintain the integrity and the reputation of our financial centre. That is our paramount objective. Everything else becomes secondary. Once people understand and know that we are consistent, we are governed by rules, the rule of law and that we will be fair, all this is what makes us relevant internationally, that we are trustworthy, reliable, honest people who are dependable. That is our key imperative. I will not be able to get into details.”
“The final point that I will make about oil crises is to also bear in mind the fact that what can come down very quickly can also rise very quickly, the moment you get any supply disruptions. The domestic implication of that for Singapore is the following: (a) we have never subsidised energy and we should not do so; (b) whether it comes to utilities, transport and all those other things, we must always be prepared to pay the full international price, whether it is high or low; (c) we must make sure our economy continues to be built on sustainable, sensible, rational economic principles; and (d) when we have debates on Budgets like this, examine people's assumptions and make sure that the Singapore Government never gets into situations when we make rosy projections which then suddenly run out of steam and, literally, regulatory and legislative panic breaks out. Those are the more important lessons for us from a domestic perspective.”
“They will also have to trim some of their budgets on other more esoteric adventures which they have intended to pursue. I do not want to get into details. But I think the more fundamental question the Member is asking is, "What does this portend for stability in the Middle East?" Even the answer to that question is not so straightforward. On one level, you could say, "Well, there should be less liquidity to expend on an arms race." But on another level, we know that when the countries get into troubles, there is always a political temptation to draw attention to tensions elsewhere to distract your own people. A third level of looking at this is and I think, the Member made the point yesterday – as oil prices fall and, indeed, as sustainable sources of energy emerge and even as the US itself has become de facto energy independent, does that mean the US would pay less attention to the situation in the Middle East? The answer is that, the energy and fiscal imperatives may become less but do not underestimate the political complexities of the Middle East and its propensity to entangle outside powers to its politics. And I want to, again, emphasise the point that Senior Minister of State Dr Maliki made just now. The conflicts in the Middle East have their roots going back thousands of years. They are ethnic and pseudo-religious, sectarian conflicts, superimposed with regional rivalry. It is important that Singaporeans do not get caught up in these conflicts which, really, have nothing to do with us and, really, in fact, have nothing to do with religion. Religion is just being abused as a vehicle to further political ends.”
“I thank Mr Cedric Foo for asking actually a very profound question that will require a full lecture to fully address. Let me try to encapsulate the key ideas. I will start with a story. I asked the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister and the Saudi Arabian Minister for Energy. I asked him, "What is the cost of getting a barrel of oil from Saudi Arabia?" He said, "Well, the true cost, the real cost to us, depending on whose accounting standard is used, is somewhere between US$2-US$5 per barrel." That is the cost of lifting oil out from Saudi Arabia, which means everything else is plus, plus. 1.00 pm What the member is referring to, however, is the fact that, for many years, oil producers have made certain budgetary assumptions about the revenue that they will derive from oil. What has happened, in the more recent times, with the dramatic fall in oil prices, is that except in the case of the Singapore Budget, in many other countries, especially countries which depend on the prices of natural resources, they have suddenly found themselves in a big deficit situation. The first point we should make is that, fortunately for us, we are not dependent on natural resources. Secondly, we have got a good Finance Minister and we do not make these kinds of budgetary assumptions that lead us into a sudden deep hole. There are certain salutary lessons for us at the domestic level. At an international level, the Member is absolutely right. Many countries, especially oil producers in the Middle East, and including some in our own region, now have to come to terms with a very significant budgetary squeeze. This affects them in multiple ways. They will have to cut back on services, on benefits to their people.”
“I thank Mr Vikram Nair for his suggestions. Certainly, as the pace and scope of integration proceeds, there will be need for more institutional arrangements. I just want to caution that ASEAN works by consensus, so, we would have to make sure that everyone agrees. But, generally, the point that the Member is making is a valid one and we will work towards that.”
“The TRSFTA will better position Singapore as a gateway to ASEAN for Turkish goods and services, and vice versa. We are also stepping up engagement with other countries in South Asia besides India. In particular, we are exploring economic opportunities with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Our companies have made inroads in both recently, winning contracts for power plant projects in Bangladesh and master planning in Sri Lanka. Latin America is another area with strong growth potential. If ratified, the TPP is expected to boost trade between Singapore and the Latin American TPP members Chile, Mexico and Peru. High-level exchanges between both sides will maintain the momentum of our engagement. Singapore will host the State Visit by President of the Republic of Panama Juan Carlos Varela later this month. President Tony Tan will also be making a State Visit to Mexico in June 2016, the first by a Singapore Head of State to Latin America. Mdm Chair, MFA will continue to deepen and broaden our engagement with other countries. I will turn the microphone over to Senior Minister of State Dr Maliki now.”
“We will also continue to work with other European partners on issues of mutual interest. Of special note is our participation in the Arctic Council. Our three years as an Arctic Council observer has allowed us to monitor developments in the Arctic that may impact Singapore, for example, our maritime interests. It has also provided an additional platform to collaborate with the Nordic countries. I would like to especially record our thanks to Minister of State Sam Tan for continuing to lead our engagement on this front. To address Dr Teo Ho Pin's question on emerging markets, let me assure members that MFA will continue to nurture our ties with the emerging markets and seek out opportunities to expand Singapore's economic space. In 2010, total trade between Singapore and emerging markets, excluding China and Southeast Asia, stood at about S$130 billion. By 2014, this trade had grown to more than S$160 billion. As part of our plans to build ties, we have concluded a number of FTAs, including with Panama, Peru and Costa Rica. We are continually on the lookout for opportunities to expand our network of FTAs and engage promising new markets. For example, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov agreed last year to review the Trade Agreement signed between Singapore and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1966. This will take the form of a new FTA between Singapore and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia. With a population of 180 million, these countries present good opportunities for trade. In November 2015, we signed the Turkey-Singapore FTA (TRSFTA), a significant milestone for both countries.”