05-24-2017, 10:33 PM
*** 25-May-17 World View -- China's flagrant snub of Singapore reflects deteriorating ties
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** China's flagrant snub of Singapore reflects deteriorating ties
****
![[Image: g160126b.gif]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g160126b.gif)
China commercial and military route through Malacca strait
Two weeks ago, China held its wildly spectacular One Belt One Road (OBOR) forum
in
Beijing. Attending were 1,200 delegates from 110 countries, including
28 heads of state. Among them were seven leaders from members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
But one of those leaders was noticeably missing: Singapore’s Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The media debated whether China was
snubbing Lee, or whether Lee had chosen not to go. Finally,
Singapore's government clarified what happened: Lee was not invited.
It was an official Chinese snub.
In years past, Lee Kuan Yew, the father of the current prime minister,
maintained very friendly relations with China, while still retaining a
strategic relationship with the United States. But this balancing act
seems to have eluded the current prime minister. He's been
increasingly critical of China's illegal militarization of the South
China Sea, and he's even joked about China during a visit to
Washington.
China got revenge last December when Hong Kong customs illegally
seized nine Singapore-owned armored military vehicles being shipped
from Taiwan back to Singapore. Singapore finally got them back only
after several months had passed, but the message was clear: China no
longer considers Singapore to be a friend.
This was further emphasized at the OBOR forum not only by snubbing
prime minister Lee, but also by signing billion dollar technology
deals with Malaysia and Indonesia, completely bypassing Singapore.
Lowy Institute (Australia) and Global Times (22-May) and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong - 3-Dec-2016) and Bloomberg (18-May)
and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong - 1-Oct-2016)
****
**** India and Singapore launch major naval exercises in South China Sea
****
Singapore is a tiny city-state that sits at the bottom tip of the
peninsula just below the western portion of Malaysia. Singapore was a
British colony, and became self-governing in 1959. It was supposed to
remain part of Malaysia, but in 1965 it split off due to ethnic
tensions, and became an independent republic.
Singapore guards the entrance to the Malacca Strait, a narrow
passageway through which trillions of dollars in goods travel each
year. Malacca Strait is extremely important to China as a choke point
on the "Maritime Silk Road" portion of OBOR. Because of Singapore's
strategic importance, it's somewhat surprising that China has bypassed
Singapore, and has only signed deals with Malaysia and Indonesia.
Both India and Singapore are fearful of Chinese military attacks.
China may invade Singapore as part of an effort to keep the Malacca
Straits open, and India has officially expressed concern that China's
military may attack the lightly-defended Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
which are India's sovereign territory.
This week, India and Singapore are conducting major joint naval
exercises called "SIMBEX," taking place in the South China Sea. Each
country is fielding numerous warships and aircraft.
According to an Indian navy spokesman:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"This year's edition of SIMBEX, the 24th such
> bilateral combat exercise, is aimed at further increasing
> interoperability between the two navies as well as developing
> common understanding and procedures for maritime security
> operations.
>
> The thrust of the exercise, with the harbor phase scheduled from
> May 18 to 20 and the sea phase from May 21 to 24, will be on
> anti-submarine warfare, integrated operations with surface, air
> and sub-surface forces, air defense and surface encounter
> operations."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
China's Foreign Ministry commented on the exercises by warning that
the activities should "not hurt the interests of other countries,"
which presumably alludes to China's illegal military bases in the
South China Sea:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"If such exercises and cooperation are for the
> benefits of regional peace and stability, then we have no
> opposition," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when
> asked for China's response by Indian media at a daily briefing.
>
> We hold a very open attitude to normal exchanges between
> countries. We just hope when relevant countries conduct such
> exchange and cooperation they should bear in mind such activities
> not hurt the interests of other countries or have a negative
> impact to regional peace and stability."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
It's generous of China to have an open attitude toward "normal
exchanges" between countries. However, China has repeatedly
threatened America's "Freedom on Navigation" trips through the South
China Sea, and has used its vast military power to prevent Vietnam and
the Philippines from even accessing their own sovereign waters.
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, the closer
association between Singapore and India is significant because it puts
the strategically important Singapore clearly aligned with the West.
The Independent (Singapore)
and India Today and India Times
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Singapore, China, Malacca Strait,
India, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew, SIMBEX,
One Belt One Road, OBOR
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- China's flagrant snub of Singapore reflects deteriorating ties
- India and Singapore launch major naval exercises in South China Sea
****
**** China's flagrant snub of Singapore reflects deteriorating ties
****
China commercial and military route through Malacca strait
Two weeks ago, China held its wildly spectacular One Belt One Road (OBOR) forum
in
Beijing. Attending were 1,200 delegates from 110 countries, including
28 heads of state. Among them were seven leaders from members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
But one of those leaders was noticeably missing: Singapore’s Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The media debated whether China was
snubbing Lee, or whether Lee had chosen not to go. Finally,
Singapore's government clarified what happened: Lee was not invited.
It was an official Chinese snub.
In years past, Lee Kuan Yew, the father of the current prime minister,
maintained very friendly relations with China, while still retaining a
strategic relationship with the United States. But this balancing act
seems to have eluded the current prime minister. He's been
increasingly critical of China's illegal militarization of the South
China Sea, and he's even joked about China during a visit to
Washington.
China got revenge last December when Hong Kong customs illegally
seized nine Singapore-owned armored military vehicles being shipped
from Taiwan back to Singapore. Singapore finally got them back only
after several months had passed, but the message was clear: China no
longer considers Singapore to be a friend.
This was further emphasized at the OBOR forum not only by snubbing
prime minister Lee, but also by signing billion dollar technology
deals with Malaysia and Indonesia, completely bypassing Singapore.
Lowy Institute (Australia) and Global Times (22-May) and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong - 3-Dec-2016) and Bloomberg (18-May)
and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong - 1-Oct-2016)
****
**** India and Singapore launch major naval exercises in South China Sea
****
Singapore is a tiny city-state that sits at the bottom tip of the
peninsula just below the western portion of Malaysia. Singapore was a
British colony, and became self-governing in 1959. It was supposed to
remain part of Malaysia, but in 1965 it split off due to ethnic
tensions, and became an independent republic.
Singapore guards the entrance to the Malacca Strait, a narrow
passageway through which trillions of dollars in goods travel each
year. Malacca Strait is extremely important to China as a choke point
on the "Maritime Silk Road" portion of OBOR. Because of Singapore's
strategic importance, it's somewhat surprising that China has bypassed
Singapore, and has only signed deals with Malaysia and Indonesia.
Both India and Singapore are fearful of Chinese military attacks.
China may invade Singapore as part of an effort to keep the Malacca
Straits open, and India has officially expressed concern that China's
military may attack the lightly-defended Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
which are India's sovereign territory.
This week, India and Singapore are conducting major joint naval
exercises called "SIMBEX," taking place in the South China Sea. Each
country is fielding numerous warships and aircraft.
According to an Indian navy spokesman:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"This year's edition of SIMBEX, the 24th such
> bilateral combat exercise, is aimed at further increasing
> interoperability between the two navies as well as developing
> common understanding and procedures for maritime security
> operations.
>
> The thrust of the exercise, with the harbor phase scheduled from
> May 18 to 20 and the sea phase from May 21 to 24, will be on
> anti-submarine warfare, integrated operations with surface, air
> and sub-surface forces, air defense and surface encounter
> operations."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
China's Foreign Ministry commented on the exercises by warning that
the activities should "not hurt the interests of other countries,"
which presumably alludes to China's illegal military bases in the
South China Sea:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"If such exercises and cooperation are for the
> benefits of regional peace and stability, then we have no
> opposition," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when
> asked for China's response by Indian media at a daily briefing.
>
> We hold a very open attitude to normal exchanges between
> countries. We just hope when relevant countries conduct such
> exchange and cooperation they should bear in mind such activities
> not hurt the interests of other countries or have a negative
> impact to regional peace and stability."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
It's generous of China to have an open attitude toward "normal
exchanges" between countries. However, China has repeatedly
threatened America's "Freedom on Navigation" trips through the South
China Sea, and has used its vast military power to prevent Vietnam and
the Philippines from even accessing their own sovereign waters.
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, the closer
association between Singapore and India is significant because it puts
the strategically important Singapore clearly aligned with the West.
The Independent (Singapore)
and India Today and India Times
Related Articles
- India deploying 'submarine killer' planes to counter China's submarines (27-Jan-2016)
- Australia / Singapore choose sides re Taiwan (23-Aug-2004)
- China launches 'One Belt One Road', raising objections and violent protests (14-May-2017)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Singapore, China, Malacca Strait,
India, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew, SIMBEX,
One Belt One Road, OBOR
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
