Multiple ministers have sought to downplay the ongoing friction between Singapore and China regarding the seizure of nine military vehicles belonging to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in Hong Kong.
Various publications report that Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen called for caution in speculating why Hong Kong customs offloaded and detained the shipment of Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles while en route from Taiwan to Singapore.
Many have postulated that it’s part of Beijing’s ploy to browbeat Singapore in the several matters, including the city-state’s position on the South China Sea dispute and the continuing military ties with Taiwan — a nation that the Chinese government regards as a breakaway province.
Though Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan assured that the seizure of SAF vehicles is by no means a “strategic incident”, it’s becoming harder not to reckon China is simply being a bully. Already, two op-eds published in a nationalist state-owned tabloid have slammed Singapore over “hypocrisy” and possibly “working against the one China principle”. Yesterday, the tabloid called for the nine SAF vehicles to be “melted down”.
Thus, it’s pretty relevant that current affairs cartoon page A Good Citizen painted China as such — a big bully ala The Simpsons’ Nelson Muntz, performing his distinctive catchphrase.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ng has assured that Singapore will be exercising its “full rights” in recovering its military assets, and will decide the appropriate course of action when this all blows over.
