Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Sir, Singapore’s most pressing foreign policy challenge today is managing escalating rivalry between the US and China. As a small state with an open economy, Singapore is highly vulnerable to disruptions from this great power competition. Balancing strong military and economic ties with the US with deep economic links withContinue reading “Navigating US-China Relations”
Category Archives: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Myanmar and ASEAN
Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied): Madam, the Myanmar civil war is now entering its fifth year. Causalities continue to mount. The United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 15 million people face acute food insecurity and 3.5 million people are internally displaced due to the conflict. This comes on top of thousands killedContinue reading “Myanmar and ASEAN”
POSSIBILITY OF COOPERATION ON CIVIL NUCLEAR RESEARCH WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AFTER SIGNING OF COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH US
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the civil nuclear cooperation agreement which Singapore signed with the United States of America on 31 July 2024 precludes Singapore from cooperating with other countries on civil nuclear research or applications. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: No. Ministry of Foreign Affairs11 November 2024 https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=written-answer-na-18107
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR ASSESSING ALIGNMENT OF ASEAN AND ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES WITH SECURITY AND ECONOMIC BLOCS DOMINATED BY MAJOR POWERS
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) how does Singapore assess the increasing alignment of ASEAN and Asia Pacific countries with security and economic blocs dominated by major powers; (b) what strategic considerations guide Singapore’s approach to alignment with these blocs; (c) how sustainable is Singapore’s stance of “not choosing sides” inContinue reading “STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR ASSESSING ALIGNMENT OF ASEAN AND ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES WITH SECURITY AND ECONOMIC BLOCS DOMINATED BY MAJOR POWERS”
IMPACT OF ESCALATING TENSIONS AND INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN MIDDLE EAST ON SINGAPORE
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that the Minister has said that Singapore has access to many of the parties on all sides of the conflict, does Singapore have any plans to play some role to bring together the different sides, even in some small way? Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Mr Gerald GiamContinue reading “IMPACT OF ESCALATING TENSIONS AND INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN MIDDLE EAST ON SINGAPORE”
SINGAPORE’S INPUT FOR REPORTS TO UN REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS ABOUT ARMS TRANSFERS
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) whether Singapore provides reports to the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) about arms transfers for 2022 and 2023; (b) if so, why are Singapore’s reports for 2022 and 2023 not listed on UNROCA’s database when previous years’ reports are available; (c) whether theContinue reading “SINGAPORE’S INPUT FOR REPORTS TO UN REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS ABOUT ARMS TRANSFERS”
SINGAPORE’S STANCE ON PROPOSAL FOR UN MEMBERSHIP FOR PALESTINE AND ASSISTANCE FOR REBUILDING OF PALESTINE
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) how effective has Singapore’s technical assistance to Palestinian officials been in helping the Palestinian Authority to function more effectively as a state; (b) what other contribution is Singapore making towards realising a two-state solution with the Israelis and Palestinians living side-by-side in peace and security;Continue reading “SINGAPORE’S STANCE ON PROPOSAL FOR UN MEMBERSHIP FOR PALESTINE AND ASSISTANCE FOR REBUILDING OF PALESTINE”
SINGAPORE’S EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERNS FOR PLANNED OFFENSIVE INTO RAFAH AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS
Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) whether Singapore is continuing to express deep concerns about the planned Israeli ground offensive into the city of Rafah in Gaza and the dire humanitarian consequences on civilians; (b) when was the most recent occasion that Singapore engaged the Palestinian Authority, Israel, EgyptContinue reading “SINGAPORE’S EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERNS FOR PLANNED OFFENSIVE INTO RAFAH AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS”
US-China Relations
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: Mr Chairman, that the rivalry between Washington and Beijing is becoming more and more serious is undeniable, as are other points of friction in East Asia and beyond. The Prime Minister discussed it. One of the Deputy Prime Ministers also raised the issue on several occasions. Competition among major powers isContinue reading “US-China Relations”
Situation in Myanmar
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Mr Chairman, the conditions in Myanmar following the military coup in 2021 are not improving. The civil war appears to be turning more intense with the military suffering territorial losses, the attacking of civilians and more lately, the decision to conscript the male population. Casualties and lawlessness seem to beContinue reading “Situation in Myanmar”
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 