India-China Relations and the role of Singapore

Sino-India Relationship
-Interaction between two nations for centuries, but established diplomatic relations 1950
-Intellectual and political difference Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai geban in early 1950 but soured by
late 1950 over dispute over boundaries (mainly Tibet, McMahon line disputed border)
-Sino-Indian conflict/war in 1962 with disputed Himalayan border as main reason prolong chill
till 1980s when china turn capitalism and sees and need to trade with India
-India alliance with USSR, China communism
-new century relations improve, bilateral trade rose from 1 billion 1998 to 74 billion in 2011,
high level exchanges, political efforts to address boundary disputes
-Enhanced bilateral relationship invoked ideological positivism to reinvent old friendship and
building of Chindia
Economic Prowess
-Indian and China share of global demand of gold increase from 25% 2000 to 48% 2010
-2010 USA>CHINA>JAPAN, forecast 2030 CHINA>USA>INDIA
Sino-Indian relations in shifting paradigms
-Rising China and Emerging India
-Chinas move downwards(southwards to ASEAN) and Indias LEP
-China had most extensive institutionalized dialogue mechanisms with ASEAN by 1995
-By 1995, Beijing enjoyed strongest overall bilateral relations with ASEAN more than EU
-increasing globalized world interconnectivity
-Sino-pak partnership describe as higher than mountain deeper than oceans
-Contested territoriality and search for Sea power
-Both China and India underlined importance of maritime commerce
-larger global responsibility in face of their rise in international systems
-Expansion of Sino-India interested in building up naval capabilities and infrastructure in Indian
Ocean
-Combating piracy in joint international effort in gulf of Aden
-India navy coordinated tsunami relief operations in Indian Ocean with USA, Australia and Japan
-impressive expansion of Chinese submarine deterrence of US in region
Sino-Singapore Relations
-relation started on 3 October 1990
-Pre-1978 Ideological difference (communism) before deng xiao ping capatalism
-Singapore-China FTA 2009 to promote bilateral trade and investment
-High level exchange since 1970
-Most of Singapore were ethnically Chinese
-Tiananmen Incident did not affect diplomatic ties
-Singapore always welcome Chinas growing engagement in SEA and SG ( 150-200PRC
companies in SG)
-led to Singapores opportunities to participate in Chinas development ( SG invest in China such
as Suzhou Industrial Park(1994, Sino-Singapore Tianjin eco-city))
-At the same time renewing interaction with India
Sino-Singapore relations
- 2010 China become SG 3
rd
trading partner and Singapore emerged as Chinas 7th largest
investor
-Tourism in Singapore, China 2
nd
largest
-Bilateral cooperation councils between SG and Shandong, Sichuan, Liaoning, Zhejiang
-Singapore afraid foreign investment and trade Beijing enter WTO, more difficult for Singapore
form to make profit
Southeast Asian concerns and actions
-Chinas rise and Emerging india, dominant role in Asia and World
-India inclusion in the East Asia Summit with strong advocacy of SG, Indo and Thai
-India as a counter balance to China and Japan in the region
-Singapore bilateral relations with India, both economic and political, facilitate India and ASEAN
Malacca Dilemma
-Malacca Straits pivotal geographic location (Transportation from SA to China, 75% India
transportation goes through)
-One-third of international commerce travel through sea-lane through SG
-Security concerns raised over piracy, terrorism
-Beijing concern over importance of the Straits in supplying important energy resources, US
dominance of straits and growing Indo-US friendship
-China aiming for alternative sources, constructing pipelines and network to bypass the Malacca
straits
-String of pearls
-Indias security extended from Himalays to maritime domain
Singapore Balance of Power
-Equally distribution for China and India
-LKY noted that SG foreign policy must be one to encourage, for the major power in the world to
find it for their interest
-ensuring foreign policy and defence policy does not increase tension and fears among
neighbours
-Four class of strategy, development, diplomacy, deterrence and defense
Issues for Singapore
-Critical issue for Singapore to manage chinas growing influence (economic and military)
-Singapore, Strong proponent of ARF and APEC, tries to retain influence in regional security
architecture, engagement of major power is vital
-South China Sea Dispute (sparty island, senoko)
-Sensitivity about Chinese intention
-China motivated to engage with SEA
Singapores Role
-provide useful bridge between Asian and Western, politics and diplomacy on one hand and
provide mutually accepted platform for interaction and networking in Sino-Indian relations
-Facilitating Initiative of Chinese and India cooperation (LEP, Cooperating with ASEAN in the
second half of 1990s in drug trafficking)
-Singapores China policy, a combination of shaping and hedging strategies
-Singapore highlight important facilitating role that smaller regional states need to play in
developing regional diplomacy and confidence
-Increasing Asean initiative to facilitate India to play greater role in SEA and South China Sea