MAKING STRIDES FOR MULTILATERIALISM - MINDEF ...
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Issue 9/2020
1. MAKING STRIDES FOR MULTILATERIALISM
At the end of the ASEAN Summit on 15 Nov 2020,
Singapore, along with 14 other Asia-Pacific (APAC)
economies, signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP) – the largest free trade agreement in
terms of gross domestic product (GDP). PM Lee Hsien
Loong and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing
said that the agreement was significant as it:
• Signalled collective commitment to maintain a
multilateral trading system, build interdependence,
and maintain supply chains amidst global tendencies Image: MCI
towards de-globalisation and protectionism.
• Would attract investment to APAC and spur recovery as the global economy recovers. It established new
rules in emerging areas such as e-commerce, intellectual property, and competition policy rights. It also
provided support for businesses to capitalise on regional value chains. This was particularly beneficial for
emerging economies in ASEAN.
• Simplified trade between signatory states through improved customs procedures and tariff elimination on
at least 92 percent of goods, which went beyond what existing free trade agreements (FTA) allowed. It
would also allow Singapore’s exports to enjoy preferential market access to China, Japan and South Korea.
What is the RCEP?
Launched by China in 2012, the RCEP consists about 30 per cent of global GDP and about a third of the world’s population.
Here are some reasons to take note of the RCEP:
• RCEP’s sheer size: Compared to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – later renamed the Comprehensive and
Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – the RCEP’s market size is nearly five times larger
and its annual trade value and combined GDP are nearly double. It is also bigger than the US-Mexico-Canada
Agreement and the European Union (EU).
• Broad geopolitical involvement: RCEP includes the 10 ASEAN countries – who were key in brokering this
unprecedented deal – as well as South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. India, who was part of
initial negotiations, pulled out of the RCEP last year, concerned about lower tariffs hurting their domestic market.
• Came after eight years of negotiations: States negotiated key terms such as market access and movement of
labour, and worked through geopolitical considerations in order to achieve compromise.
[Sources: TODAY, 15 Nov; BBC, 16 Nov]
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2. TERRORISM IN EUROPE & REACTIONS IN SINGAPORE
In recent months, France has been hit by a slew of terrorist attacks, with one attack in late Sep and more in
the month of Oct. Media reports stated that these attacks were sparked by French magazine Charlie Hebdo
republishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed on 1 Sep. After the attacks on 29 Oct, French
Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron defended the publication of these cartoons, citing freedom of expression
and secular values. These remarks, however, sparked off criticism and a series of protests across the Muslim
world directed at France, including an attack near the French embassy in Jeddah on 11 Nov.
In Singapore, leaders have emphasised that the attacks are not reflective of the Islamic community as a whole.
Minister for Muslim Affairs, Masagos Zulkifli,
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commented that Muslims in Singapore have reacted Their actions are a clear desecration of
his teachings and have no place
moderately, guided by values of love, compassion
whatsoever in Islam or any religion.”
and patience. This then, he said, would give other
– Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, the highest authority
communities in Singapore confidence that they on Islam in Singapore on 30 Oct
respected one another here in Singapore.
[Sources: CNN, 11 Jan 2015; BBC, 1 Sep; CNA, 25 Sep; BBC, 20 Oct; ST, 29 Oct;
BBC & ST, 30 Oct; The Guardian & ST, 31 Oct; ST, 1 Nov; CNA, 2 Nov]
Singapore’s Heightened Security According to MHA, these incidents are a reminder that
Posture towards Terrorism terrorism is an ongoing threat that continues to evolve.
In a press release on 24 Nov, the Ministry of Home Affairs Speaking at the 16th Religious Rehabilitation Group Seminar
(MHA) said the security situation around the world has on 24 Nov, Minister of Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam
deteriorated since the recent events in Europe. There has said that though the Islamic State has lost much of its physical
been an uptick in terrorist rhetoric online, and Singapore territory, it continues to maintain a network, propagating its
has been on heightened security alert level since. views and radicalising individuals over social media.
The Internal Security Department (ISD) and Singapore The government cannot do this alone. We need
Police Force (SPF) conducted investigations into 37 the community to come in. Only the community
can protect itself. Community leaders can
individuals – some had made social media posts intended
protect the community from extremism and
to incite violence or stoke unrest, and showed support for
terrorism. It takes a whole-of-society effort.”
the attacks in France, while others were suspected of
being radicalised. – Minister K Shanmugam on 24 Nov
[Sources: CNA, MHA & ST, 24 Nov]
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3. CLIMATE SECURITY: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
At the Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources on 5 Nov, Minister for
Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu underscored that climate change would
exacerbate our resource constraints and security. To address this challenge and work
towards a more sustainable future, Singapore would need to:
• Build a zero waste, circular economy where limited resources are constantly Image: MSE
being put to new use. This will allow us to be more resilient despite our
constraints. To this end, we should support innovation that could improve resource-efficiency.
• Harness partnerships between government, industry, and civil society oranisations to pool resources and co-
create solutions for environmental protection.
• Foster regional cooperation within ASEAN as climate issues are often transboundary problems. Singapore
could learn from the agricultural advancements of our neighbours and lead the building of ASEAN-wide
capabilities in weather forecasting and haze monitoring.
Similarly, in Parliament on 5 Nov, Minister of State for Sustainability and Environment Desmond Tan said that one
avenue of climate opportunity for Singapore, as a financial hub, is “green finance”. This refers to banking and
investments that support projects which take environmental impact and issues into account. He noted that the
COVID-19 pandemic offered opportunities for countries and companies to move towards “net-zero” emissions.
A Bright Green Spark: Singapore’s Energy Projects
At the Singapore International Energy Week on 26 Oct, Minister Chan shared that to optimise resource use, Singapore
needed to re-evaluate how it consumed and managed energy. Here are some of the green energy projects in the pipeline:
• Import of electricity from Malaysia. This two-year trial would allow Singapore to test the waters for technical and
market challenges in allowing the region to share clean energy resources.
• Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project. Being part of this project, which is a key
stepping-stone towards an ASEAN power grid system, would allow Singapore to access and make use of cleaner
energy resources.
• Solar energy from Australia. There are plans for the world’s largest solar farm in Australia to eventually generate
electricity to power Singapore by around 2027.
[Sources: Guardian, 21 Oct; CNA and MTI, 26 Oct, 4, 6 Nov; MSE, 4 Nov]
4. A NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES
After the declaration of the US Election results on • US-Singapore relations. The US and Singapore have
8 Nov, several Singapore leaders – PM Lee Hsien had long-standing partnerships in areas such as the
Loong, DPM Heng Swee Keat and President economy, defence and security, infrastructure
Halimah Yacob – congratulated President-Elect development and cybersecurity. Singapore is the US’
Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. largest trading partner, and its only Major Security
Here are the key highlights of their messages: Cooperation Partner. Singapore supports the US’ use
of our military facilities, and their presence remains
• Cooperation with US on global issues. vital for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Singapore looks forward to working together
under the global leadership of the US to • A historic moment. President Halimah noted that Ms
overcome world challenges, such as the Harris’ win as the US’ first female, black and South-
COVID-19 pandemic, and to enhance bilateral Asian Vice President was an inspiration to women
cooperation and strengthen the US’ minorities globally.
engagement of Asia-Pacific. [Sources: CNA & ST, 8 Nov]
.....
[Any feedback on this issue? Let us know through https://go.gov.sg/feedbacknif,
or email us at nexus@defence.gov.sg.]
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