Taking stock of increased military drills by China post US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, Ong Keng Yong, Ambassador-at-Large at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday raised the issue of Beijing’s aggression in the region.
Singapore-ASEAN concerns about China’s aggressive policies, the Singapore diplomat stated, “From our and South Asia’s perspective, we have just found a way to negotiate and compromise.” I think that’s a way forward. “Pelosi became the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China condemned Pelosi’s trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island.
Beijing considers Taiwan an unalienable part of its sovereign territory and opposes any official contact between the island and other countries. Beijing has said that the “One-China” principle is a political foundation of China-US ties and those violations of these obligations would jeopardise cooperation between the two countries.
Notably, the heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait have affected the shipping industry and international companies doing business in this part of the world.
“There must be a conclusion, otherwise we cannot reassure our shipping community and international companies dealing with business in this part of the world. I think the important thing now is that both sides have to sit down and go through all the possible scenarios and options and then come to a commonsensical conclusion. If they maintain their respective positions, we cannot get any conclusion, “said Ong. For China, the presence of a senior American figure in Taiwan would indicate some kind of US support for Taiwan’s independence.
