REACH (Telegram) 145 - What are your views on how changes in global sea routes and connectivity may affect Singapore's economy, services, and daily life? Share your thoughts in the chat!

(SK)

24 Jun 2026 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

[24/6/2026 9:44 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

Welcome Back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in different forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

[24/6/2026 10:07 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic📢

Sea routes have traditionally been viewed as avenues for trade and shipping. Since then, critical waterways have gone beyond being just an avenue for trade, with the world increasingly connected through undersea cables for data and energy.

Speaking at the Middle East Institute's annual conference on 23 June, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the universal legal framework that governs sea routes should be updated to account for the added functions of waterways today.

💬 What are your views on how changes in global sea routes and connectivity may affect Singapore's economy, services, and daily life? Share your thoughts in the chat!

📌 Sea routes support more than trade

Minister Chan noted that UNCLOS was conceived in the 1970s, when the focus was on keeping trade flowing and ensuring fishing and mining rights were fairly accounted for. 

Minister Chan said, "The critical waterways in the world today don't just carry trade, they also carry electrons and data", pointing to the growing importance of undersea cables that carry digital communications and electricity.

📌International rules and changing uses

Singapore has been gathering like-minded countries to think about the issue of changing waterway functions. Singapore started the Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges (GUIDE), which was launched on 30 May and involves 17 countries. 

Minister Chan added, “Today, any attack on one part of the (critical underwater) infrastructure is an attack on the network", giving all countries "a shared and common interest to work together to deter and to prevent such things from happening."

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/sea-routes-are-more-than-avenues-for-trade-rules-should-be-updated-accordingly-chan-chun-sing

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/iran-war-middle-east-institute-unclos-chan-chun-sing-6202676

----

[24/6/2026 10:46 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you on today’s topic! 

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

💬 What are your views on how changes in global sea routes and connectivity may affect Singapore's economy, services, and daily life? Share your thoughts in the chat!

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[24/6/2026 12:23 pm] Khai Mun L.: We need more ships and sailors for patrolling in these chaotic times.

It's becoming like 17th century with privateers. Mercenaries 'hired' by countries to make mischief, but countries would disallow them if things went wrong.

E.g. shadow fleets used to skirt trading rules, 'accidental' damage to undersea cables and pipes

[24/6/2026 1:09 pm] 365: If patrol is required and to be implemented, it probably needs to be from multiple countries, else it's just performative. The very same patrol could turn a blind eye to damage if it aligns with their national interest, who's the largest beneficiary of destruction of the north stream pipeline.

[24/6/2026 3:28 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. Maritime sea routes are our trade lifeline - whereby goods are transported from Countries to Countries. 

Singapore sit at the vital waterways in Singapore Straits, Straits of Malacca and South China Sea - in which our ports benefits from the global trade via maritime routes.

Hence UNCLOS rules to govern maritime routes are very vital to our trade and prosperity.

2. But with the advent of Internet, comes the Digital Economy - whereby phenomenal eCommerce and transactions are performed over the Internet.

Digital Trade like maritime trade become increasingly important -  as Digital Trade further expand our reach of goods and service trading crossing boundaries virtually.

The growing digital trade - will in turn translate into more maritime trade - to deliver goods that are committed by digital means.

Hence, submarine cables and fibres that are laid in the ocean and sea bed - that connect up the World Countries to enable Internet and digital transaction - will be as important as maritime trade routes and need to be protected.

UNCLOS evidently are not updating this missing piece - the digital trade enabler through sea bed.

It is thus imperative for UN to include submarine cables and fibers into UNCLOS rules for protection - as geopolitical conflicts are increaingly weaponising by blocking maritime routes and cutting of submarine cables and fibres - as part of their battle strategy.

In so doing, the whole world commerce - maritime trade and digital trade - are disrupted - and impact everyone as collateral damages - even though the majority are not part of the conflicting parties.

[24/6/2026 3:33 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

3. Similarly, regional energy grid through sea bed connection power cables - that connect many countries together to share and sell power - either by solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, nuclear, gas pipelines etc - are also threatened when conflicting parties cut energy grid power cables - to sever power to conflicting parties - but in doing so - innocent Countries, not part of the conflict suffer collateral damages and damage their economy..

Hence, UNCLOS must also update energy grid power cable protection - together with maritime trade and submarine cables - as part of global trade enabler.

[24/6/2026 3:41 pm] Adam: I feel we need much greater cooperation with our neighbours

[24/6/2026 3:42 pm] Adam: It appears extremely difficult to get a consensus on what to do worldwide. And even with an agreement and standards, as we can see, a rogue nation or a superpower can just ignore it all

[24/6/2026 3:43 pm] Adam: If we can have the whole ASEAN to guarentee the waters in our region, it is an extremely feasible goal

[24/6/2026 3:45 pm] Adam: It can potentially be the benchmark to have further areas draft the policy of what happens at their waters, so global trade can be more stable.

[24/6/2026 3:46 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. The current global geopolitical situations - is the ugliest we have seen with many decades of relatively global orders - in which UN steer by Global SuperPowers have maintain some amount of decency in conforming to International rules and orders that have enable the World to trade, do business and invest - have recently come under stress - whereby some SuperPowers with the emergence of far-right leaders increasingly disregard international orders and impose their own terms - anchor on "might is right".

2. But does it means that the World should crumble and give in to such disorder?

3. My response is we should always - "Do Good. Refrain from Evil" - as our Guiding Principle - no matter how dark the Global phenomenon has turn into because of One Simple Principle.

Karma will always be "Just and Right".

邪不胜正。物极必反 (Evil will never overcast Good for very long).

Karma will eventually catch up.

4.  "Do Good. Refrain from Evil" - means always do things that "Benefit Self", "Benefit Others" = "Mutual Benefits" with the goals to "Win-Win outcome".

Only then, the whole World will stand by our side and implement what is good and dump what is evil, what is bad for the Global Order.

5. That is, we must always be a "Lamp upon the World of darkness".

6. Only then we can stand tall, and nudge the World on the right side of the karma - even though we are small.

7. World are make up of humans with conscience.

Deep in their hearts, they know what is right and what is wrong.

We must always do right and refrain from wrong.

[24/6/2026 4:15 pm] Adam: One thing to consider, It can be said that singapore and many developed countries benefit disproportionately from free waters.

Free waters makes the strong stronger as they have the knowhow and capital to utilise it fully. This can be seen with overfishing benefitting big corps at the expense of small fishermen. In china staking their maritime claims with force.

[24/6/2026 4:16 pm] Adam: To have a chance at cooperation, we have to get less developed countries to have a stake in keeping the waters free.

[24/6/2026 4:18 pm] Adam: It has to be framed and emphasised that free waters benefit all. Otherwise singapore will be pictured as self serving and will have a bit more difficulty gaining support internationally

[24/6/2026 4:28 pm] Adam: Economically, the effect singapore, and the waters that flows around it has on the world might not be so obvious. Perhaps we need to have an environment where the value of singapore and its waters is valuable to its neighbours too.

Free waters should not be merely accepted. It needs everyone to willingly come to its defense too when under threat. If there is no incentive for other countries to follow conventions, we probably will have more countries transgressing it in the future.

[24/6/2026 5:16 pm] 365: Free water benefits nations who are reliant on trade, which are usually militarily weaker, disproportionately more.

That being said, I agree that we need to get cooperation from multiple nations to guard waters, but there's only so much we can do. If we start with ASEAN, then what rights would we have to police the waters outside of ASEAN?

As much as we would like cooperation, you can only lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

[24/6/2026 5:17 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. In Foreign Affairs, under the art of diplomacy, there is no need to go head-to-head clash - when right & wrong meet head-on.

2. We can emphasize what is right and what is wrong under the purview of adopting a Principle stand.

3. But without breaking diplomatic relationship - because we focus on the issue and not against the Country.

4. In areas we disagree as matter of principles, we do so respectfully making our reasoning clear.

5. But we can cooperate and collaborate with other issues that both can agreed upon.

[24/6/2026 5:20 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

6. Hence we can consistently uphold our foreign affair principles of:-

"Friends with All.

Enemies with None.

Forge mutual benefits with win-win outcomes".

[24/6/2026 5:24 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

7. Separating issues from the Country - is what we need to understand and adopt - and not make the mistake of lumping the whole country or the whole population - when carrying out our diplomatic relationship.

[24/6/2026 5:28 pm] Jun Ming: The thing is different countries have different ideology. Some is greedier than others, wanting more land and resources that others have

[24/6/2026 5:29 pm] Jun Ming: And some due to history some claim this part of land is theirs while other also claim this is their

[24/6/2026 5:30 pm] Jun Ming: Eg. Of us wanting greenland,Cuba etc  

And Russia and ukrain, Thailand and Cambodia

[24/6/2026 5:31 pm] Jun Ming: These are threat that will harm the network

[24/6/2026 5:32 pm] Jun Ming: As technology advance more of such disruption will happen and I suspect these countries or those capitalist wants to reduce human population

[24/6/2026 5:33 pm] Jun Ming: And therefore more of these virus outbreak and war is happening since 2020

[24/6/2026 5:33 pm] Jun Ming: Might be a conspiracy theory

[24/6/2026 5:35 pm] Jun Ming: That makes me question is ASEAN have enough resources to feed our ASEAN people, enough oil resources to protect our people if the world stop doing trade with us

[24/6/2026 5:36 pm] Jun Ming: Even ASEAN have our internal dispute

[24/6/2026 5:36 pm] Adam: Well its not exactly do trade with us. Its all the trade passing through us, and asean by extension

[24/6/2026 5:36 pm] RY: After the undersea gas pipe attack in Germany amidst the Russia-Ukraine war

Our Govt really think far ahead, since nowsaday many facilities can be undersea eg cable & electricity & mining & cleaning 

It is right time to set up the nec guideline/framework, and glad that some countries supported this GUIDES initiative by SG

[24/6/2026 5:37 pm] Adam: Ships between india and china stop by sg

[24/6/2026 5:37 pm] Jun Ming: Let's say there's a war in china and us and india can ASEAN self support itself

[24/6/2026 5:39 pm] Jun Ming: Let's think about the worse of the worse lah. Like all connection cut

[24/6/2026 5:40 pm] Jun Ming: Even now Indonesia is also thinking doing things on the Malacca straits

[24/6/2026 5:41 pm] Adam: Dont let some random fringe politician color the whole of indonesia

[24/6/2026 5:41 pm] Jun Ming: I think last time there's also voice saying they want to build a canal over Thailand also

[24/6/2026 5:41 pm] Adam: We cannot let the world be defined by this people, strengthen their views, and divide us

[24/6/2026 5:43 pm] Jun Ming: What I mean a lot of people are eying on our advantage of being a port. Even now we have different voices within asean. How can we actually become free trade over the world

[24/6/2026 5:43 pm] Jun Ming: Where ASEAN haven't become another euro yet

[24/6/2026 5:43 pm] Adam: Euro is facing its own problems too

[24/6/2026 5:44 pm] Adam: If we go full euro. High risk end up propping up others like what happened with the greece issue

[24/6/2026 5:47 pm] Adam: Thing is, there is a growing mindset of 'us vs them' and 'pie not big enough' these days. By framing our neighbours as rivals, are we emboldening these ideas?

[24/6/2026 5:48 pm] Jun Ming: To have free trade 

1.) we need to assist Thailand Cambodia and mymmar to remove scammer to boost tourism rate on our region 

2.) stability. Settle all history left over so to achieve stability.

[24/6/2026 5:50 pm] Jun Ming: Hence positive competition and positive co-operation

[24/6/2026 5:51 pm] Jun Ming: Because ASEAN give me a sense of cheap labour compare to euro

[24/6/2026 5:52 pm] Adam: Travelling worldwide these days is getting more headache. Have to get electronic authorisation everywhere. Pay 20++ dollars for permit to enter uk, enter usa. Even with visa free arrangement.

However the exception is the sg-my border, its getting easier than ever.

Only with collaboration with regional partners and mutual benefit can this be achieved

[24/6/2026 5:53 pm] Adam: If we view them with suspicion and antagonistically, they are likely to view us even more so.

[24/6/2026 5:55 pm] 365: Unfortunately, those in political power may not always do what is beneficial as a whole, and even if one has done, the next one may tear previous arrangements down. As much as I'd hope for it, no collaboration is permanent.

[24/6/2026 6:05 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. Any disputes be it land or otherwise can be settled by talk, negotiations, mediation, arbitration, compromise - and finally look for win-win solutions.

But this must be base on mutual trust and goodwill to succeed.

2. Most important, we must have a strong armed forces as our backup that can sting like a "poison shrimp" - in case negotiations turn hostile and assert "might is right".

3. Hence resorting to force will not be an option.

4. In propagating the right principle stand, we must be strong and negotiate in the position of strength.

[24/6/2026 6:07 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

As for people talking about cutting canals, land bridge, bypass our ports, again we must ensure we reinforce our port position as the position of strength that we will always be the port of choice, that can never be replaced.

[24/6/2026 6:09 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. We automate our ports, AI it, develop port management system to manage every aspects of maritime traffic, logistics, transport, cargo loading, bunkering services, MRO, financial and insurance services, international arbitration all in one package end-to-end - making our port cost low and efficient.

[24/6/2026 6:10 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

2. We build green energy bunkering services that are now increasingly demanded by ship liners and tankers - and make it our port, the choice of refueling that cannot be replicated.

[24/6/2026 6:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

3. Our automation will remove many foreign blue workers - hence cutting salary cost and make our cost base lower but yet providing more efficient port servics - as automation and AI can function 24 hours x 365 days non stop.

[24/6/2026 6:13 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

4. Most important, ensure all global major ship liners are sign on to our ports berth and become our longtime shipping and port partners.

If all the above happens, our port status will become irreplaceable.

[24/6/2026 6:19 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

5. 80% of the global trade are through maritime traffic as a supertankers can carry thousands of containers at one go without the need to upload and download into thousands of lorries on land or even rails.

6. Hence as long as we strengthen our port position and efficiency - our ports will be irreplaceable from the position of strength.

[24/6/2026 6:48 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[24/6/2026 7:03 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====