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EDITORIAL:
Taiwan-Singapore ties in spotlight
Different opinions have emerged as to why Representative to Singapore Vanessa
Shih (史亞平) is being reassigned, and there is a wide divergence between the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ account and suggestions being bandied around by the
news media. We don’t know the truth of the matter yet. However, the ministry
needs to make clear what the ramifications are for national sovereignty,
democratic principles and the conduct of our envoys.
One of the suggestions is that Shih flew the Republic of China (ROC) flag and
sang the ROC national anthem during the ROC centenary celebrations in Singapore,
in violation of that country’s observance of the “one China” policy. This was
reportedly much to the annoyance of former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan
Yew (李光耀) and other senior Singaporean officials, which would explain why they
recently discontinued contact with senior Taiwanese officials.
As a representative of the ROC, there was nothing wrong with Shih’s conduct at
the ceremony. The Taiwanese representative in any other country would have acted
likewise. Since Singapore raised objections, the ministry should really have
supported its representative office for maintaining national dignity, especially
since the incident took place during the centenary celebrations. Singapore
really shouldn’t have reacted as it did, coming out with guns blazing over the
arrangements for a single event and making it all but impossible for Shih to
remain in her post.
Another suggestion is that the Singaporean government was irked when Shih
reportedly contacted individuals from the city-state’s opposition Workers’ Party
(WP) during Singapore’s general elections in May last year, when she apparently
discussed the Taiwanese background of WP member Chen Show Mao (陳碩茂). For the
Singaporean government, this crossed the line. Again, there is nothing unusual
about a representative expanding their contacts within the country they are
stationed in. Talking with members of the opposition is part of their job. We
know from leaked US cables that former American Institute in Taiwan director
Stephen Young met with members of the opposition here. After all, developing a
rapport with politicians in any country is exactly what diplomats should be
doing. If Singapore finds fault with Shih for this, then its understanding of
democracy and international conventions leaves much to be desired.
The third possibility is that there has been little concrete progress on
negotiations for the Agreement between Singapore and the Separate Customs
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Partnership (ASTEP)
after two years, and that Singapore is using this as an excuse to request Shih’s
reassignment. However, the talks are currently stalled at Taiwan’s bottom line
regarding financial services and agricultural imports from Singapore. There has
yet to be a breakthrough in these talks, which concern the national and business
interests of both sides. Unless either side changes their position, nothing is
going to happen any time soon and the representative in Singapore doesn’t have
control over this.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (楊進添), Shih’s reassignment
is simply a routine rotation within the ministry.
Whatever the reason for Shih’s reassignment, Singapore has made it abundantly
clear that it has been dissatisfied with her, taking issue with the way she has
conducted her official duties as well as her own personal style. It is important
to recognize this.
Singapore might not be a big country, but Taiwan has enjoyed a special
relationship with it and previous representatives there, such as Hu Shin (胡炘),
Chiang Hsiao-wu (蔣孝武) and Hu Wei-chen (胡為真), had high profiles. The most
pressing task for Taiwan and Singapore at the moment is the ASTEP talks, and it
is important that the ministry chooses a suitable replacement for Shih, one who
will ameliorate the process and not be an obstacle in it.
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