It is imperative that India and China find an amicable solution to their border confrontation, as any rise in tensions could have far-reaching implications for post-Covid-19 recovery efforts across the region, Singapore’s new high commissioner said. , Simon Wong Wie Kuen. Thursday.
Expressing concern about the situation in the Royal Line of Control (LAC) in his first interview with the Indian media after presenting his credentials last week, Wong acknowledged that the two sides could have a “long winter” and that efforts to find a solution may not be easy, although there is no alternative to dialogue.
The envoy also spoke about Singapore’s priorities in its economic relations with India, participation in New Delhi’s plans to forge resilient supply and value chains, and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.
When asked about the implications of the India-China standoff, Wong said there is a “deadlock and a downward-looking situation.” He said: “It may be a long winter, it will not have an easy solution, but I think the messages coming out from both sides are very calm and the operating principle is still trying to find a solution through diplomatic means.”
He added: “We are good friends from both India and China. The last thing we want is for the skirmishes to get bigger and bigger because now both sides are looking down and the troop levels on both sides are very high. We don’t want any adverse incidents to happen because from a Covid-19 recovery point of view, if we have two major economic engines suffering as a result, the entire Asian economy will suffer for an extended period of time.
“We don’t want that to happen, we have been urging both parties to remain calm and find an amicable solution… But we are concerned about what is happening in Ladakh in particular, in Pangong Tso. We hope that the calmer heads prevail ”.
Responding to a question about whether solving the border problem will be a lengthy process even if current tensions dissipate, the envoy said that “it is always problematic [in] relationships between … two giant neighbors to solve [things]”. He suggested that “tough negotiations” would be better than exacerbating tensions.
“If you had tough negotiations and crossed the words, I think it’s easier because it’s common practice, even in FTA negotiations: tough and tough negotiating positions, but then when the deal is closed you shake hands and that’s it, “he said.
“But the memory of 1962 is very, very strong because it was a military conflict … My humble advice is that both parties should think very carefully about how they want to move forward and of course both parties understand this very clearly … operating principle, both parties should sit down and talk and resolve this diplomatically, ”he added.
Amid the Covid-19 crisis, the world is at a “tipping point” and a very “bitter relationship between the United States and China”, Singapore’s priorities for the relationship with India include increased trade and investment and collaboration in areas such as healthcare for vaccine development, Wong said.
Even during the Covid-19 crisis, Singapore committed around $ 2 billion of new investment in India, and is also willing to work with India on moves to forge new supply and value chains, he said.
“Because we arrived in India early, that conversation of connecting India with our part of the world continues non-stop… Altogether, Singapore has $ 85 billion committed to India. On her side, she has about $ 60 billion. It is an equitable partnership and we have around 650 Singapore companies established in India and around 8,500 Indian companies are established in Singapore. That notion of supply chain security and supply chain reworking is always at stake, ”Wong said.
Wong said there will be “a competition of ideas” in the Indo-Pacific and Singapore supports Asean’s vision for the region, “which means that we keep peace in the waters around our region, the organization must be inclusive and not exclusive “. it should not target one or two countries in particular, and the focus should be on the economy and less on the military ”.
The Indian preference, he noted, is “to have Quad, Quad-plus or trilateral.” She added: “India is free to have conversations with like-minded parties who share the same interests … I think that in the future, India should also have a conversation with Asean about shaping their ideas and Asean’s ideas.”
Wong also spoke about Singapore’s efforts to help foreign workers, including some 100,000 Indians, affected by the pandemic. In addition to medical facilities and free tests, Singapore has provided grants to companies so that wages are paid even when workers do not go to work. However, as many companies that hire foreign workers have closed, they can be sent home and “the next step is to make sure they receive fair compensation and if they intend to stay, we will have to find jobs for them,” he said.
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