Why Singapore? For the Kim-Trump Summit

“Singapore is in the spotlight, as US President Donald J Trump and North Korean Leader, Kim Jong-Un descend upon the island city-state. For many people around the world, who do not know Singapore well, may be wondering: why Singapore?

First and foremost, the most important reason is…

 

DIPLOMATICALLY PERFECT
Singapore is being seen as the perfect neutral venue by both countries. Friendly to virtually every country in the world, especially important, Singapore has diplomatic relations with North Korea since November 1975. Singapore had continued to maintain good relations with North Korea throughout the years. North Koreans frequently visited Singapore for training programmes and Singapore is the eighth largest trading partner (2016) of North Korea. (Singapore suspended trade relations with North Korea in 2017 following the UN-sanctioned international sanction on North Korea. Source: Reuters)

North Korean Embassy in Singapore (Credit: Google, Mothership.sg)

US vice-president Mike Pence (left) is greeted by Asean secretary-general Le Luong Minh at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Secretariat in Jakarta, on April 20, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS (Source: The Straits Times)

On the other hand, Singapore is a major ally of the United States. With extremely strong trade ties (once of the few countries that USA have a trade surplus with) and long-standing military relations, Singapore and the United States enjoy a close relationship for decades. (Read more: Why PM Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to the White House is of exceptional significance)

Tugboats push the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) towards Singapore’s new deep-draft vessel pier at Changi Naval Base on March 22, 2001. (source: Wikimedia, US Navy)

Embed from Getty Images

Beyond the direct participants of the summit, Singapore also enjoyed good relations with all the other stakeholders of the North Korean issue: South Korea, Russia, Japan, and China.

 

INTRODUCTION TO SINGAPORE
Singapore, commonly mistaken to be a city in China (a running joke in Singapore that’s getting really old), due to the Chinese-majority population (the only country with a Chinese majority population beyond China-Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau), is a country the size of 721.5 square kilometers – essentially smaller than many of the major cities in the world.

It sits on the major maritime crossroad at the end of the Malayan Peninsula, at the junction between Malacca Straits, South China Sea, and the southern route towards Australia. Singapore was formerly the crown colony of the British Empire and was the locale of the greatest military disaster in history suffered by the British at the hands of Imperial Japan in World War 2.

Singapore’s current population is estimated to be around 5.6 million people.

Singapore’s Marina Bay. (Photo: PAP)

 

EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS
Singapore, despite their small size, it is currently the 39th largest economy in the world ($554.855 billion), with the 3rd highest GDP per capita, at $61,766 (source: IMF).

Singapore has one of the lowest unemployment rates among developed countries and among the world’s highest level of healthcare. Singapore maintains an AAA credit rating (the only Asian country to achieve this rating) and had been known as part of the high flying Four Asian Tigers or Four Little Dragons economies between 1960s-1990s (the other 3 economies are: Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan).

Singapore Changi International Airport has on countless occasions, winning the best international airport title, while the Port of Singapore is the world’s second-busiest port in shipping tonnage handled, busiest for transshipment traffic and world’s biggest ship refueling centre.

Port of Singapore. (Photo. Gov.sg, Today Online)

Singapore is a major shipping hub. (Source: QE Education)

Singapore Changi Airport (Source: QuietCurator.com)

 

SECURITY AND STABILITY
Other than the economic and administrative prowess, Singapore commands what is arguably, the most powerful military in South East Asia.

With over 200 combat aircraft, nearly 200 tanks, 2000 over armored fighting vehicles, 300 over artillery and over 40 naval vessels – and a military that can potentially command up to 1.4 million soldiers – it is a military force that could give any potential adversary serious reconsiderations about attacking the city-state.

Coupled with extremely efficient security agencies and apparatus, no successful terrorist attacks had ever occurred in Singapore despite the rise of terrorism at the turn of the millennium.

Singapore’s Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks at the National Day Parade in 2015 (Source: The Straits Times)

Singapore’s F16 Fighters (Source: RSAF)

Politically, the ruling party of Singapore’s democracy, People’s Action Party, had been ruling the country with overwhelming majority (or monopoly) since Singapore’s independence from the Federation of Malaysia.

The absolute authority and power of the ruling party had allowed Singapore to be governed with near-dictatorial powers. The lack of corruption and incorruptibility of most of the civil servants, means that Singapore was being planned, organised and run with utmost efficiency, effectiveness, and stability.

The political stability also allows Singapore to make long-term strategic plans, unrivaled by most countries in the world, with the exception of People’s Republic of China.

People’s Action Party’s dominance ensures Singapore’s stability in the eye of the world. (Source: Mothership.sg)

Singapore has tight securities at all point of entry. (Source: AllSingaporeStuff.com)

Howard X, detained in Singapore at the airport. (source: news.com.au)

Strong borders and security checks ensure no potential troublemakers will be able to enter the country during the sensitive period. As strong laws that curb public demonstrations and protests, the drama and violence that plagues such high-level events in other countries never happens in Singapore.

Just to highlight how efficient Singapore is with regards to security and immigration: 2 South Korean media personnel from KBS had been arrested for trespassing North Korean ambassador’s home 2 days ago (source); while the Kim Jong Un impersonator, Howard X, was detained and questioned by the authorities at the airport when he arrived in Singapore, was subsequently given a warning to keep away from the sensitive areas relating to the talks (source).

 

EXPERIENCED
Singapore is also especially experienced in hosting high profile international events. Ranked as Asia Pacific’s Top Convention City according to global rankings by International Congress and Convention Association as well as Top Meeting City in Asia by Union of International Associations – Singapore possesses incredible experiences and resources in dealing with the demanding needs of high profile meetings. (Source: Singapore Tourism Board)

With a strong portfolio of major events hosted over the years, like IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings (2006), International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session (2012) as well as the multitude of ASEAN-related events – Singapore has all the experience to ensure the smooth success of the Trump-Kim Summit.

 

All the above mentioned, together, positioned Singapore to be among the most secure and trusted country in the world to host the Kim-Trump summit.

Read more:
Kim-Trump Summit: What If It Fails
The Age Of Kim Jong-Un And His Secret Agenda

—– add-on notes —–

 

If you had read the “The Age Of Kim Jong-Un And His Secret Agenda“, then you would have understood that this meeting will be full of highly sensitive information and content – that North Korea could not let loose to the rest of the world, and particularly, China.

And if I was correct with my hypothesis, a lot of the information would be deemed highly disadvantages to China, and China would act against North Korea if they catch wind of any of these potential interest-threatening future arrangements/plans.

Thus, looking at and comparing all the options where this meeting could be held, it would be clear why Singapore is probably the only few places in the world that could host this talk.

Mongolia
Mongolia is highly close and dependent on China geopolitically and economically. Any meeting held in Mongolia would have tremendous risk of being wiretapped and monitored by Chinese operatives. Thus, not a good option.

Europe
While there 2 European options may seemed to be neutral enough, distance (as mentioned by most mainstream media) as well as the past year of building animosity between Europe and USA, is definitely not the most ideal of places to hold such sensitive meetings. European Union or the various individual European states may also attempt get intelligence of the content of the meeting. These are risks USA cannot take.

Korean Border
At first, Donald Trump was keen to hold the North Korea-US summit at the same location as the Inter-Korea Summit held in April 2018. But then both countries decided to hold it in Singapore. The likely reason for this switch, is because of the South Korean presence.

For the summit to be held at the Korean Border, would mean that the South Koreans will be acting as the host. So while the two Koreas had already met twice in recent months, there are good reason to believe that the North Koreans may not have revealed everything to South Korea – especially in regards to what they actually want, with/from the United States.

South Korean politics is extremely unstable and chaotic. The volatility of the South Korean politics, means that sensitive information cannot be trusted to the Southern partners. The fact that no South Korean Presidents have survived politically more than 10 years at the top of the chain of command, is something that the North Koreans are highly aware and wary of.

9 December 2016: South Korea’s parliament has endorsed an impeachment motion against President President Park Geun-hye with overwhelming support of opposition lawmakers and defiant members of Park’s ruling Saenuri Party. (Source: The Korea Times)

Any slip of the tongue or compromising of the details/content of the talk between North Korea and United States – or simply the grand strategic plan of the North Korea (which may include things that is against the interests of China) would be highly disastrous, not just for North Korea, but for the region as a whole.

There is just too much stake on the table, for North Korea to trust South Korea on this. Which bring us back to…

Singapore
Geopolitically, Singapore has a history of being extremely neutral and honourable with their actions and words. Both North Korea and the United States have great trust in Singapore to play the role of the host (with no underlying interests that may undermine either sides) and there will be little to no fear of being wiretapped or have their security compromised.

(Photos: Lee Hsien Loong Facebook Page / MCI / Terence Tan )

The United States fully understand Singapore keenness to keep the favour of Donald Trump, especially at a time where the US President is threatening trade wars all over the globe; and North Korea fully appreciate the fact that Singapore is extremely keen into getting the first mover advantage the moment North Korea opens up its economy. With Singapore’s interests closely tied to the success of the summit – both parties trust Singapore not to do anything that will jeopardise this historical meeting.

Thus… Singapore, again, is the best choice there is.