It seems that this post is based on a fundamentally slippery
basis, that is, Singapore has been neutral and fence sitting. It has not and it
has been a US ally and has been on the US side. The military training in Taiwan
represents an interesting case of such non-neutrality, because China has always
been very concerned with any military exchanges of any outside parties with
Taiwan.
It is not Singapore's neutrality but China's willingness to tolerate
Singapore's unsatisfactory and from time to time often opportunistic behaviour
that has sustained a reasonably good relationship between China and Singapore.
To the contrary of the author’s argument and conclusion, I
would think that a truly neutral international stance by any countries would be
welcomed by China, given its long-held diplomatic principles, such as its five
fundamental principles. Of course, whether a newly and truly neutrality by
Singapore will be welcomed by the US or not is another matter, given that would
represent a departure by Singapore of its long diplomatic stance and principle because
that would also need to exit the ally position.
It appears, should the author really does not believe that
Singapore has not been neutral between the US and China, that there may have
been a serious misunderstanding of the real situation in this regard. And that
would be really unfortunate given it is not hard or difficult to see the truth
as it has been crystal clear. How such illusion could exit would be an extraordinary mystery!
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