Committee of Supply – Head N (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The Chairman: Head N – Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Vikram Nair, you may take your two cuts together.

Relations with Major Powers

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang): Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head N of the Estimates be reduced by $100."

Singapore is a small country, but one which has punched well above its weight on the international stage because we have made ourselves relevant to others and built up trust and credibility over the years since our independence.

In this Budget, we are charting the course for Singapore to SG100. Even in this new journey, I think it is important to remember the wisdom of the past and I start with the quote from Mr Lee Kuan Yew: "Friendship, in international relations, is not a function of goodwill or personal affection. We must make ourselves relevant so that other countries have an interest in our continued survival and prosperity as a sovereign and independent nation. Singapore cannot take its relevance for granted."

In this context, I would first like to focus on Singapore's relations and relevance to some of the major powers in the region.

First, the United States. Singapore has had a long-standing and deep relationship with the US, which has been important to us for both economic and security reasons. The US is the world's strongest power, both economically and militarily, and its involvement in the region has helped to maintain stability and balance. The swift US response to acts of aggression, for example, in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and more recently, in response to the war against terror, is quietly reassuring for small countries like Singapore and a strong deterrent to potential aggressors.

Economically, the US has been getting more integrated into the region, too. The recent high point of this integration is the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Many countries have come together for this, including Japan and the US. This is potentially a huge opportunity for all parties as two-thirds of world trade, or about $1.6 trillion, take place in this region. However, the TPP still needs to be ratified in the domestic legislatures before it comes into force.

In this regard, I have some concern with some of the statements being made in the course of the US Presidential Elections that some candidates may want the TPP to be renegotiated. There are also statements that the US might be intending to be less involved in Asia. I am concerned this may also put pressure on Congress not to ratify the TPP.

Should Singapore be concerned about some of these domestic developments in the US? Do we believe that we can persuade the US to remain and to extend its involvement in this region?

Next, I would like to talk about relations with China. Singapore also has strong ties with China, the world's most populous country and the second largest economy. China is one of Singapore's largest trading partners, and Singapore has invested heavily in China over the decades, including the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin Eco-city.

It was also an honour for Singapore to host the first talks between China and Taiwan. We have good ties with both China and Taiwan and, when there was an interest between the two to try to bridge their differences, we were their natural choice.

One area of growing concern though is China's position in relation to the South China Sea. The tensions are rising between China and other friends of ours, including the Philippines and Vietnam. They dispute China's nine-dash line claim. The Philippines has submitted this dispute to arbitration before the Permanent Court of Arbitration and China has refused to participate, disputing the arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction. In an important development, the Tribunal has now ruled it has jurisdiction to hear the case, and the hearing on the merits will proceed.

However, notwithstanding the ongoing arbitration, tensions have been escalating, the most recent example being China's opening of a lighthouse on an island it reclaimed in the last year.

Is there anything we can do to persuade parties to facilitate the peaceful resolution of this dispute? In particular, in 2002, all parties, including China, the Philippines and Vietnam, along with other ASEAN countries, agreed upon a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties for the region. One of the points agreed upon in this Declaration was to adopt a Code of Conduct (COC) for the region.

I would be interested to know MFA's views on whether there is any facilitative role Singapore might play in the process to help cool tensions and resolve this dispute in accordance with international law.

Finally, I would like to touch on relations with India. India is a country with tremendous potential. Its population is anticipated to overtake China's and it is at an earlier stage of its development, meaning there is more potential for growth.

Relations with India are historic and significant. It was India's independence in 1947 that paved the way for all the other British colonies, including Malaya and Singapore, to become independent. Mr Lee Kuan Yew was an admirer of Mr Jawarharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister.

The relations between our countries have become even stronger in recent years. Prime Minister Modi clearly holds Singapore in high regard, paying us a visit late last year and even declared a day of mourning in India when Singapore was also going through mourning last year. He is clearly focused on developing India's economy and attracting foreign investment to do so. Despite its small size, Singapore is one of the largest foreign investors in India.

I would be interested to know what Singapore's plans are to deepen our relations with India. In particular, I would be interested to know how the discussions for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are going and whether we can better bring India more into the ASEAN region.

Regional Security

Mr Chair, in my second cut, I would like to focus more on security concerns. The challenges and threats to our regional security appear daunting. I had discussed the tensions in the South China Sea in my earlier cut.

Elsewhere in North Asia, tensions in the Korean Peninsula appear to be escalating. North Korea has continued its nuclear testing, carrying out its fourth test in January 2016, and is issuing regular statements about a potential strike against Seoul and Washington. In response, South Korea and the US have carried out some of the largest joint military exercises. Given the potential nuclear capabilities of North Korea, this dispute could have serious implications.

Singapore is one of the few countries that have diplomatic ties with both North Korea and South Korea. While it is ambitious, I am not sure if there is something we can do in this difficult situation.

Closer to home, the threat of extremism continues to creep insidiously. The terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris have captured the international imagination, conveying the message that nobody is safe anywhere in the world. Arrests continue to be made in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia of individuals who have been involved with international terrorist organisations.

Countries around the country and the world are coming together to fight the threat posed by international terror organisations and, in particular, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

I would like to seek an update on the regional security situation and whether these growing threats will have an impact on Singapore. While we need a strong defence and Home Team, I believe that it is also important to work with neighbours in a collaborative fashion to help alleviate the difficult security situations.

Question proposed.

China-Japan-US Relations

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer): Mr Chairman, my first cut is on China-Japan-US relations. The evolving trilateral relations among China, Japan and the US are perhaps the most important and closely-watched around the world.

As Singapore is an open economy, highly reliant on global trade and commerce, stability in these relations is of key importance to us. The state of trilateral relations among China, Japan and the US will significantly affect Singapore, the region and beyond.

The US has been a benign and constructive power in our region for many years. The US' security alliances with Japan and South Korea have also helped to ensure East Asia's peace and prosperity. However, China's emergence has led to a shift in the major power relations and regional dynamics. Given tensions between China and Japan over historical issues and territorial disputes, the US must strike a fine balance in its relations between Japan and China. The dynamics of this relationship are complex, given the history of the Second World War and the differing governance systems in these countries.

Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister if he sees the trilateral China-Japan-US relationship evolving in the light of a slowing economy, and also, if there were a change in the leadership in the US, in particular, what implications would this evolving US-China relationship have on East Asia and Singapore.

Geopolitics amid Low Oil Prices

Mr Chairman, my next cut is on geopolitics amid low oil prices. Crude oil has, over the last year, averaged less than US$50 per barrel, a far cry from, say, 2011 and 2014's average price of more than US$95 per barrel. This sharp slump in oil prices has already changed the behaviours of many organisations, as well as affected the daily lives of many, as all of us consume energy in one form or another.

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Beyond the implications on organisations and individuals, there is a perception that the sustained low oil price environment has significantly influenced geopolitics. There is a widespread perception in the Middle East that the US is playing a less assertive role in the Middle East in recent times. Meanwhile, the conflicts in the Middle East have remained unresolved, while the prolonged low oil prices have also negatively affected the Middle East countries whose economies are heavily oil-dependent.

So, how would these countries evolve and deal with both their economic and political problems if oil prices stay low? And would this have a spill-over effect on the region here and on Singapore? Would the Minister care to share with us on how such developments will affect Singapore?

ASEAN

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Mr Chairman, the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 was a significant landmark

For Singapore particularly, the ASEAN Economic Community is of great interest, as it has been touted as providing Singapore firms with a larger hinterland from which to draw customers. Instead of selling to the 5.5 million, we now have the chance to reach out to 622 million potential customers instead. Of course, ASEAN cooperation goes beyond economics and extends into the political and socio-cultural spheres as well.

The success of the ASEAN Community will depend on how ASEAN countries can cooperate to deal with emerging challenges that can affect Singaporeans and our region. These can be intra-region, such as the perennial haze problem in Indonesia, or involve external parties, such as the multilateral boundary disputes in the South China Sea. These are complex problems with no easy solutions and will be particularly challenging for a body like ASEAN which will need to balance multiple competing national interests.

If we play our cards right, the Community will allow Singapore to project our national interests with the voice of the entire grouping, achieving far greater outcomes than we could alone. But the flipside is that there may be situations where our sovereignty and interests are challenged by others within the group and compromises will need to be made.

Minister Vivian has correctly described the community building process as "a journey, not a destination". As the European experience shows, integration among a diverse group of very different countries will be a long-term, on-going process and will not always be smooth sailing.

I would like to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on the status of ASEAN's integration and how we will continue to secure Singapore's interests within the community and how the ASEAN Community is working together to handle regional issues and challenges.

South China Sea Tension

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Mr Chairman, the tensions in the South China Sea appear to have taken a turn for the worse in 2016, manifested most acutely by the timing of China's deployment of an air defence unit on the disputed Woody Island, precisely when the inaugural ASEAN-US Summit in the US was taking place earlier in February this year. In addition, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling on the case between the Philippines and China on China's claims over much of the South China Sea, defined by a nine-dash line – which is expected to be released very soon – questions on the extent and legitimacy of China's claims are likely to come to the fore again, raising temperatures once more. The month of March, in fact, has seen a perceptible rise in the number of commentaries and even editorials in the local press, particularly over the last month, that mirror these heightened tensions.

These developments and many others before it are taking place when Singapore is into its first year as coordinator of ASEAN-China dialogue relations. The role is a significant one as ASEAN's failure to issue a joint communique at the 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in 2012 was due to developments in the South China Sea. To that end, the Ministry has wasted no time in getting down to work as coordinator, proposing a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), in the spirit of Singapore's reputation on this matter as an honest broker and its reputation as a constructive player in the international arena. What has been ASEAN and China's response to CUES?

Separately, in 2013, the Ministry confirmed that ASEAN and China were still at the stage where they were "talking about talks" on COC. Last year, the Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed that China had indicated its willingness to work on COC and that Singapore's task is to focus on making sure how parties engage with each other on the high seas. To this end, what progress has been made on the full implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), including cooperative projects between ASEAN and China? What is China's position on the DOC currently and has it changed, given that it has previously stressed that the DOC should precede COC, even if ASEAN's position is that both are not sequential and can be addressed together?

Finally, at the 7th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting, the ASEAN partners suggested some measures to promote stable military-to-military relations in the South China Sea, including a "no first use of force" agreement among claimant states, in line with the intent of the articles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, as suggested by Vietnam. Brunei suggested establishing hotlines to reduce tensions and misunderstandings. Can the Ministry confirm if such proposals have been implemented and whether China has been invited to join these initiatives?

US-Singapore Relations

Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee): More than 180 years ago, freezing cold ice played a role in the opening of warm relations between Singapore and the US as prominent businessman Hoo Ah Kay, or Whampoa as he was known, started importing ice from Boston for his ice-house which was located just down the street from here. And this was in 1854, just a couple of years after the first US Consulate opened on our shores.

The Whampoa factory, of course, is no more, but 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries have evolved into a healthy mutual respect that US Ambassador Kirk Wagar summarises succinctly as "a partnership built on the pillars of political, security, trade and investment, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties." Singapore is also a strong supporter of US efforts in peace and security as both countries are committed to creating a safe and secure world where our children can live in peace.

Prime Minister Lee, in his recent visit to the US, expressed concern that a less globally-engaged US would have implications for the whole world as the US is an important pillar of stability and openness. The Prime Minister also stated that the passage of the TPP trade agreement looks troubled with the US elections looming as well. I, therefore, add my voice to that of the hon Member Mr Vikram Nair and would like to seek the Minister's views on these concerns.

The world, especially small nations like Singapore, looks towards the US as a key component in safeguarding global security and peace. Fifty years of excellent relations are a result of the far-sightedness of our leaders. How do we ensure this continues for the next 50? Could the Minister update the House on the current state of our relations with the US and future areas of bilateral cooperation and support and what, if any, are the challenges going forward?

China-Singapore Relations

Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol): From the recent spate of news, China's influence in the region is set to grow as it fires on all cylinders. There is a palpable increase in China's activities in the region. Even while Chinese vessels have allegedly trespassed and fished in waters claimed by Malaysia and Indonesia and just days ago, a Chinese ship was seized by Vietnam near the South China Sea. It is also pulling out all stops to try to build trust by presenting the One Belt, One Road strategy, launching the AIIB and pledging deeper political, economic and social cooperation with regional countries.

China's outbound direct investment surpassed inbound FDI for the first time in 2015. The search for new markets and better returns for its accumulated surpluses and multiple development bottlenecks domestically in China drives this push for outbound direct investment, given manufacturing over-capacity, insufficient domestic demand and increasing energy and resource consumption.

I was at the Boao Forum recently and saw the interest ASEAN members had in China's outgoing strategy via One Belt, One Road. At the Inaugural Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting on the sidelines of the Boao Forum, Premier Li Keqiang offered preferential loans of 10 billion yuan and credit lines of US$10 billion to five ASEAN countries along the Mekong River to fund infrastructure and improve connectivity. In smaller group forums, individual ASEAN members spoke of how they could cooperate with China on production capacity and spoke glowingly of Chinese investments in their provinces.

Singapore enjoys good relations with China and celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations last year with the upgrade of the CSSFTA, an agreement to develop a third govenrment-to-government project in Chongqing. How do we intend to build on the foundations of this relationship and leverage on the new narrative that is emerging from China with regard to its One Belt, One Road strategy? And how do we balance that against the geo-dynamic tensions that China's rise is causing for the region, especially as we hear of the weekly incidents and claims of illegal fishing in the South China Sea?

The Chairman: Mr Liang Eng Hwa, you can take your two cuts.

Singapore-Japan Diplomatic Relations

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah): Mr Chairman, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations. Our relations with Japan have grown and are increasingly broad and multi-faceted. I recall that the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) was Japan's first Free Trade Agreement and Singapore's first with a major trading partner. Given that Japan has signalled its desire to play a more proactive role in the region and expand relations with ASEAN, it is well-timed for us to take stock and further broaden and deepen our bilateral and regional cooperation with Japan. May I seek an update on Singapore's relations with Japan?

Relations with Republic of Korea

Our relations with the Republic of Korea (ROK). Singapore and ROK enjoy long-standing ties which extend into many areas. We have become each other's top trading partner over the years and seek to deepen cooperation in various sectors, such as ICT, real estate, SME and transport. Last year, we commemorated the 40th anniversary of Singapore-ROK diplomatic relation. I would like to similarly seek an update on our relations with ROK.

Relations with India

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Chairman, Singapore continues to enjoy long-standing, close and multi-faceted relations with India. For instance, in 2014, a government-to-government agreement was reached between Singapore and Andhra Pradesh where Singapore undertook the task of planning the layout of Amaravati, the new capital city of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

In addition, we marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with India in 2015 with a string of high-level visits which culminated in the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2015. During the landmark visit, Singapore and India further elevated bilateral relations with the signing of the Strategic Partnership by both Prime Ministers.

I would like to ask the Minister: how do we intend to leverage on the Strategic Partnership to further enhance bilateral cooperation? And what other new areas of cooperation are we pursuing?

Relations with Key Partners – Australia

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Chairman, Singapore, as a small nation, has successfully steered itself through occasional hiccups in its foreign relations with other countries. But we have remained steadfast in our principles which, among others, include that we are friends to all who want to be friends. And we will stand by our friends who have stood by us in times of need. This has seen us well through the years and, indeed, we have been able to make our voice heard at many international fora on a variety of issues.

Our Prime Minister, as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence and others, have been travelling abroad to grow the ties that we have established over the years and to update ourselves on the changes going on in these countries. Prime Minister Lee will soon be making a trip to Australia, and, as I understand, it is to forge new agreements, including to enhance our defence cooperation. I think it is timely for us to strengthen our relations with Canberra, especially given that we have robust two-way people-to-people contacts through the years. Many Singaporeans, myself included, have fond memories of our sojourn in Australia. Like many others, I have had my university education in Australia.

In fact, our diplomatic relations with Australia date back to 1941 and we were one of the very earliest foreign posts set up by the Canberra government. Over the years, our relations have evolved from education, business to defence. In this current security landscape, I believe cooperation would be even closer for the security agencies in our respective countries. We have also signed a number of mutually beneficial agreements and are on the same page in so far as bilateral trade is concerned.

A new cold war is already brewing in Europe. Overnight, once-friendly diplomacy can be disfigured and the situation can turn ugly, as in Ukraine. Our region could be next, as this is another arena for the superpowers to flex their muscles. Their baring of teeth in the South China Sea is unsettling to many peace-loving countries. I would like to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he could update the House on what is his assessment of relations between Singapore and our key partner, Australia. As we write the next chapter of our history, how are we managing the play by the big powers to expand their spheres of influence in the Australasia region?

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The Chairman: Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, you can take your two cuts.

Relations with Malaysia and Indonesia

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development and Acting Ministers for Education (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Chairman, as a small country, especially one located in a region as diverse as ours, it is crucial that Singapore maintains good relations with other countries. Singapore's relationship with our most immediate neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, has always been, and will continue to be, of great importance to us. Given their proximity, whatever happens in these two countries will have an impact on us.

Both countries are our key partners in many ways. We have a long and deep history of cooperation in the political, security, economic and people-to-people spheres , among many others, both bilaterally and in ASEAN.

On the other hand, as close neighbours, there will always be issues that will invariably crop up from time to time. We must maintain an open dialogue and manage these issues without adversely affecting the overall bilateral relations.

I observe that enhancing connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia has been a theme in recent years, with progress being made on key bilateral projects, such as the High Speed Rail (HSR) and the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link. This will be timely as we are seeing massive movements of people going into Malaysia or coming into Singapore on a daily basis. However, one consistent gripe that Singaporeans and Malaysians have is congestion at the land crossings.

For Indonesia, we have maintained our good economic ties and have continued to be Indonesia's largest foreign investor. However, some problems remain very much in Singaporeans' consciousness, particularly the haze issue.

There are also increasing concerns over radicalised individuals or returning foreign-fighters in the region.

With these issues in mind, I would like to seek MFA's assessment on the state of our bilateral relations with Malaysia and Indonesia. In particular, I would like an update on our efforts to improve connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia, particularly on the congestion on the Causeway.

Relations with Other Southeast Asian Countries

My next cut. Chairman, a number of countries in Southeast Asia are going through transitions in government this year.

Vietnam and Laos had their respective Party Congresses in January. In Myanmar, the general elections took place in November 2015 and the new NLD government was recently sworn in. We will also see a new Philippine president and cabinet after the Presidential Election in May.

In view of these leadership changes, could MFA provide an update on the state of relations with these countries and on how Singapore would engage these countries and their new leaders going forward?

The Chairman: Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, you can take your two cuts.

Situation in the Middle East

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Mr Chairman, the Middle East has been pushed to the frontline yet again, due to the rise of ISIS. It is a critical issue currently but may seem to have overshadowed a lot of the many other Middle East issues and disputes. One example would be the long-drawn Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Is there further progress that has been made? Are there new initiatives being proposed or tabled for discussion? The French also recently announced their plans to convene an international conference to discuss the Middle East peace process. What is MFA's view on this and what will be our stand and position?

Engagement with the Middle East

Next cut. The conflict and volatile situation in the Middle East, in particular, in Iraq and Syria have had serious and damaging consequences on global politics, travel, humanitarian issues and even trading. The impact centres in the region but is not just confined there. The recent attacks in Australia, Asia, Europe and other countries are all testament to this and, as with our neighbours, we in Singapore are on high alert, knowing we are not immune. What and how will Singapore's Middle East engagement proceed and progress? Are there opportunities and plans in terms of our economic expansion as well as diplomatic ties with the region?

The Chairman: Ms Low Yen Ling, you may take your two cuts.

Relations with EU/European Countries

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Trade and Industry and the Acting Ministers for Education (Ms Low Yen Ling): Mr Chairman, Europe is currently going through a difficult time. It is facing one of the largest waves of migration in recent years, with more than a million people entering its borders.

The European Union (EU) is struggling to find solutions to manage the escalating migrant and refugee crisis. On top of this, Europe faces heightened security risks in the wake of the recent spate of terrorist attacks in France, Belgium and Turkey. The EU is also struggling with pressing internal challenges, particularly the Greek debt crisis and the possible exit of the UK, which could paralyse the EU decision-making process. I note from media reports that serious questions are being asked about the EU's fundamental principles, including the single border, the single currency and even membership in its current form. Overall, the prospects do not look good, especially since the migrant crisis is not expected to end in the near future.

Against this challenging backdrop, what is the current state of our relations with Europe? Has the present situation affected Singapore's engagement of European countries? What are some of the ways through which we are keeping up our ties with Europe, which remains an important source of investments for Singapore?

Consular Support

Next cut, on consular support. With greater affluence and connectivity, Singaporeans are travelling overseas more often for work, leisure or education.

More Singaporeans are also residing overseas. Singaporeans today can be found almost everywhere, not only in major cities like New York, London, Dubai, Beijing or Tokyo but also in far-flung places, such as Kathmandu or Lima.

Advances in information technology have also enabled Singaporeans to have faster and more direct access to information and communication, literally at our fingertips. It is good to know that our citizens are not inward-looking, they are well-travelled and constantly widening their horizons or seeking commercial or other opportunities overseas. Singapore may be a small nation but we are very much a part of the global community.

Today, we are a major maritime, aviation, financial and logistics hub and, as such, we are very much plugged into the global system. Going forward, I foresee Singaporeans spending more time abroad and their needs overseas would be just as important as their needs at home.

Keeping the above trends in mind, it is likely that the load and complexity of consular cases that the MFA has to handle will almost certainly increase. The greater challenge may well be the growing expectations of prompt and also accessible consular services, I mean, 24/7. On the other hand, MFA resources are finite. Even though we have about 50 overseas missions to-date, I note that, for good reasons, our missions generally operate on very lean teams.

This brings me to the first part of my question. I would like to know how MFA has prepared itself to cope with this trend of greater consular demand and expectations. The second part of my question relates to how MFA handles overseas emergencies. Even as we encourage Singaporeans to venture further afield, we should also be concerned about their safety and whether they are sufficiently prepared for various types of contingencies and, I think, we, Singaporeans, sometimes take our safety for granted, even when we are abroad.

Over the last year, for example, we have witnessed a rising spate of overseas crises and emergencies, from political unrests to natural disasters to terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, some Singaporeans were caught up in a number of these incidents. I recall MFA's involvement in assisting our nationals in April last year when a devastating earthquake struck Nepal. Many of our citizens were stuck at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport when it was closed. Fortunately, for Singapore and Singaporeans, no lives were lost. However, some of our nationals were not so fortunate in other incidents. I recall with much sadness the tragic Sabah earthquake in June last year.

This brings me to my question. I would like to know how MFA keeps track of Singaporeans abroad and how does MFA help our citizens in overseas crisis situations, especially in locations where we may not have an embassy or consulate.

The Chairman: Ms Joan Pereira, you can take both your cuts.

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Chairman, we are seeing an increasing number of Singaporeans travelling overseas. In 2012, Singaporeans made more than eight million trips, according to the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS). This is an 85% increase from 2001, when 4.36 million trips were made.

More Singaporeans are travelling to exotic locations, such as Turkey and South Africa. Some of these exotic locations may not have Singapore Missions to provide consular support. Even if there are Singapore Missions within a given country, they may not be able to provide support to certain locations due to the large size of the country. For example, in the United States of America, there are Singapore Missions in San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Miami, Florida. However, due to the large size of the USA, these missions may not be able to provide consular support to Singaporeans in other states. I would like to know how MFA plans to help Singaporeans in locations that do not have Singapore missions in the immediate vicinity.

Natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis could leave Singaporeans stranded overseas. Last year, students and teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School were caught on Mount Kinabalu during the Sabah quake. I would like to know MFA plans to send aid to Singaporeans if a similar incident occurs in a country that Singapore does not have diplomatic ties with, or a location without consular support.

In the meantime, the threat of terror looms large globally. Over the past few months alone, we have seen terror attacks in several cities, such as Paris, Istanbul, Brussels and, even closer to home, in Jakarta. Many of such attacks have been linked to ISIS. I would like to know how this rise in terrorist attacks is affecting Singaporeans abroad.

Extremism and Terrorism

Mr Chairman, my next cut is on extremism and terrorism. Rising extremism has become a global concern in recent years. Hundreds from our region and other countries have travelled to join ISIS. Some travel to ISIS for training before returning to their home countries to carry out acts of terror. In today's digital era, extremist groups can also reach out to and radicalise others online. ISIS has uploaded videos to recruit and attract others as well as spread their ideology.

Last year, radicalised Bangladeshis were discovered in Singapore. More recently, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris. In both instances, the attacks were well-coordinated and occurred at multiple locations just minutes apart. This makes it extremely difficult for security agencies to respond. The Internet and new communications technology allow terrorists to communicate and coordinate their attacks. As terrorists employ more sophisticated tactics, our security agencies must find ways to cope with this quickly evolving threat.

However, increasing our security measures alone will not be sufficient and we need to tackle the spread of extremist ideology. Groups and individuals that are at risk of extremist behaviour need to be identified and safeguarded from becoming radicalised. Singaporeans need to look out for family and friends to protect them from radical influences. Individuals also need to keep an eye out for and report any suspicious activity.

As a global trade and financial hub, Singapore is a possible target. In May last year, ISIS cited Singapore as a possible target, along with the Philippines and USA. Singapore has also been cited as a target by other terrorist groups. Terrorism is a global, transnational threat.

In this vein, I would like to enquire how Singapore is working with other countries in tackling this issue.

Emerging Markets Relations

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang): Chairman, the global slowdown in economies, such as China and Europe, will have a significant impact on economic growth in Singapore. Industries will need to look out for business opportunities in other regions and transform to develop niches to grow their businesses.

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In this regard, I would like to ask the Ministry to update the House on how MFA can play a more proactive role in establishing diplomatic relations and in engaging emerging markets, such as ASEAN member countries, Russia, Turkey, South Asia, Latin America and Africa.

For instance, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that was launched in December 2015 will provide a single market of 625 million people and a collective GDP of S$3.7 trillion. The AEC will provide opportunities and challenges to both our small and big businesses. Businesses will need more information regarding these emerging markets and also a more effective trade facilitation framework to help them seek business partners or invest in these markets.

In this regard, I would urge the Ministry to consider providing dedicated business advisory and consular services to Singapore firms which are keen to expand to these emerging markets.

The Chairman: Mr Amrin Amin. You can take your two cuts together.

Role in International Community

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin):Thank you, Mr Chairman. The first cut. In 2015, Singapore not only celebrated its 50th year of Independence, it also celebrated its 50th anniversary as a member of the United Nations (UN). The year 2015 was also a landmark for the UN, with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Many of the global challenges and issues today are being discussed and addressed at the UN and various international fora. Singapore is a country that punches above its weight despite its small population and land size. My question is: how are we planning to continue to punch above our weight and play our part as a responsible member of the international community?

Technical Cooperation

My second cut is on technical cooperation. As a small state with limited resources, Singapore has no natural relevance. We do not have the means to grant massive cash grants or soft loans or to sponsor major infrastructure projects, unlike certain major developed countries. Yet, we have to remain relevant and useful. As former Senior Minister S Jayakumar said, "If we are not at the table, we will be on the menu."

During the SG50 celebrations, there was strong focus on Singapore's success and achievements, post-Independence. Singapore's political and social stability, governance model, policies and effective implementation receive international attention.

I understand that many countries are interested in what we have done and how we have done it. They seek to learn from our experience and emulate our success. What can Singapore and MFA do to leverage on our development expertise to help other developing countries and enhance Singapore's reputation as a forward-looking, constructive member of the international community? Are there examples on the effectiveness of our technical cooperation projects?

The Chairman: Asst Prof Mahdev Mohan. You have exactly six minutes for your cut.

Sustainable Development Programme

Asst Prof Mahdev Mohan (Nominated Member): Noted with thanks, Mr Chairman. The Budget Book reveals that MFA's focus has been placed, in part, on sustainable development this year, particularly through the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

I applaud MFA's enlightened emphasis on the UN Sustainable Development goals, which span water management, sanitation and climate change, among other things. Speaking at the UN Summit last September where the goals were launched, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, in his previous incarnation as the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, noted our troubles, particularly our environmental troubles with trans-boundary haze pollution.

Sustainable development opens new opportunities for how we think about perennial problems, particularly climate change and the haze. I invite MFA today to outline its initiatives on how we can put ourselves on the map, as far as the sustainable development goals and sustainable development as a whole goes, with particular reference to our Sustainable Development and Climate Change (SDCC) programme. This was unveiled last year after the September Summit.

Specifically, I ask: what will the Singapore Cooperation Programme in Southeast Asia involve, particularly for the lesser developed economies (LDCs) in ASEAN?

How will our own SDCC enhance Singapore's position as a responsible global citizen? How will this serve to implement our commitments under the recently-inked Paris Climate Change agreement? What are the sorts of public sector and UN partnerships that MFA envisions?

What are the opportunities that SDCC might create for Singaporean youths who might want to get involved? That is, as we go forward to do good, how can we also do well? This is particularly relevant to business. So, my final question to the Ministry is whether MFA foresees Singapore's responsible business enterprises having a comparative advantage in industries connected to sustainable development, such as clean energy?

Resources for MFA

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir): Mr Chairman, for those of us familiar with football, what Singapore has achieved in the world of diplomacy and international relations since Indepedence is akin to Leicester City's exploits in the English Premier League this season. We may not have the size or resources of others, but we always punch well above our weight.

Jokes aside, Sir, I had the privilege of being Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Foreign Affairs during the previous term of Parliament. As such, I had the opportunity of seeing Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) in their element. I participated in overseas trips which were supported by the FSOs. They work efficiently and round-the-clock. By my estimate, they hardly slept for three hours per night during the trips.

Singapore needs such talented and highly-motivated FSOs. Our FSOs are often at the frontline of crises, dealing with them and being our eyes and ears on the ground. It is, therefore, crucial that we not only do our utmost to recruit top talent, but also to retain the experienced ones. As an FSO, there are also sacrifices to be made. The cyclical posting regime is one in which families of FSOs need to relocate on a three- to four-year cycle as a result of an overseas posting.

I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with us on whether: (a) MFA's current resources are adequate to meet the demands of an increasingly complex global environment; and (b) what is MFA doing to attract, develop and retain talented FSOs.

The Chairman: Minister for Foreign Affairs.