REACH 544 - What are your views on Minister Vivian's statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict? How can Singapore continue to uphold our foreign policy principles amidst an increasingly divisive world?
(SK)
01 Mar 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
1/3/24, 9:45 am - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
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Megan π
1/3/24, 10:01 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed the group description
1/3/24, 10:01 am - +REACH: π’ *Topic* π’
Singapore’s foreign policy cannot be driven by sentiment or affinity to any external group. Instead, Singapore’s foreign policy must be based on a realistic assessment of its own national interests and vulnerabilities, Minister for Foreign Affairs (MFA) Vivian Balakrishnan said on Feb 29.
It is in this context that Singapore has condemned Hamas’ Oct 7 incursion into southern Israel as an act of terrorism, supported Israel’s right to self-defence thereafter, called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages taken, and also consistently insisted that Israel comply with international humanitarian law and the principles of necessity and proportionality, he added.
In his speech, Minister Vivian said that, “unfortunately, Israel’s military response has gone too far” and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the unbearable suffering of civilian victims and to allow aid to reach them.
π¬ *What are your views on Minister Vivian's statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict? How can Singapore continue to uphold our foreign policy principles amidst an increasingly divisive world?*
π _Singapore has never broken diplomatic ties with any country_
While there have been calls by some people for Singapore to sever diplomatic ties with Israel, and to recall its ambassador, the Government will not be doing so, said Minister Vivian.
He added that Singapore has never broken diplomatic ties with any country, and noted that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and even Arab countries like Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, have not broken diplomatic relations with Israel.
On occasion, Singapore will have to take actions to signify its disapproval on various matters, but “even in your choice of actions and diplomatic gestures, be very restrained, be very careful, and then focus on outcomes”, he said.
π _Long standing conflict between Israel and Palestine_
Minister Vivian said that given the conflict’s long and complex history, it is easy to think that it is a religious struggle, but that this is not so.
“Religion is actually a veneer covering the heart of the conflict... an age-old conflict, a fight over land, over identity, over power,” he added.
Reiterating Singapore’s position, he said both Israel and Palestine have a right to exist. Given this, Singapore has consistently supported a two-state solution at international fora like the UN, and also consistently opposed moves that undermine such a solution, such as voting against Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank, he said.
π _Focus on domestic unity and cohesion_
"It is essential for Singaporeans to understand and appreciate that this is not our quarrel,” said Minister Vivian, calling on Singaporeans not to let the Israel-Hamas conflict divide society.
Ultimately, foreign policy begins at home, and domestic unity and cohesion are essential preconditions for an effective foreign policy and strong country, he added.
π https://str.sg/ocKKs
π https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/israel-gone-too-far-palestinians-singapore-vivian-balakrishnan-4159426
1/3/24, 10:02 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow all members to send messages to this group
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1/3/24, 10:03 am - +Rama: No issue
1/3/24, 11:21 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: I feel that vivian shouldn’t say that israel’s response had gone too far.
He is supposed to represent views of Singaporeans and that’s only 1 view of the many opposing views.
That being the case, he should just keep quiet and don’t be a hama’s proxy.
1/3/24, 11:22 am - +Rama: VB is showing Singapore neutrality.
1/3/24, 11:23 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: If some group takes us Singaporeans as hostage, I expect singapore military to go all out and get us out; like idf. <This message was edited>
1/3/24, 11:25 am - +Rama: Or be killed as is supposed standard when dealing with terrorist as no ransom is expected to be paid!
1/3/24, 11:40 am - +SL: Singapore foreign policy is based on our Singapore national interest. π
1/3/24, 11:45 am - +SL: I believe our govt is continue to uphold our foreign policy principles
1/3/24, 11:45 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: Yes, take out the terrorists
1/3/24, 11:50 am - +Rama: Consider hostages might not make it!
1/3/24, 11:50 am - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 11:51 am - +Rama: Correct
1/3/24, 12:14 pm - +Smiley face: 1 March, 2024
"The Old Game of Blaming Others (than yourself)?"
"You just cannot continue to scream at each other all over and trying to solve many complicated problems whether is social and or economics and or competitions and lastly, aggressive conflicts between nations.
All wars or conflicts or between races or religions or any crisis. History has proven, imperatively, the world will face shortage of supplies from energy, jobs to food and the power of economics will drive all prices up! And war is a big disruptor and itself a game of winner and losers. The longer a war or conflict or crisis lasted, the deepen the economic impacts on all tangibles, intangibles, and critically, human sufferings.
All of the above amounts to crushes and crumbles into catastrophic of damaged and death beyond repairing nor replaceable!
-- anonymity
1/3/24, 12:18 pm - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 12:19 pm - +Smiley face: https://youtu.be/Y1gR6RGGkfg?si=Ln17tKsciMjhCnva
1/3/24, 12:20 pm - +Smiley face: https://youtu.be/DaSkgSuBfb0?si=ig0AdzFlyKHZhSNV
Paper Tiger or Real Terror?
1/3/24, 12:21 pm - +SL: AI is also going to change how tasks are carried out, affecting jobs, income, etc. The advancement of tech for future economic growth also restructures how humans live.
1/3/24, 12:21 pm - +Rama: The writing is on the wall for some time now !
1/3/24, 12:25 pm - +Smiley face: SL...
Either the backdrop of geo tensions or the backdrop of technologies and innovations....
Neither are progressing as well as it should be....and why so?
The saying goes, "you either solve one variable and go on to the second or you need to solve both at one go!"
That's the string attached to both!
Hope you see it through.... thanks!
1/3/24, 12:26 pm - +Smiley face: Imperative and importantly, SG must secure footings on one or none will materialise which will be a disadvantage to us.
The one is to continue full drive into technologies and innovations!
1/3/24, 12:26 pm - +SL: Saw Emmanuel Marcon ‘s x message, and he said the situation is terrible now in Gaza. Based on news and video chips online , there are
112 dead with 760 injured while they are queueing for flour when bombed.
1/3/24, 12:28 pm - +Smiley face: Choose One or choose Two or none!
Choice and decision is always a tough call but choice needs to be made!
One or two!
1/3/24, 12:28 pm - +Rama: Makes no difference to hamas as destruction of Israel is their only goal!
1/3/24, 12:28 pm - +Smiley face: France has its own hidden agenda that is Beyond its national interests!
1/3/24, 12:29 pm - +Rama: Like some it not rest of the world!.
1/3/24, 12:30 pm - +Smiley face: Let it attriction, why so hard hearted? Why !!!
In life,...." Sometimes you need to be cruel in order to be kind....?"
1/3/24, 12:30 pm - +Smiley face: Try German followed by Italy
1/3/24, 12:30 pm - +Rama: Cruel to be kind -? Yes
1/3/24, 12:31 pm - +Rama: Britain too
1/3/24, 12:31 pm - +SL: In a complex scenario, all events continue happening at the same time. Tech continues to advance, and what happens may differ from the initial or milestone….
1/3/24, 12:31 pm - +SL: π±
1/3/24, 12:31 pm - +Smiley face: EU has a plate full to ingest...can mean Chinese food as the starter!
1/3/24, 12:33 pm - +SL: They are facing their own serious problem on many other fronts…..
1/3/24, 12:33 pm - +Smiley face: History proven! Tech and advancement is the victory road to the dominance of the day, the decade and the world! You choose and decide!
1/3/24, 12:34 pm - +Smiley face: EV, tariffs, jobs, ageing, Social welfare, refugees, inequalities, mountains of debts and deficits!
1/3/24, 12:34 pm - +Smiley face: If German falls, comes France and the rest crumbles....?
1/3/24, 12:35 pm - +Smiley face: So what is Gaza all about?
1/3/24, 12:35 pm - +Rama: Domino effect!
1/3/24, 12:35 pm - +Rama: Stolen land and pride
1/3/24, 12:38 pm - +Smiley face: An example for our STB to quickly investigate!
The economics of Cruise vacation is thriving in the Far East!
HK-TW-JP routes and cruise operators like Resort Worid and a few are Capitalizing and grabbing opportunities in the so-called SCS tensions and the threats of China might!
1/3/24, 12:40 pm - +Smiley face: For 2024 cruise berthing schedules, it's one mega cruise ship berthing every 3 days!
Kaishiong, Hualian.etc....sailing to HK or Japan!
" In every threat there are always opportunities, this is it! The business of short cruise vacation and the latest marketing tactic is to target the SOLO travellers!"
Why do SOLO travelers matter?
1/3/24, 12:41 pm - +SL: German heavy industry has been facing many challenges since 2 years ago and their manufacturing and some sector's GDP are worsening. Germany is suffering from an energy crisis. France did not have an issue as worsen as the German.
1/3/24, 12:41 pm - +Smiley face: Over 100 calls of port for Taiwan !
1/3/24, 12:41 pm - +SL: Complex issue
1/3/24, 12:42 pm - +Smiley face: Ageing workforce especially at the big factories and how about their strong and traditional SMEs?
1/3/24, 12:43 pm - +Smiley face: Yes, if you assess now and then.... however, there are opportunities to pivot only if US and China sit to talk ALL THINGS....only if!
1/3/24, 12:44 pm - +Smiley face: Colossal effects all over the world and at work!
1/3/24, 12:45 pm - +SL: Based on the economic analysis articles I saw, they pointed to energy jack-up the cost of manufacturing. The aging workforce is supported by robotics and automation, hence this factor is less critical.
1/3/24, 12:46 pm - +Smiley face: Yes, for decades, the Germans enjoyed cheap if not cheaper than other EU nations (advantages) there then, the German productivity was way above all EU nations charts!
The key was Russian Gas and Oil !
1/3/24, 12:48 pm - +SL: Not sure if this can happen, but based on publicly available info, it might not be fruitful as it may not really meet either party's expectation. We bystanders can pray for and decorate talk.
1/3/24, 12:48 pm - +SL: No more..
1/3/24, 12:48 pm - +Smiley face: It's really tough for any nation to elevate its productivity scorecard!
There are ways to go around it which is a longer essay and a complex structure to uncover the methods of raising productivity at company level and scale and multiply to a bigger organisation!
1/3/24, 12:49 pm - +Smiley face: Yupp,,! Unless you bow down!
1/3/24, 12:51 pm - +Smiley face: Yesterday's Japan JIT will not work optimally!
There are new ways of solving new world problems!
Look into physics and my mathematical expression to breakthrough and not wait for breakdowns to happen!
1/3/24, 12:52 pm - +SL: I think one of the key factors affecting Productivity is the resource capability to adopt, improve and change by leveraging other components in the process?
1/3/24, 12:52 pm - +Smiley face: In this chat platform, it's hard to present such theoretical and practical solutions to our intended readers from academia to policymakers or decision makers!
It's a detailed and patience process to UNROOTING all causes and course of economics
1/3/24, 12:53 pm - +Smiley face: One temptation is to pour money and hopefully money will resolve?
1/3/24, 12:54 pm - +Smiley face: There are known limitations to productivity!
cutting the head count is the easiest route!
1/3/24, 12:55 pm - +SL: Jit concept failed because not realistic and also the condition of success required a laundry list of items/factors to meet. COVID or regional/ international incidents proven the concept failure.
1/3/24, 12:59 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
Why this topic come about?
Because someone started a online petition to cut tie with Israel.
1/3/24, 1:00 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ: <Media omitted>
1/3/24, 1:00 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
"Rapper Subhas Nair found guilty of attempting to promote ill will between races and religions.
A judge said Nair's explanations were inconsistent with his online posts, and at times even contradictory to his police statements."
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/subhas-nair-rapper-guilty-ill-will-races-religions-3636166#:~:text=Rapper%20Subhas%20Nair,his%20police%20statements.
1/3/24, 1:02 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
This is the context of this topic.
1/3/24, 1:02 pm - +Poh S Lim: I think the minister’s statement is balanced, and also in our national interests.
The current Middle East conflict is not our fight. It is sad that it has happened and we can empathise with both sides over the events, but we must never import the conflicts of others and cause disharmony within our own society.
Violence has never been a solution to conflict and is a lose-lose proposition.
1/3/24, 1:03 pm - +Rama: π³π€·♂️π€¦♂️π
1/3/24, 1:06 pm - +SL: Regardless of how much money, this will not get resolved in less than (unknown number of generations.)
There are many inherent factors from individuals that all levels can think of. However, Money does buy time until the point of singularity arises in tech and health science bringing the possibility to resolve this.
1/3/24, 1:07 pm - +Smiley face: Only if your supplies chain is intact regardless of all circumstances!
1/3/24, 1:07 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
The external event has veer into religious and racial context.
1/3/24, 1:07 pm - +Smiley face: Investments in tech are Good!
1/3/24, 1:08 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
And has stoke our community emotion.
1/3/24, 1:08 pm - +SL: In a conventional process, cutting headcount may lead to fatigue of tasks, accountability issues, low quality and lack of timeliness- bottleneck.
1/3/24, 1:08 pm - +SL: Wow
1/3/24, 1:10 pm - +Smiley face: You got it!
1/3/24, 1:10 pm - +SL: This Jul 2023 case?
1/3/24, 1:11 pm - +Rama: Believe so
1/3/24, 1:12 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
Knowing the context, we have to carefully respond.
Because we don't want an external event trigger unnecessary trouble within Singapore.
1/3/24, 1:12 pm - +SL: Culture (individual, industrial, business etc) tech and health science…
1/3/24, 1:12 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:13 pm - +Smiley face: Ethos and work attitudes are two things that either you have it or you need to start inculcating to your folks at work!
1/3/24, 1:17 pm - +Smiley face: SL....
The top four nations with the most refugees are Turkey (3.6m), Iran (3.4m), Columbia (2.5m) and Germany (2.1m).
Looking back at Germany's refugees policy, perhaps it may be the correct calling and credit to the former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Was it correct or now seems to be full of objections?
With over 1.3 million Syria refugees, Germany has managed to turn around these extra human into the new contributors of its economy. Comparatively, to raise a naturally born German baby to an adult will cost E$60,000 and longer time to fruition. Whereas to place a refugee age 17 to 25 cost at most E$10,000 to train and educate and consequentially top up the labor shortage especially in the lower rank of skill jobs, plus, half of these refugees have landed jobs and they also raise the Germany's retirement funds.
So when a country's population is ageing at an accelerated rate, one way is to admit new people into its country to not only contribute but to sustain the necessities of living. It is now or never; it is a generational gap to fill and not letting this gap of ageing grow bigger that eventually becomes hopeless to salvage....?
SG is 0.97 for TFR
1/3/24, 1:21 pm - +Rama: Agree on the passage above TFR.
1/3/24, 1:22 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
1. Myanmar oppression of Buddhist people.
2. Russia and Ukraine war
Wonder why no Singapore community raise a big hoo haa if purely coming from humanitarian angle?
Because no community within Singapore attached religions or racial emotion to the conflict.
Hence Singapore Government can respond in UN on a basis that are:-
1. Based on voice of reasons and international law.
2. Based on national interest.
This Gaza war however elicit strong community interest and emotion - because of strong attachment to religions and racial biasness - that clouded community emotions.
And hence have interfere with our government objective stand on how we respond in UN.
1/3/24, 1:22 pm - +Rama: Agree
1/3/24, 1:24 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:24 pm - +Smiley face: Andrew & SL...
1/3/24, 1:26 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:30 pm - +SL: Angels Merkel's move on refugees was due to several reasons, turned into resources that benefit Germany is one of them. Unfortunately, that particular pillar could not be sustained and resulted in sentiment change inside Germany/EU due to the falling apart of known other's dependency.
0.97 is not a good news.π±
1/3/24, 1:30 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:30 pm - +Rama: Agree
1/3/24, 1:31 pm - +Smiley face: Blaming game now
1/3/24, 1:31 pm - +Rama: Continue to allow talent in
1/3/24, 1:31 pm - +Smiley face: Targeted talents and curated ones!
1/3/24, 1:31 pm - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 1:33 pm - +Smiley face: Learning curve is a direct means to productivity!
1/3/24, 1:36 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:37 pm - +Smiley face: Jack of all trades or Jane hopping jobs; both are not human productivity in play !
1/3/24, 1:38 pm - +Smiley face: They will adopt our labor and industrial policies but change to adapt into their system!
1/3/24, 1:38 pm - +SL: Vietnam's electric grid is something they are focusing on improving for future economic growth. Currently, they are focused on OEM and don't think they are moving to that standard within 20 years. (skills, infrastructure, languages, electricity power etc)
1/3/24, 1:39 pm - +SL: Very common in the complete world.
1/3/24, 1:39 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:40 pm - +Smiley face: So ENERGY abundance is another SA!
1/3/24, 1:46 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:46 pm - +Rama: Yeah
1/3/24, 1:51 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:52 pm - +Rama: ππππ€π
1/3/24, 1:53 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:53 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
Which compromise our national security and national interest.
1/3/24, 1:55 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 1:57 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
Just be careful not let any cunning politicians with self interest to exploit emotional external event to achieve their political goals.
1/3/24, 1:57 pm - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 2:00 pm - +REACH: π’ *Topic* π’
1/3/24, 2:10 pm - +SL: Based on empirical data, if the human resource revolution happens by moving away from standard human resources to advanced type (retrained, task support by automation ), it can indeed increase the GDP. However, with such advances in labor which industry shall they work in? Their pay will be in a higher range compared to the standard workers. Is the current t product/ service able to cover the cost and will the business continue making a margin?
Singapore land is precious; how much energy are we going to consume and sufficient to store for routine usage? Water concerns can be resolve with the current available tech.
1/3/24, 2:23 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
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1/3/24, 2:29 pm - +SL: But as the 2 known countries/groups of the country have competition…. Will this type of ranking show the reality?
1/3/24, 2:29 pm - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 2:33 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 2:35 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
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1/3/24, 2:37 pm - +Rama: ππππ€π
1/3/24, 2:37 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 2:37 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 2:40 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 2:41 pm - +Smiley face: Back to today's menu....
1/3/24, 2:41 pm - +Smiley face: History repeating itself?
The Persian, after more than 200 years of waiting, the Russians will have another golden chance of a breakthrough bypassing the Suez Canal, a direct link into the Indian Ocean.
Possibly, the most dangerous scenario would be a collaboration between China, Russia and Iran and North Korea?....
1/3/24, 2:43 pm - +Rama: Possibly a humongous dangerous collaboration!
1/3/24, 2:50 pm - +Smiley face: Zero sum Ending!
1/3/24, 2:50 pm - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 2:52 pm - +Smiley face: Our idea of not messing with race and or religion is one big lesson for the world to LEARN!
SG is correct!
1/3/24, 2:52 pm - +Rama: Agree
1/3/24, 2:52 pm - +Smiley face: This collation is a reminiscence of the once Sino-Soviet era. This assess of the Indian Ocean dated back to the early 19th century, to be exact in 12 January of 1830. The rivary between the Russians and the British empire. The British went all out to prevent the Russians from becoming its protectorates, two entities Persia and Afghanistan...
1/3/24, 2:54 pm - +Smiley face: SL ....
The complex of chaos.....
1/3/24, 3:08 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
1. In conducting our foreign policy, 3 important principles must be adhere to based on my assessment :-
a. Safeguard our National Sovereignty, National Interest and National Security.
b. Project "Voice of Reasons" and adherence to International Law that safeguard our National Interest and existence.
c. "Friends with All. Enemies with None. Forge mutual benefits with Win-Win outcome".
2. Hence, we must not take sides in events that happen in other Countries - that compromise any of our 3 principles in the conduct of our foreign affairs.
3. Eg. what happen in Russia-Ukraine war, Myanmar war, Gaza war and other conflicts in the World, we must only register our voice and votes in the UN based on the above 3 principles - and not let emotional attachment to religions, racial, cultural context to one or more community influence our Government professional conducts in foreign affairs and in the UN.
4. Hence, I fully support our Foreign Minister Vivian stands in the conduct of our foreign affairs - be it in Gaza war, Russia-Ukraine war, Mynamar civil war and conflicts in other parts of the World.
5. Most important, we must not let external events that happen in other parts of the World - become a pressure point that press our Government to side one group and take hostile position on the other group - and compromise our National Interest and National Security - based on emotion and strong attachment to their religion, culture or racial biasness.
6. As a responsible citizens, we must place faith in our Government on the conduct of foreign affairs - as long as the 3 foreign affair prinicples are upheld --- because whatever our Government do, our Government are placing our National Sovereignty, National Interest and National Security above all else.
7. I agree with the Foreign Affair Minister Vivian stand that, regardless of what other Countries do, we must not cut diplomatic ties with any Countries - because maintaining diplomatic ties - will allow us to communicate our positions, indicate our viewpoints and work out solutions with the other parties to resolve problem. This is better than cutting diplomatic ties and remove one important conduit in problem resolution.
Singapore did not cut tie with Mynamar, Russia and other Countries that have conflicts - and why should Singapore do so on Israel?
It is an emotional demand based on self-interest- not taking into account the interest of our other communities as well as our National Interest and National Security.
If these people are so upright about humanitarian, then they should also project the same humanitarian voice on Russia-Ukraine war, Myanmar war and other conflicts and not just on Gaza war. Failure to do so indicate their "compassion" is selective and not true "Universal Compassion".
8. Hence I support our Foreign Minister stand and position - to project our voice of reasons in UN and vote accordingly based on conscience and professionalism devoid of emotional attachment to religions, racial and cultural context - and not taking the drastic step to cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
1/3/24, 3:08 pm - +Rama: Agree
1/3/24, 4:00 pm - +REACH: π’ *Topic* π’
1/3/24, 4:26 pm - ☸️ Danny εΏ:
True Universal Compassion (Pure Compassion) - is anchor on "No-Self / Selfless" + Wisdom.
Devoid of biasness from religions, races, culture or beliefs.
True Universal Compassion transcend races, religions, culture or groups - then this is Pure Compassion.
1/3/24, 4:28 pm - +Rama: Yes
1/3/24, 4:50 pm - +SL: The situation is dynamic, anything possible.
1/3/24, 4:53 pm - +Smiley face: "Unbalanced situations occurred often in the arenas of domestic issues and/or foreign policies and the overall structures that follow suits over a longer time; the stronger outside forces will act singly or simultaneously to balance things up/down all for the simple reason of balancing their points of positioning and the overall posture of the powerbase, national interests at stake and exerting control and influence all over again and so on; mirror or to plainly says, power and order !"
-- anonymity
1/3/24, 5:17 pm - +Darius Lee: As a small State, Singapore has an interest in maintaining a rules-based international order, based on international law. It is wise for Singapore to maintain diplomatic relations with various States and international actors, and to use its influence in the direction of peace.
1/3/24, 5:24 pm - +Smiley face: This message was deleted
1/3/24, 5:25 pm - +Smiley face: the Soviet in the early 2000 was recovering from the collapse of the USSR under then President "Yeltsin smuta" a chaotic and divisive nation. Came the next President, Vladimir Putin and ex KGB who one envisioned is to reactivate the Corridor by means of collaboration with Iran, India and Russia. In 2002, the "reborn" of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). From the port of Mumbai into the port of the Persian Gulf or the Caspian Sea and transport up North via Azerbaijan into Russia. a new Corridor had opened for the India-Russia trades bypassing the Suez and Europe. However the progress of this ambitious project was slow then and now with the changing Geopolitics situations, perhaps it's once again coming alive?
With the Russian-Ukraine war, sanctions of almost all things have forced Russia and Iran (sanctioned for decades) to seek mutually benefits new trade routes to circumvent the international clam down of the two alliances and trades.
1/3/24, 5:32 pm - +Christmas: Agree with Min Vivian that we should not be severing ties with Israel, as Singapore’s policy is to be a friend to all and an enemy to none. We should maintain our sovereignty and objectivity and try our best as a nation not to import this complex and deep seated conflict into our society. We have to think in terms of what is in Singapore’s best interests, rather than allowing this issue to divide us. <This message was edited>
1/3/24, 5:35 pm - +Smiley face: What are the crucial points for Singapore? The balance and the imbalance ?
How about within ASEAN and in particular our closer neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia? Over the past 1,000 years of historical significance and nearer to the recent 100 years of developments; where are the changes, the turning points and breaking points, and the overall dynamism from the points of migration, rise & fall of politics, leaderships, economics growth and evolving demography and archetypes of each society and each smaller segments?
1/3/24, 6:00 pm - +REACH: π’ *Topic* π’
1/3/24, 6:45 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
⏰ We will be closing the chat in *15 minutes* ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan π
1/3/24, 6:57 pm - +Smiley face: 1 March, 2024
"The Old Game of Blaming Others (than yourself)?"
"You just cannot continue to scream at each other all over and trying to solve many complicated problems whether is social and or economics and or competitions and lastly, aggressive conflicts between nations.
All wars or conflicts or between races or religions or any crisis. History has proven, imperatively, the world will face shortage of supplies from energy, jobs to food and the power of economics will drive all prices up! And war is a big disruptor and itself a game of winner and losers. The longer a war or conflict or crisis lasted, the deepen the economic impacts on all tangibles, intangibles, and critically, human sufferings.
All of the above amounts to crushes and crumbles into catastrophic of damaged and death beyond repairing nor replaceable!
-- anonymity
History repeating itself?
The Persian, after more than 200 years of waiting, the Russians will have another golden chance of a breakthrough bypassing the Suez Canal, a direct link into the Indian Ocean.
Possibly, the most dangerous scenario would be a collaboration between China, Russia and Iran and North Korea?
This collation is a reminiscence of the once Sino-Soviet era. This assess of the Indian Ocean dated back to the early 19th century, to be exact in 12 January of 1830. The rivary between the Russians and the British empire. The British went all out to prevent the Russians from becoming its protectorates, two entities Persia and Afghanistan. The British empire was convinced of the Russian ambitions and planning to snatch the crown jewel that was India. The fact being, prior to 1830, the territorial of the Russian spanned almost the entire Central Asia covering the Kazakh (today's Kazakhstan). It was lucky for the British, all fears of the intent did not happened.
A turn of things, in August of 1941, the British and the Russian invaded Iran and removed the Shah (Reza Shah Pahlavi) who exiled to South Africa, under the British rule. Iran was divided in to two, the North was under the Russian and the South belonged to the British. The new young Shah (son of the Shah) was a symbolic ruler of Iran with no Constitutional power.
Iran became the logistic heart of the allied forces in WW2. The American, the Canadian and the British were transporting armory and goods from the Iranian seaports (Imam Khomeini & Torkaman) and up to the North of Iran (Russian territory). And there onwards via truck or the Trans-Iranian railway which was completed in 1938 and 1400km long.
Soon after the end of WW2, the old Russian ambitions and plans for the Persian was revived, Stalin refused to put out of Iran. All allied troops including the British and the American were supposed to leave by March 2 of 1946. Stalin tried to seize the entire Iran to gain asseses into the Indian Ocean all to himself. It was not meant to happen because the USSR was lacking resources to the distraction happening in China, a civil war has started!
"Iran's nuclear program was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States. On 5 March 1957, a "proposed agreement for cooperation in research in the peaceful uses of atomic energy" was announced under the Eisenhower administration's Atoms for Peace program...."
-- Eisenhower Library
In 1959, the young Shah (Mohammad Reza) attempted to align with the USSR but President Eisenhower rejected the Shah from achieving it. Nevertheless, in 1963, the USSR and Iran inked several bilateral economics with one significance project was the Trans-Iranian pipeline stretched over 1100km from the Persian to the Caspian Sea next to the Trans-Iranian railway. That's the Persian Corridor!
In 1979, the Shah was overthrown and Iran became a Islamic state which was disruptive to the USSR because of the ideological differences of Communism and Islam.
Another chance of reviving this Corridor came when the Soviet in the early 2000 was recovering from the collapse of the USSR under then President "Yeltsin smuta" a chaotic and divisive nation. Came the next President, Vladimir Putin and ex KGB who one envisioned is to reactivate the Corridor by means of collaboration with Iran, India and Russia. In 2002, the "reborn" of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). From the port of Mumbai into the port of the Persian Gulf or the Caspian Sea and transport up North via Azerbaijan into Russia. a new Corridor had opened for the India-Russia trades bypassing the Suez and Europe. However the progress of this ambitious project was slow then and now with the changing Geopolitics situations, perhaps it's once again coming alive?
With the Russian-Ukraine war, sanctions of almost all things have forced Russia and Iran (sanctioned for decades) to seek mutually benefits new trade routes to circumvent the international clam down of the two alliances and trades.
In June 2022, the first test ran from Russia to India via the Straits of Hormuz. By September 2022, a three party deal signed by India, Russia and Azerbaijan called the "Baku" declaration to build a 150km railway connecting Russia to Iran completion by 2023. The beneficiaries of this connecting Corridor are Russia, India and Iran for goods, oil and gas trades.
The next game of the Persian and the Russian will be a new revelation should this new trades route flourish or diminish as what history shown us that it well repeat itself once again, a coming disruption to the Oil rich Middle East Corridor?
"Unbalanced situations occurred often in the arenas of domestic issues and/or foreign policies and the overall structures that follow suits over a longer time; the stronger outside forces will act singly or simultaneously to balance things up/down all for the simple reason of balancing their points of positioning and the overall posture of the powerbase, national interests at stake and exerting control and influence all over again and so on; mirror or to plainly says, power and order !"
-- anonymity
What are the crucial points for Singapore? The balance and the imbalance ?
How about within ASEAN and in particular our closer neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia? Over the past 1,000 years of historical significance and nearer to the recent 100 years of developments; where are the changes, the turning points and breaking points, and the overall dynamism from the points of migration, rise & fall of politics, leaderships, economics growth and evolving demography and archetypes of each society and each smaller segments?
Is this a new alignment of relationships and trades route, of the renewed diplomatic ties between the Saudi and the Iranian (the "pariahs") states, of power and influence in the Persian Gulf region? Perhaps, a stronger BRICS in the formation!
- - in progress - -
1/3/24, 7:00 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan π
1/3/24, 7:00 pm - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow only admins to send messages to this group
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