Singapore likely to reduce defence ties with Taiwan over time, analysts say
Shift linked with city-state needing bigger military training bases outside Taiwan rather than pressure from China after the spat over seized armoured vehicles, say analysts
Military exchanges between Taiwan and Singapore are likely to fall over time, but this is more due to the city-state needing more training areas overseas provided by other allies than pressure from China, according to analysts.
Hong Kong’s decision to return to Singapore nine armoured troop carriers seized in November has once again put the spotlight on the city-state’s long-established but low-key military ties with Taiwan.
The armoured vehicles had taken part in a military training exercise on the island before they were seized by Hong Kong customs officials without the right paperwork.
Speculation is rife that the return of the vehicles was the result of a major concession by Singapore to end its four-decade military relations with Taiwan under pressure from the mainland. Beijing views the island as part of its territory and warns all countries against forging political or military ties with the authorities in Taipei.
Analysts, however, have cast doubt over the speculation