bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Nectar Gan

Liu Zhen

The row between China and Singapore over the impounding of the city state’s military vehicles in Hong Kong escalated as Beijing lodged a diplomatic protest ­on Monday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China made “representation” to Singapore after nine combat vehicles were stopped by Hong Kong customs en route from Taiwan on Wednesday. Geng called on Singapore to abide by Hong Kong laws and the “one China” principle.
We demand Singapore strictly abide by the one-China principle
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang
“The Chinese government resolutely opposes nations with diplomatic ties with China to have any form of official contacts with Taiwan, including military exchanges and cooperation,” he said. “We demand Singapore strictly abide by the one-China principle.”
Observers said the protest was a warning to both Singapore and Taipei, which have seen their relationships with Beijing deteriorate.
Mainland agents ‘tipped off Hong Kong about Singaporean army vehicles’
Beijing accuses Singapore of being intractable over the South China Sea disputes.
It also cut off ­official communication with Taiwan after Tsai Ing-wen from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party came into power in May.
APL, the company hired by the Singapore Armed Forces to transport the military vehicles, said in a statement it was cooperating with Hong Kong authorities and was working with stakeholders.
It is a punishment intended to deter Singapore from being outspoken on the South China Sea
Euan Graham, Lowy Institute
Military ties between Singapore and Taiwan go back more than four decades. In 1974, Singapore and Taipei initiated “Project Starlight”, which gave Singaporean troops much needed physical room to carry out exercises on the self-ruled island.
Euan Graham, director of the international security programme at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, said the warning by Beijing was aimed at “killing two birds with one stone”.
“On one hand, it is a punishment intended to deter Singapore from being outspoken on the South China Sea,” Graham said. “On the other hand, it is aimed at further isolating Taiwan’s new DPP-led government.”
China has always kept mum on Singapore’s defence ties with Taipei, so why is it complaining now?
Li Jie, a retired Chinese naval colonel, said Singapore’s approach to the South China Sea row – which Beijing views as aligned with the United States’ ­interests – and Tsai’s rise to power had affected China’s national ­interests.
“It is also a warning to other countries not to get too close to a pro-independence Taiwan administration,” Li said.
It is also a warning to other countries not to get too close to a pro-independence Taiwan administration
Li Jie, retired Chinese naval colonel
“China will not compromise its core interests when it comes to the matter of principles.”
Wang Hanling, a maritime law specialist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Singapore’s ties with Taipei were less of a concern to Beijing than Singapore’s ties with the US.
But Taiwanese and regional security observers said Taiwan would continue military exchanges with other nations, and Singapore might become more eager to establish military ties with other countries.
Alexander Huang, former vice-minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said military ties between Taiwan and Singapore did not have a negative impact on regional security.
“If both sides want to continue such cooperation, I don’t think it would be affected by any third party,” he said.
Additional reporting by Phila Siu

Is Beijing trying to discourage Singapore-Taiwan relations by having Hong Kong seize armoured vehicles?


Singapore-China relations, 30 years on: can the 4G leaders hold their own, and will the US rock the boat?

Xi’s call to Singapore: a subtle ‘reminder’ about the South China Sea?

Does China still have anything to learn from Singapore?

Suzhou joint industrial park hailed as Singapore steps up China cooperation

Singapore military vehicle seizure

Beijing demands Singapore abide by ‘one-China’ principle after military vehicles seized in Hong Kong

Nine armoured personnel carriers belonging to Singapore are being held at a facility in Tuen Mun after they were discovered by Hong Kong customs on a cargo vessel originating from Taiwan. Photo: David Wong

(Facebook capture) Undated photograph of a armored car was found in Kwai Chung Cargo Terminal. Photo: SCMP

China has always kept mum on Singapore’s defence ties with Taipei, so why is it complaining now?

Armoured troop carriers, belonging to Singapore, are detained at a cargo terminal in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

This Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 photo shows nine eight-wheeled Singapore-made Terrex infantry carrier vehicles seized at a container terminal in Hong Kong. Singapore's army is sending a team to Hong Kong to secure the nine of its armored personnel carriers that were seized by customs authorities while in transit through the southern Chinese territory, the Defense Ministry said Friday, Nov. 25. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Mainland agents ‘tipped off Hong Kong about Singaporean army vehicles’

Armoured vehicles at the centre of complicated diplomatic tangle have been held in the city since being found on a cargo ship

According to reports, the ship carrying the equipment set sail from Taiwan but docked in Xiamen. Photo: FactWire

No Caption Available.

News

China

Diplomacy

China lodges diplomatic protest with city state, warning no country should have ties with Taiwan
