Analysis: Quiet Singapore turns up volume on Myanmar as regional fears
grow
Send a link to a friend
[March 31, 2021]
By Aradhana Aravindan
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Rarely does Singapore
use strident language or take on a visibly active role in foreign policy
as it has over the increasing bloodshed in Myanmar.
Worries over regional instability and the credibility of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc in the face of China's
increasing power are at the forefront of the unusually strong stance
taken by the country, several analysts say.
Another factor is that Singapore is the largest foreign investor in
Myanmar, partly through investments by multinationals based in the
island republic.
"Singapore is cognizant that if it doesn't step up now, having an ASEAN
that is relegated to irrelevance is not to its own interest," said Chong
Ja Ian, a political science professor at the National University of
Singapore.
The government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on its
role in Myanmar.
Surrounded by much bigger neighbours, Singapore has traditionally kept
quiet in public and epitomised ASEAN policy of non-interference in
neighbours' affairs. Myanmar is also a member of the bloc.
It had appeared to follow the same track after Myanmar's army took power
on Feb. 1 and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, despite the
cordial relationship built with her by democratic Singapore.
The framing of Singapore's initial response to the coup was word for
word the same as for Thailand's in 2014: "Singapore expresses grave
concern... we hope that the situation will return to normal as soon as
possible."
LANGUAGE
The language has shifted after the bloody suppression of anti-junta
protests - with more than 500 civilians now killed.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the use of lethal force was "just
not acceptable" and "disastrous". Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan
called the situation "an unfolding tragedy" and the military crackdowns
a "national shame".
Singapore previously used such language after another deadly crackdown
on protesters in Myanmar in 2007.
Its response to the exodus of Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar during an
army offensive, which the United Nations called a genocidal attack, was
lower profile, analysts say, although it called it a man-made
humanitarian disaster in 2018.
Amid the current crisis, a diplomatic shuttle has taken Balakrishnan to
Brunei, the current chair of ASEAN, Malaysia and to Southeast Asian
giant Indonesia, to discuss Myanmar.
On Tuesday, he arrived in China for the first time since 2019 to meet
the government's top diplomat, Wang Yi. Although Myanmar was not on the
publicised agenda, Balakrishnan is considered highly likely to raise the
topic.
"ASEAN really does need to step up in this current crisis and it needs
to step up quite quickly," said Choi Shing Kwok, director of the
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
[to top of second column]
|
Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
speaks with Malaysia's Senior Minister and Minister of International
Trade and Industry Dato‘ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali in Malaysia, in this
March 24, 2021 handout photo. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs/Handout via REUTERS
For wealthy Singapore, which has fewer than one percent of ASEAN's
650 million people, being part of the bloc gives it a counterweight
to world powers as it tries to balance between being a security
partner of the United States while not wanting to offend China.
ASEAN also amplifies Singapore's voice.
CREDIBILITY
"It is essential for ASEAN's credibility, centrality and relevance
to have a view, have a position and to be able to offer some
constructive assistance to Myanmar," Balakrishnan said last week. He
said the crisis would take time to resolve but ASEAN had to decide
its role.
With the United States and Western countries condemning the junta
strongly and imposing some sanctions on the generals and the
companies they run, analysts say Southeast Asian countries believe
Myanmar could end up pushed closer to China - potentially shifting
the regional balance.
"In a situation where one side is more dominant than the other, that
reduces the space for autonomy that Singapore can enjoy," said NUS's
Chong.
The financial relationship matters too.
Singapore had a cumulative $24.1 billion of investments approved as
of 2020, according to official Myanmar data since 1988. That made it
the biggest source of foreign capital there over the period - ahead
of China.
Although the total includes multinationals, Singaporean firms are
also investors in their own right in businesses from real estate to
coffee shops.
Some of those businesses became boycott targets for protesters after
Singapore made clear its opposition to sanctions on Myanmar. Its
leaders maintain that wide-spread measures would only hurt ordinary
citizens, not the military.
Instead, Singapore is trying to work with like-minded countries to
pressure the junta. Although Singapore could not act alone against
Myanmar, it could be a force for tougher measures within ASEAN.
"There are other countries within ASEAN which are willing to come on
board with what Singapore is doing," said Nehginpao Kipgen from
India's Jindal School of International Affairs. "They would be in a
better position to be on the right side of history."
(Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore; Editing by Matthew
Tostevin and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |