Foreign relations of Singapore

Singapore is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations and the Commonwealth. As part of its role in the United Nations, it has a rotational seat on the UN Security Council from 2001-2002.

Singapore has participated in UN peacekeeping/observer missions in Kuwait, Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, and East Timor. Singapore supports the concept of Southeast Asian regionalism and plays an active role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Singapore is a founding member. Singapore is also a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which has its Secretariat in Singapore.

Timeline of Singapore foreign relations

See also: Timeline of Singaporean history

• 1965 August 7 - Singapore and Malaysia sign the separation agreement.
• 1965 August 9 - The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia.
• 1965 August 9 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established and S Rajaratnam becomes Singapore's first Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• 1965 September 21 - Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member.
• 1965 October 15 - Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the Commonwealth.
• 1967 August 8 - Singapore becomes a founding member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• 1968 January - Britain announces its intention to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore.
• 1970 September - Singapore is admitted into the Non-Aligned Movement.
• 1971 January 14-22 - Singapore hosts the 18th Conference of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
• 1971 April - Singapore, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand sign the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
• 1971 October 31 - The last British military forces withdraws from Singapore.
• 1973 - Singapore joins General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
• 1980 June 1 - S Dhanabalan becomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• 1981 March - Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tommy Koh, assumed the Presidency of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.
• 1988 September - Wong Kan Seng becomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• 1990 October 3 - Singapore and People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations.
• 1993 January - Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat set up in Singapore.
• 1994 January 2 - S Jayakumar becomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• 1994 May 5 - United States media sensationalise the caning incident of American teenager Michael P. Fay who was convicted for vandalism.
• 1995 January 1 - Inauguration of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ambassador K Kesavapany is elected for a one-year term as Chairman of the General Council.
• 1996 December 9-13 - Singapore hosts the 1st WTO Ministerial Conference.
• 1998 January 15 - Singapore and United States announces agreement for US ships to use a planned $35 million naval base from 2000.
• 2000 October 10 - Singapore is elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the 55th session of the UN General Assembly.
• 2000 November 14 - Singapore and New Zealand sign Agreement on Closer Economic Partnership, Singapore's first bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
• 2001 January 1 - Singapore starts its two-year term in the United Nations Security Council.
• 2001 January - A pipeline feeding gas to Singapore from Indonesia's Natuna field in South China Sea opens.
• 2002 January 13 - Singapore and Japan sign the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement.
• 2003 April - SARS virus outbreak in Singapore and other parts of Asia.
• 2003 May 6 - Singapore and United States sign the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA).
• 2004 January 12 - The new Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi makes his introductory visit to Singapore.
• 2004 August 13 - Yeo Yong-Boon George becomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• 2005 April 26 - Singapore and Malaysia sign a settlement agreement concerning land reclamation in and around the Straits of Johor.
• 2005 August 15-17 - Singapore hosted a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise, codename Exercise Deep Sabre, participated by 13 countries.
• 2005 August 23 - Singapore and Australia sign a memorandum of agreement to allow Singapore Armed Forces to train on the Shoalwater Bay Training Area till 2009.
• 2005 December 14 - Singapore attends the inaugural East Asia Summit (EAS).

Trade agreements

See economy of Singapore: International trade agreements

International organisations

APEC

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is based in Singapore. Singapore will be hosting the APEC forum in 2009.

Asia

Brunei

In August 2005, Brunei's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit during which the two countries signed an agreement to eliminate double taxation, paving the way for further bilateral trade and investment.

The Royal Brunei Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy conduct an annual Exercise Pelican signifying strong ties between the two navies.

China, People's Republic of

On September 19, 2005, Vice Premier Wu Yi of the People's Republic of China arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit. She led a delegation of ministers and senior officials at the 2nd Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation between the PRC and Singapore.

China, Republic of (Taiwan)

Although Singapore switched diplomatic relations to the People's Republic of China in 1992, it continues to maintain close economic ties with the Republic of China (ROC on Taiwan) as part of its attempt to position itself as a neutral party to both sides. This is, however, a diplomatically delicate situation which has flared up occasionally.

A severe diplomatic row broke out between the PRC and Singapore when Lee Hsien Loong visited Taiwan a month before being sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Singapore on 12 August 2004. Factions in the Taiwanese media took the opportunity to highlight and publicise his visit, although the Singapore government emphasised that it was a private visit by Lee to familiarise himself with the latest developments there.

When Singapore started building its military in the 1970s, the Republic of China on Taiwan was one of the few countries to offer assistance by providing training areas to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for conducting military exercises. This assistance is valuable as Singapore is a land-scarce country comprises mainly of built-up areas. This arrangement continues today and is an important aspect of Singapore-ROC relation, although the two countries do not conduct joint military exercise nor is there any official military alliance. Singapore pays the ROC for the lease of the training areas and the SAF men do not train together with Taiwanese soldiers.

On 22 March 2005, however, the Singaporean defence ministry had to quickly correct an erroneous report in the Liberty Times on a joint military exercise between the Singapore and Taiwan, This report caused the PRC government to demand an explanation. Singapore denied the report, while the ROC government refused to comment.

There have been media reports in recent years of the possibility of moving some or all of these military facilities to Hainan following an offer by the PRC, although this may not be taken up due to sensitivities in diplomatic relations between Singapore and her largely Islamic neighbours.

Indonesia

In August 2005, Singapore and Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand aviation rights between the two countries.

On 3 October 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bali, just two days after the Bali bombings. They agreed to strengthen the fight against terrorism and also discussed cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

Malaysia

Singapore was formerly part of Malaysia but was separated in 1965 due to political differences and racial tension. There remains a high degree of economic and social inter-dependence between the two countries. Bilateral relation is complex and has experienced many highs and lows over the last 40 years.

Defence ties

Singapore and Malaysia are both members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements. The two countries also routinely conduct joint military exercises to enhance bilateral ties and to heightens the professional interaction between the Singapore Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Army. In August 2005, the two countries concluded the 12th exercise of the series, Ex Semangat Bersatu 05 in Pahang.

Disputes with Malaysia

Singapore has several long-standing disputes with Malaysia over a number of issues:

• deliveries of fresh water to Singapore
• maritime boundaries
• dispute over the Singapore-occupied islet known as Pedra Branca in Singapore and as Pulau Batu Puteh (White Rock island) in Malaysia, located 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the east coast of Singapore with a land area of 2,000 m². Parties agree to International Court of Justice arbitration on island dispute within three years.
• Moving of the Singapore station of Malaysia's Keretapi Tanah Melayu from Tanjong Pagar to Bukit Timah. See Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement of 1990 and moving Malaysia's immigration checkpoint from the railway station to the Causeway.
• Withdrawal of Central Provident Fund funds by west Malaysians.

Improvement in relationship in recent years

Relation between the two countries has improved in recent years, especially since the transition of leadership in both governments. In 26 April 2005, the two countries signed a settlement agreement concerning Singapore's land reclamation in and around the Straits of Johor.

Both countries exchanged many high-level visits in 2004 and 2005, including the visit to Singapore in 12 January 2004 by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who had just took over from Mahathir bin Mohamad in October 2003.

Europe

Hungary

In July 2005, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary, Ferenc Gyurcsány made an official visit to Singapore.

North America

United States

Then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Ambassador to the U.S. Chan Heng Chee meet with Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen during Lee's visit in 2000.

Singapore and the United States share a long-standing and strong relationship, particularly in defence, economic, health and education.

In 2003, Singapore and the United States signed the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), which came into force in January 2004. This is the first free trade agreement that U.S. entered into with an East Asian country.

In July 2005, during his official visit to the United States, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President George W. Bush signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) to strengthen defence and security cooperation.

The Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Centre (REDI), opened on 24 May 2004, is a joint US-Singapore collaboration to promote cooperation in tackling emerging infectious diseases. The centre facilitates the exchange of information and expertise on surveillance; prevention and control of, and research on, communicable and non-communicable diseases; and on bioterrorism concerns.

In September 2005, Singapore responsed to the relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in U.S.. Four Singaporean CH-47 Chinook helicopters and 45 RSAF personnel from a training detachment based in Grand Prairie, Texas were sent to help in relief operations. They are operating out of Fort Polk in cooperation with the Texas Army National Guard. (MINDEF) (CNA)

In 1994, relations with U.S. were hampered for a brief period by the caning incident of American teenager Michael P. Fay who was convicted in Singapore for vandalism.

Oceania

Australia

In July 2003, Singapore and Australia signed the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement bringing closer economic ties.

In August 23 2005, Singapore and Australia signed a memorandum of agreement to allow Singapore Armed Forces to train on the Shoalwater Bay Training Area till 2009.

Singapore and Australia hold a biennial Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Conference (SAJMC) when ministers from both countries meet to discuss trade, defence and security. Both countries also collaborate in development assistance projects under the Singapore-Australia Trilateral Cooperation Program (SATCP) since 1996.

International humanitarian effort

• In December 2004, the Singapore Armed Forces dispatched three Endurance class landing platform dock ships - RSS Endurance, RSS Persistence and RSS Endeavour off the coast of Meulaboh, one of the worst hit areas where all road access was cut off. Onboard these ships were medical and engineering teams and volunteers with NGOs. The ships were also loaded with medical supplies and heavy equipment to help clear roads and debris. Six Chinook helicopters and two Super Puma helicopters were also dispatched to Aceh, two Chinook helicopters and two Super Puma helicopters to Phuket, Thailand. C130s were also dispatched to ferry relief supplies to tsunami-hit areas.
• In September 2005, Singapore responded to the relief effort of Hurricane Katrina in the United States, by sending four CH-47 Chinook helicopters and forty-five RSAF personnel.
• In the aftermath of the 2005 Bali bombings, the Singapore Armed Forces sent a medical team, comprising of two doctors, two nurses, and two paramedics to Bali to help treat victims of the blasts at the Sanglah Hospital. (CNA)
• In October 2005, the Singapore Civil Defence Force dispatched a 44-member Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team to Pakistan to help in the relief and rescue operations following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake

International effort on anti-terrorism

During 15-17 August 2005, Singapore hosted a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise, codename Exercise Deep Sabre as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Launched at Changi Naval Base and conducted in the South China Sea, the exercise involves some 2,000 personnel from 13 countries.

Singapore hosted the Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference from 21 - 25 November 2005.

On 6 May 2004, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong delivered a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. titled "Beyond Madrid: Winning Against Terrorism", expressing Singapore's view on the global challenge against terrorism.

International effort on anti-piracy

In August 2005, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore agreed to conduct joint anti-piracy patrols in the Malacca Strait to increase security in one of the world's busiest sealanes. Thailand later also joined in this effort.

See also

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• International aviation agreements with Singapore
• International trade agreements with Singapore
• Singaporean diplomatic missions

External links

• Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Water trade and Pedra Branca