Singapore’s refusal to halt military ties with Taiwan ‘prompted Beijing response to seizure of military vehicles’
Military observer says China repeatedly offered to host Singapore exercises on Hainan, to no avail
Beijing’s response to the seizure of Singapore’s military vehicles in Hong Kong may stem from its frustration over failed attempts to have the city state sever its military ties with Taiwan, an analyst has said.
Beijing had previously offered the southern island of Hainan to Singapore as an alternative location to conduct its military training exercises, but Singapore repeatedly turned down the offer under pressure from the United States, according to Macau-based military expert Antony Wong Dong.
Regarding the nine Singapore-bound armoured military vehicles impounded in Hong Kong last week, Wong Dong said Beijing had years ago tried to convince Singapore to replace its “Starlight Project” military training bases in Taiwan with alternatives on Hainan Island, but to no avail.
“The mainland side promised to provide the Singaporean military with a closer and larger place in Hainan [than that used in Taiwan] for military exercises, but Singapore rejected the offer,” Wong said.
Singapore rejected the offer because of strong opposition from the Pentagon, which was concerned that Washington’s military secrets could be leaked as Singapore uses American weapon systems, he said.