Singapore and the Delicate Art of Diplomacy

TODAY

11 November 2015

Alan Chong

The 7th of November 2015 has gone down as an unprecedented diplomatic date between two long-term civil war rivals, China and Taiwan, marked by a historic meeting of their leaders.

Less in the spotlight — and with good reason — is the third partner in the date: Singapore.

Behind every successful date lies a good meeting planner, the right setting, and the respect for the symbolism of the occasion.

For Singaporeans, the occasion serves as a reminder that foreign policy is akin to the riding of a bicycle, demanding unrelenting skill and a fine sense of balance.

It would be an exaggeration to claim that Singapore initiated or coordinated the bilateral summit between President Xi Jinping and President Ma Ying-jeou. It did not.

But what it did do was to provide a platform for showcasing the sincere intentions of both parties.

As a small state at the confluence of Asian summitry, Singapore was an attractive venue.

… Alan Chong is Associate Professor in the Centre for Multilateralism Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

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