China paper slams S’pore ‘hypocrisy’

BEIJING: The Global Times, China’s nationalist state-owned tabloid, has warned that Singapore’s “hypocrisy” over its military relationship with Taiwan could harm bilateral relations with China, according to an op-ed published yesterday.

Nine Singaporean armoured troop carriers were impounded in Hong Kong last week en route back from Taiwan, sparking a rebuke from China’s foreign ministry about maintaining military ties with Taipei.

“It is no longer reasonable for Singapore to continue ... any kind of military exchange with Taiwan,” said the article, written by a commentator identified only as Ai Jun, which is a homonym for “love the army”.

Singapore and Taiwan have a longstanding military relationship that began in the 1970s and involves Taiwan being used as grounds for Singaporean infantry training.

Beijing has grudgingly tolerated this agreement since the China and Singapore reestablished diplomatic relations in the 1990s.

The incident with the armoured troop carriers “adds to the suspicion” that Singapore is working against the “one China” principle, said the paper.

Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be brought back under its rule, by force if necessary.

The article went on to list Singapore’s military relations with the US and its stance on the South China Sea as further demonstrating this “hypocrisy”.

Singapore is aiding the US in a China containment strategy by allowing American forces to be stationed at the Changi Naval Base, it added. – Reuters