1. Regional Relations
Benefits
As an attractive region for foreign investors since 1980s, Southeast Asia now faces intense
competition from strong economic powers such as China. Many investors are investing in China
and India instead of Southeast Asia countries due to the lower costs of productions and the
larger market in these countries. Thus, ASEAN came out with an AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area)
policy. This allows ASEAN countries to trade without import taxes and therefore, benefitting
Singapore’s economy.
Under AFTA, six members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cut tariffs on
nearly 8,000 items. The six countries include Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines,
Brunei and Thailand. Four of the less developed ASEAN nations including Cambodia, Laos, Burma
and Vietnam will have a further period to phase in the tariff cuts. It also encouraged higher
market competition and help ASEAN countries' products gain access to a regional market that
incorporates many substantial advantages. Consumers will benefit from cheaper prices of goods
given lower tariffs on a host of raw materials used by the region's producers. Some of the
processing factories are expected to enjoy cheaper imported raw materials in the face of the
tariff elimination, hence cutting productions costs.
ASEAN regional forum has also benefited Singapore. Through this forum, Singapore has
successfully forged better relations with Indonesia and Malaysia. Besides providing an avenue
for Singapore to discuss their differences with neighboring countries, the forum also allows
peaceful discussion on environmental issues. The members are able to bring a variety of
perspectives because they have different political systems, levels of economic development,
cultural identities and strategic objectives.
In recent years, the parties have recognized that consultation and cooperation can enhance
mutual security trust and is the only way to solve the security issues. War and conflict only
complicate matters. When dealing with non-traditional security issues, such as piracy, terrorism,
environmental protection, drug trafficking and smuggling, the forum has made a great
contribution.
Political and security cooperation amongst member countries strengthen democracy, efficient
civil services and good governance, through information sharing, conferences, seminars, visits
and trainings. It also deepens and broadens cooperation in response to common security
interests in terrorism, other transnational crime, non-proliferation and non-traditional security
threats within the framework of national legislation and applicable international laws,
agreements and protocols. This is achieved through the continual cooperation in the fight
against terrorism which includes technical cooperation and exchange of information on the
organisation, activities, methods, financing, and movement of terrorists.
Scholarships offered to ASEAN countries under the Singapore Cooperation Programme have
given younger generations of Singaporeans opportunities to work with foreigners and thus
gaining beneficial cultural and heritage knowledge. International exposures broaden the horizon
of the younger generations thus enabling them to become a global player in the future.

2. Furthermore, the economic gap between member countries can be narrowed. In order to
achieve this aim, Singapore took the lead by launching the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)
project in 2000, of which Singapore offered a five-year aid package of over S$80 million to
certain member countries. Neighboring countries will then be able to receive sufficient and
adequate assistance when required, thus building up good relationships with member countries.
Environmental collaboration between ASEAN countries helps to tackle environmental problems
such as forest fires. Countries work together to strengthen regional land and forest fire-fighting
capability. One of ASEAN’s environmental plans is to promote energy diversification through
information exchanges and research on alternative, low emission, new and renewable energy
development such as solar, wind, clean coal technology, natural gas and others. Member
countries will be giving careful and due regards to the security, environment, health, and
internationally-recognized safety standards of the energy source.
Thus through ASEAN, not only is Singapore able to maintain a credible and deterrent military
defence, Singapore is able to sustain a secure and peaceful environment in and around
Southeast Asia by forging healthy and strong relations with the member countries.
Sources:
• http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2010-07/26/content_20575236.htm
• http://www.business-in-asia.com/asia_freetrade.html
• http://www.aseansec.org/21373.htm
• http://app.mfa.gov.sg/generator/asppages/bangkok/ForeignPolicy.asp
Internal Relations
International Relationships involve ties among many countries & groupings throughout the
world. Eg. UN.
Singapore thus gets the chance to voice out her opinions on international issues as a country
and get heard all over the globe. Singapore will also be recognised as an independent country,
which is able to voice out her thoughts and suggest solutions for the issue.
Because of international relationships, Singapore can receive help from other countries when in
times of trouble. Experts can chip in to help Singapore when we are in need of advice.
With the help of larger organisations like the UN, Singapore can prosper because we are
protected from any potential danger by relations around the world.
Singapore also ensures that by its actions it guarantees that its national interests are
represented on a global level and that the international community will come to Singapore’s
help in times of threat.
This shows that being active in large organisations like the UN is beneficial for the country as we
can promote our position on the world stage by being a member of the global community.
Singapore also ensures that by its actions it guarantees that its national interests are
represented on a global level and that the international community will come to Singapore’s
help in times of threat.

3. Singapore has forged relationships through its membership in the United Nations (UN).
Singapore participates and contributes to activities organized by the UN. For example, Professor
Tommy Koh, Singapore’s former representative in the UN, was President if the Third UN
Conference on the Law of the Sea from 1980 to 1982. The conference was organized to decide
on the territorial rights of a country over its waters. Singapore was also elected by the UN
General Assembly to serve as a non-permanent Security Council member for 2 years from 2001
to 2002. It has also been involved in UN peacekeeping efforts in conflict regions since 1989.
Sources:
• http://sgforums.com/forums/2297/topics/283104
• http://www.slideshare.net/daryl_tanyl/diplomacy-and-deterrence-v2-presentation
Bilateral relations
With bilateral relations, Singapore was able to further promote political, economic and cultural
ties with neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. As a result, Singapore was able to
speed up its economic and social development.
For example, in 2004, Singapore sent humanitarian aid to Aceh, a province in Indonesia, when it
was hitby a massive earthquake and tsunami. The Singapore Red Cross for instance, provided
medicine, first aid, food parcels, water and other relief supplies for the homeless victims. At the
request of the Indonesian Red Cross, mbulances with medical supplies and equipment were also
sent. Singapore’s bilateral relations have helped it to gain world recognition and respect.
Another example is the bilateral relations between Switzerland and Singapore. Switzerland and
Singapore have maintained diplomatic relations since 1967. The "Swiss House of Science",
operated by the Federal Department of the Interior, is attached to the embassy in Singapore.
This promotes contact in the fields of education, research and innovation. The embassy
conducts successful cultural events in cooperation with local partners. Swiss trading companies
have also set up operations in Singapore as long ago as the 19th century. The "Swiss Club
Singapore" was founded by Swiss nationals in 1871. As a result of favourable conditions, around
260 Swiss companies are now represented in Singapore. Universities in the two countries
conduct extensive student exchanges.
Singapore recently concluded FTA negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council in January
2008 and with Peru in September 2007. Both agreements are undergoing checks by the
respective legal counsels and would be signed within the year.
Singapore views its bilateral FTAs as a critical complement to the efforts at the multilateral level.
Singapore's FTAs have been painstakingly ensured that they are comprehensive, WTO-
consistent and in many aspects, WTO-plus. They are comprehensive in that they cover all
aspects of trade, including Goods, Services and Investment. They are WTO-consistent in that
elements in the FTAs are based on, and are not in conflict with, WTO rules. They are WTO-plus
in that they go beyond existing WTO obligations to achieve a freer and more predictable trading
environment.

4. Singapore's bilateral agreements have set the stage for broader trade agreements. The FTAs
with Japan and Korea for instance have set the platform for ASEAN to negotiate the ASEAN-
Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement
(AKFTA). Moreover, the high-standard, comprehensive agreements can catalyse further trade
liberalisation by binding domestic reforms, and eventually regionalising or multilateralising
those liberalisation measures.
Sources:
www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/g202_e.doc
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/asia/vsgp/bilsin.html
social studies textbook
In conclusion, although all three diplomacy methods have benefitted Singapore in many
ways, our group strongly thinks that Singapore had acquired more benefits through bilateral
relations. This is because, help and essential assistance will be provided when Singapore
faces a crisis, and trade will be more advantageous and done through easier and more
beneficial means. By having a well set relations with other major countries like the United
States of American, Russia and China with great economical power, Singapore will definitely
benefit politically, socially and economically.