The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強).
In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said.
Photo: Huang Ching-hsuan, Taipei Times
MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading performance in terms of political freedom, economic development and global competitiveness.
“Taiwan’s future can only be decided by Taiwanese people,” it said in a statement.
Singapore should respect that the Republic of China is a sovereign state and not make comments that could hurt their long-standing friendship, MOFA said.
Like most states around the world, Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and not the Republic of China, with Singapore’s leaders consistently saying that the city-state maintains a “one China” policy and opposes Taiwanese independence.
Despite the lack of official ties, Taipei and Singapore share close informal and economic ties.
Taiwan and Singapore on Nov. 7, 2013, signed the Agreement on Economic Partnership. The comprehensive economic agreement, which went into effect the following year, strengthened bilateral trade and investment.
Based on a 1975 agreement, Singaporean soldiers are sent to Taiwan for military training, given the limited land and air space in their own country.
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