BILATERAL TIES
Singapore and other countries
Overview:
Bilateral relations can help Singapore gain world recognition, and through world recognition, Singapore would have increased trade relations as well as a higher flow of goods and services.
Australia:
The RSAF operates a Jet Flying Training School in West Australia. In August 1998, a new facility was opened in Queensland. The RSAF was allowed to train in Australia for 15 years. With vast areas of open land ten times the size of Singapore, the RSAF pilots, and other personnel will be able to better hone their skills.
Germany/Japan:
After Singapore’s independence in 1965, Japan and Germany set up technical institutes in Singapore train workers and provide technical assistance to Singapore.
Indonesia:
During the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 to 1998, Singapore provided $10 million to Indonesia despite Singapore also suffering the impact of the Asian Financial Crisis at that time.
China:
Free Trade Agreement between both countries.
Malaysia:
Cultural exchange between both countries.
REGIONAL TIES
ASEAN
Overview:
Before 1967, no organization included majority of SEA countries. Ties were shaky as shown in the 1963 Confrontation between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as the dispute over Sabah by Malaysia and Philippines, which resulted in cutting ties between both countries, In August 1967, ASEAN was formed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines. It aims to promote economic, social, cultural development, peace and stability as well as provide opportunities for member countries to resolve issues peacefully.
ASEAN Free Trade Area:
SEA was an attractive destination for foreign investors since 1980s due to peace and stability as well as being economically vibrant for investments. AFTA was formed to remain economically viable in the era of globalization, in the face of India and China giving fierce competition for investors due to their high domestic market and lower costs of production.
Launched in 1992, the AFTA aims to remove import taxes among Southeast Asian countries, and the long term plan for the AFTA is to integrate the Asian economies into one large production base, with a domestic market of over 500 million people and remove all import taxes among member countries by 2015.
ASEAN Regional Forum:
The ARF was formed in 1994 to maintain peace by promoting political and security dialogue and cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as allow for countries to discuss and resolve security issues or conflicts peacefully. Participants include China, Japan, North Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada.
INTERNATIONAL TIES
United Nations
Overview:
The UN aims to provide help to countries in need, as well as give a voice to every member country and safeguarding peace and security. Established after the end of World War II in 1945 with 51 starting members, the main aim of the UN is to preserve world peace, and in 1999 the number of member nations has grown to 188 members, Singapore included.
UN to Singapore:
Singapore joined the UN in 1965, and the UN recognised Singapore’s independence. UN experts on social and economic development aided Singapore’s development. Dr Albert Winsemium, an UN economic expert helped Singapore develop its economy after its independence. The UN also was a platform for Singapore to voice its opinions and views on world affairs, which was important as Singapore is a small country.
Singapore to UN:
Singapore contributed to the UN by being part of the UN Security Council in January 2001 to March 2002, as well as playing a key role in the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1980 to 1982, where Professor Tommy Koh was the chairman of the conference during that time.
Diplomacy! Rawr.
[Marcus]
Showing posts with label Notes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Notes. Show all posts
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Deterrance!
CHINA AND INDIA
Conflict over border/territory
Overview:
India gained independence from Britain in 1947. However border with China was not clearly defined as the Himalayas mountain range made it hard to clearly define a border between both countries.
1950: China began to contest the presence of India in several localities, among which were the Aksai-Chin Plateau as well as the North East Frontier Agency.
1958: China announced that it has constructed a road to the Aksai-Chin Plateau. India protested against this as India felt that the Aksai-Chin Plateau belonged to them, and China had nothing to do with it.
1959: Fighting broke out between the two sides at both the Aksai-Chin Plateau as well as the North East Frontier Agency.
1961: In the middle of the year, China occupied even more territories which India regarded as its own. India demanded that China return the territories but China refused.
1962: A short war broke out between India and China, but both sides stopped fighting in a short period of time. However, the issue with the border is still not yet resolved.
ICELAND AND BRITAIN
Conflict over scarce resources
Overview:
Iceland has scarce natural resources, and relies on fishing for survival – 79% of Iceland’s exports were fresh fish/fish-based products. Due to overfishing by Britain, Germany and Belgium, fish stocks fell by 1/3 in Iceland seas. Iceland suggested ways to regulate fishing to the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea; however most suggestions were ignored.
1975: In October, Iceland extended its zone of control from 50 to 200 nautical miles, Germany and Belgium complied with this new zone; however Britain refused to acknowledge this.
In November, frequent collisions with British frigates and Iceland’s Coast-Guard occurred, and both sides blamed each other for the collisions.
1976: In February, Iceland cut off diplomatic ties with Britain.
In June, British signed an agreement with Ireland with certain terms to be implemented:
1. British was allowed to catch a fixed amount of fish
2. Maximum of 24 trawlers allowed within the 200-nautical mile zone at any time
3. Icelandic patrols were allowed to stop any trawlers suspected of overfishing
4. This would last for 6 months before Britain could not fish there anymore
KOREA
Conflict over ideology
Overview:
On August 1945, Japan surrendered at the end of World War II. Korea was divided by the 38th parallel (38th latitude), and the North was occupied by the USSR; the south by the US.
1947: UN called for an election to unify Korea under a single government; the USSR refused and instead established the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and made North Korea a communist country.
1948: South Korea however complied with the elections, and the Republic of Korea was formed with democracy as the ideology.
1949: Both the US and USSR pulled out from Korea, and both North and South Korea claimed the right to rule Korea, and thus frequent border clashes occurred.
1950: Start of the Korean War, with the US and her allies as well as the UN taking the side of South Korea, and with USSR and China siding with North Korea.
1953: End of the Korean War when both sides agreed to stop fighting. A demilitarized zone was created between both Koreas, where no military presence was to be allowed or such an incident might escalate back into war.
CA1 incoming! I don't know why I bother with this. For fun, maybe.
[Marcus]
Conflict over border/territory
Overview:
India gained independence from Britain in 1947. However border with China was not clearly defined as the Himalayas mountain range made it hard to clearly define a border between both countries.
1950: China began to contest the presence of India in several localities, among which were the Aksai-Chin Plateau as well as the North East Frontier Agency.
1958: China announced that it has constructed a road to the Aksai-Chin Plateau. India protested against this as India felt that the Aksai-Chin Plateau belonged to them, and China had nothing to do with it.
1959: Fighting broke out between the two sides at both the Aksai-Chin Plateau as well as the North East Frontier Agency.
1961: In the middle of the year, China occupied even more territories which India regarded as its own. India demanded that China return the territories but China refused.
1962: A short war broke out between India and China, but both sides stopped fighting in a short period of time. However, the issue with the border is still not yet resolved.
ICELAND AND BRITAIN
Conflict over scarce resources
Overview:
Iceland has scarce natural resources, and relies on fishing for survival – 79% of Iceland’s exports were fresh fish/fish-based products. Due to overfishing by Britain, Germany and Belgium, fish stocks fell by 1/3 in Iceland seas. Iceland suggested ways to regulate fishing to the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea; however most suggestions were ignored.
1975: In October, Iceland extended its zone of control from 50 to 200 nautical miles, Germany and Belgium complied with this new zone; however Britain refused to acknowledge this.
In November, frequent collisions with British frigates and Iceland’s Coast-Guard occurred, and both sides blamed each other for the collisions.
1976: In February, Iceland cut off diplomatic ties with Britain.
In June, British signed an agreement with Ireland with certain terms to be implemented:
1. British was allowed to catch a fixed amount of fish
2. Maximum of 24 trawlers allowed within the 200-nautical mile zone at any time
3. Icelandic patrols were allowed to stop any trawlers suspected of overfishing
4. This would last for 6 months before Britain could not fish there anymore
KOREA
Conflict over ideology
Overview:
On August 1945, Japan surrendered at the end of World War II. Korea was divided by the 38th parallel (38th latitude), and the North was occupied by the USSR; the south by the US.
1947: UN called for an election to unify Korea under a single government; the USSR refused and instead established the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and made North Korea a communist country.
1948: South Korea however complied with the elections, and the Republic of Korea was formed with democracy as the ideology.
1949: Both the US and USSR pulled out from Korea, and both North and South Korea claimed the right to rule Korea, and thus frequent border clashes occurred.
1950: Start of the Korean War, with the US and her allies as well as the UN taking the side of South Korea, and with USSR and China siding with North Korea.
1953: End of the Korean War when both sides agreed to stop fighting. A demilitarized zone was created between both Koreas, where no military presence was to be allowed or such an incident might escalate back into war.
CA1 incoming! I don't know why I bother with this. For fun, maybe.
[Marcus]
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