The Taiwan chapter is concerned particularly with the ties established by Singapore with the ROC dating from the 1960s, a topic given little attention in recent studies. It draws attention to the way in which, soon after it separated from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, Singapore's future links with the PRC were foreshadowed by its relations with Taiwan.
Three areas of similarity between the two political entities are identified--economics, politics and culture. Both Taiwan and Singapore were newly industrializing economies; politically, both were authoritarian and united in their hostility to communism; and culturally, the populations of both countries were dominated by maritime Chinese communities, many of south Chinese origins from provinces such as Guangdong and Fujian.
The author sees Singapore's relations with Taiwan as foreshadowing its engagement of China as Beijing moved away from communism in its economic planning and revived a Chinese cultural awareness that earlier had been subdued. He suggests that Singapore's relations with Taiwan have borne an uncanny resemblance to those with what he terms "post-communist China," except for the crucial proviso that, unlike those with China, it has strategic ties with Taiwan.
As the chapter points out, when Singapore began building its military in the 1970s, the ROC was one of the few jurisdictions to offer assistance to the land-scarce city-state by providing training areas to the Singapore Armed Forces where they could conduct exercises for army, air force and naval personnel. This arrangement still continues and is an important aspect of Taiwan-Singapore relations. However, the two countries do not conduct joint military exercises, nor is there any official military alliance. Singapore pays the ROC for the lease of the training areas and the SAF men do not train together with Taiwanese soldiers.
Singapore switched diplomatic recognition to the PRC in 1992, but it continues to maintain close economic ties with Taiwan as part of its attempt to position itself as a party neutral between both the ROC and the PRC. In the author's words, Singapore's "relations with Taiwan represent a delicate balancing act with its engagement of China." He identifies two complementary fundamentals as the basis of this balance--the acceptance by Singapore of the "one China" principle with an acknowledgement that any rapprochement between Taiwan and China was an internal matter to be resolved between the two, and an affirmation that Singapore's diplomatic recognition of China could not come at the cost of its training programs in Taiwan.
The chapter makes reference to Taiwan's economic links with Singapore but, given its essentially political emphasis, provides no details. It is relevant to note, however, that while the value of their trade with each other is exceeded by their individual trade with other major partners such as China, Japan and the United States, Taiwan and Singapore are among each other's top five or six export markets. In other words, Singapore is one of Taiwan's major sources of overseas investment and Taiwan enterprises pour millions of dollars into the Singapore economy.
In addition, Singapore is one of the few countries that has shown a keen interest in signing a free-trade agreement with Taiwan and has been working toward its achievement since 2002. In view of a hostile attitude from the PRC, however, Singapore has opted not to be the first country to sign such an agreement with Taiwan and little progress has occurred since Singapore's then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a private visit to the ROC in 2004.
Lee's visit is highlighted in detail, much of which consists of a summary of the political events of the 1990s that might be familiar to most readers with a serious interest in Taiwan. The author describes Lee's trip as justified by Singapore as "a sovereign prerogative" but one that reconfirmed its fundamental opposition to any declaration of independence by Taiwan. He draws readers' attention to a press conference given by Lee, in which the Singapore leader reiterated that the city-state was a long-time friend of both Taiwan and China, would conduct its relations with both in fashion consistent with its "one China" policy, and would not allow itself to be used to further the cause of Taiwanese independence.
"Between Rising Powers" is a study in international relations seen from the viewpoint of the region lying between them. Although Taiwan is not the main focus of the book, the chapter on Taiwan provides an aspect of the island's international connections that is not frequently raised.
Write to Taiwan Journal at tj@mail.gio.gov.tw