Singapore teams heads to Hong Kong to secure army carriers

Associated Press25 November 2016

ricky l

11 seconds ago

I think before everyone start to get emotional about why Hongkong held our 9 Terrex - and start to be-guessed why China is unhappy, I think we should put things in rational perspective.

(1) The cargo transported by a commercial ships transit in HK without documents declaring the cargo (military cargo), but through a routine inspection detected that it is our military hardware coming from Taiwan to HK. And from HK and China perspective (where China is unfriendly with Taiwan) - will naturally held up the cargo to determine if there are any sensitive equipment that is detrimental to China territory (HK).

The issue should be, under international law, should a commercial fleet in transit require to produce documents to declare the cargoes in transit. If yes, then we should do so. If not required, then a military team being send up to assist in clarifiying the situation may help to diffuse the situation.
Now this is the rational respond to defuse the situation.

(2) In respond to China Foreign Ministry statement that "The seizure took place onths after China cut off communication and exchanges with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's independence-leaning administration and launched a creeping campaign to diplomatically isolate the island.

In Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said the government was verifying details about the seizure of the vehicles. He reiterated China's opposition to Taiwan conducting military exchanges with any country Beijing has ties with.

"China has long been resolutely opposed to official exchanges, including military exchange and cooperation, between Taiwan and any countries that have diplomatic ties with China," Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing."

----- Singapore has been training in Taiwan since 1980s or even earlier. Singapore armor training is solely for Singapore own training purpose and is not a joint exercise aiming at China.

Singapore position all along is to maintain a cordial relationships with all our friends - and this apply to China as well as Taiwan - betraying none of them.

(3) Some even rumor and suggest that this is China expressing unhappiness about Singapore stand on South China Sea issue.

Singapore position is very clear. Singapore is not one of the claimant of South China Sea and will remain neutral in the dispute of South China Sea. Singapore only want disputed Countries to adopt peaceful resolution of the maritime dispute with respect to International law.

In fact the recent China and Philippine peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute is a welcome outcome.