Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair pointed out that just a day after a bilateral meeting on Jan 8, five Malaysian government vessels — including a ship carrying Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian — intruded into Singapore’s territorial waters.
SINGAPORE — Questioning Malaysia's sincerity in resolving the bilateral disputes, several Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday (Jan 14) wanted to know how much Singapore is willing to tolerate, in the face of continued provocation by its neighbour despite repeated warnings from the Republic.
In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan made it clear that Singapore has “sharp elbows” and was not afraid to use them when necessary.
“Any country dealing with Singapore must not assume that it is cost-free to embark on any adventures or antics against us. There will be consequences,” he said.
On Monday, Dr Balakrishnan gave a ministerial statement in Parliament on the bilateral disputes. A total of nine MPs tabled questions on the issue, while seven rose to seek more answers after Dr Balakrishnan’s speech.
Noting that some Singaporeans are confused over their country’s response given that it seems as though “dozens of red lines may have been crossed”, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Alex Yam asked whether there would come a point in time where enough is enough, and Singapore — which has been a “good cop” so far — has to be “a bit of a bad cop for our northern neighbours to understand… beyond doubt that any further provocation will be met with an equal reaction on our part”.
Dr Balakrishnan replied that these lines are “not something you draw lightly” — neither should they be pronounced “without having carefully thought through all the consequences, and without communicating those considerations clearly and unambiguously to the person you’re negotiating with on the other side”.
Singapore does not play “games” such as being a “good cop or bad cop”, said Dr Balakrishnan. Neither does it have the “luxury of saying different things to different people”.
“It’s this reputation for consistency (and) constancy that adds to our reputation of reliability and integrity,” he said.
“Sometimes it may come across as we are boringly consistent and we seem to studiously avoid chest thumping and other manifestations of nationalism,” he added. “But I would submit that this is the appropriate posture for a small, tiny nation-state like Singapore. Not that we are passive, not that we give in, but consistency.”
He warned that foreign countries, including Singapore’s neighbours, should not take for granted the “consistency or predictability” in its response to international disputes.
Addressing the MPs’ concerns, Dr Balakrishnan stressed that as the Foreign Affairs Minister, there are things that he “cannot say and should not say”.
He added that he does not believe in megaphone diplomacy, and hoped MPs and Singaporeans understand that some negotiations are best conducted behind the scenes quietly.
More at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-not-afraid-use-sharp-elbows-safeguard-national-interests-says-dr-balakrishnan
FYI Polaris is back.
Given the increased number of ships intruding our waters after the previous instance of him talking 'tough', I would say VB is ineffective as a foreign minister. Wouldn't be surprised if MY's response to his "sharp elbow" threat is to send even more and what will VB do? Probably nothing more than yak yak yak.....again, probably referencing another part of the human anatomy while at it.
I reckon Vivi's nipples are sharper. :P
LOL sissy Vivian talking tough. What the fuck does he mean by sharp elbows? Oh I know.....like these.