Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Committee of Supply 2018 – Cuts by WP MPs

(Delivered in Parliament on 1 March 2018)

MFA   Shift in Global Economic Weight to Asia – Low Thia Khiang 

Chairman Sir, The shift in global economic weight to Asia was highlighted in the Budget speech this year. We witness the opening up of China as an awakening of an economic giant. But China would also face a severely ageing society and rising labour costs overtime. In these respects, if it could maintain political stability, India may have the advantages and better growth prospects in the longer term. The ASEAN Economic Community could also emerge as an economic powerhouse if the ten countries could garner the political will to establish the single market.

This shift in global economic weight to Asia poses new diplomatic challenges for us, especially when the United States is going through a relatively incoherent phase in its engagement with Asia because of domestic politics. Singapore is not caught between a rock and hard place, but between three powers, namely China, India and the United States, while deeply embedded in ASEAN.

The South China Sea threatens to become the great game for the powers. The prime example is India’s strengthening military and economic ties with Vietnam, which includes an oil concession in disputed waters of the South China Sea, and the warming of US-Vietnam ties in an effort to counter-balance China. ASEAN seems divided and the countries distracted by domestic strife, with ethnic conflicts becoming a major issue for the grouping, Myanmar is an example.

Our tie with ASEAN is deep. We also have strong ties with China, India and the United States. As ASEAN Chair, how can we bring these deep and strong ties to help maintain the balance of power in the Asia? With our experience in fostering grassroots multiracialism, what can we do to build deeper ties to the peoples of Southeast Asia and bring diverse communities closer together to build a more resilient ASEAN?

 

ASEAN Integration and Citizen Engagement – Sylvia Lim

Sir, separate surveys completed by researchers in a university and a private polling firm indicate that Singaporeans have greater ambivalence, less interest, and less sense of belonging toward ASEAN compared to our ASEAN partners. According to one of these surveys, only 13 percent of Singaporean respondents indicate an interest in ASEAN news and information. There is indifference and even skepticism toward ASEAN, even though there is some acknowledgement that the grouping benefits Singapore in terms of economic opportunities and regional stability.

I find these results not satisfactory, since our future is inextricably linked to the success of ASEAN. Given that these views are about how Singapore relates to and interacts with our closest neighbours—countries with which Singaporeans have to work with closely on various issues—I wonder if such sentiments and ignorance might harm Singapore in the longer term.

I would like to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he thinks that the relatively low opinion of ASEAN among Singaporeans is of concern for Singapore’s foreign policy and interests. May I request that he share with the House the reasons for why he thinks this issue is anything to be worried about or not. I would also like to ask the Minister if he intends to do anything to promote more positive views of ASEAN among Singaporeans, especially given the fact that Singapore is serving as ASEAN chair this year, and why.

If the Minister wishes pursue such action, I would like to invite him to explain what these initiatives are. I would also appreciate the Minister informing this House about how he expects such plans to continue past Singapore’s chairing of ASEAN, and how they relate to the ASEAN Social Cultural Community.

 

ASEAN Chairmanship – Pritam Singh

Chairman, ASEAN commemorated its 50th anniversary last year. As a pioneer founder of ASEAN and as a respected and constructive diplomatic stakeholder, it is apposite that Singapore finds itself as the first chair of ASEAN after the celebration of its golden jubilee in 2017. It is apposite because Singapore is seen as an important thought leader both within and outside ASEAN. Singapore has the potential to shape and determine the substance of the discussions that take precedence between our regional partners because of our reputation as an honest broker.

Singapore has chosen the themes of resilience and innovation as its chairmanship tag line with a view to build a future-ready ASEAN which is adaptable and forward-looking.

In addition to a variety of issues that Singapore would be pursuing under its Chairmanship, is the Model ASEAN Extradition Treaty. The prospect of such a treaty is potentially an important development in addressing some of Singapore’s bilateral flash points that have reared their ugly head in the past, at times with certain political leaders in Indonesia. Such an extradition treaty could inject a newfound trust and confidence into the Singapore-Indonesia relationship which like ASEAN also celebrated its golden jubilee last year. Singapore’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year presents a signature opportunity for MFA to showcase strong thought leadership to push for an early agreement on the Model Extradition treaty that would support the rule of law within ASEAN and catalyze the signing of bilateral extradition treaties between neighboring countries. Does the Minister have any preliminary timeline with regard to discussions on the Model Extradition Treaty?

ASEAN has also committed to the ambitious objective under the aegis of the ASEAN Economic Community of doubling intra-ASEAN trade between 2017 and 2025. Last year, Singapore announced that it was focusing on steps to enhance e-commerce through its National Trade Platform, a one-stop trade information platform for Customs clearance, trade logistics and trade finance. Alongside this specific initiative, it would also appear that the prospect of the ASEAN Single Window would allow local Singaporean businesses to connect to more customers throughout ASEAN. Mr Chairman, all foreign policy begins at home and I request some information from the Minister on the roles the Ministry plays from a WOG perspective in translating foreign policy initiatives into economic outcomes for enterprises in Singapore in view of our economic transformation plans.

Finally, the  Minister has gone on record in the aftermath of the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s meeting earlier this month to say that discussions on the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea are likely to be very complicated even as the situation is a lot calmer. Mr Chair, one of ASEAN’s interests in the COC is to ensure that trade and freedom of movement of sea traffic, particularly commercial traffic is unimpeded. It would appear that China’s interests in the South China Sea are territorial to the extent that it wants a high degree of control of its immediate backyard, behavior which does not appear to be primarily driven by a desire to bully ASEAN but rather is consistent with modern big power behavior in regions adjacent to its immediate borders, regardless of whether such a power is an Anglo-Saxon one or not. What more can Singapore do to smooth over the concerns China has about the South China Sea, and secure a stable future between ASEAN and China going forward?