The asymmetries cannot be more striking. Singapore, a tiny city state, has a population of 5.5 million. An Indonesian president once dismissed it as the “little red dot”. Yet, its per capita income is over $82,000 (on purchasing power parity, or PPP basis). India, in contrast, is a nation of 1.2 billion people, with per capita income of only $6,200. A small cluster of islands and a subcontinent would normally have little in common. The reality, however, is different.
The two countries decided to elevate the close relations they have enjoyed for long into a ‘strategic partnership’ last year. While visiting Singapore, Prime Minister Modi stated, on 23 November 2015: “Today, Singapore is one of our most important partners in the world. It is a relationship that is as strategic as it is wide-ranging.”
To understand what drives this special partnership, an appreciation of Singapore’s national genius and ethos is critical. Fifty years after its independence in 1965, Singapore’s success seems inevitable, but it was far from certain in the beginning. As the break from Malaysia came about, enabling Singapore to chart its own path, the new nation was faced with heavy odds. With very little land and scarcity of water, it experienced internal disharmony and the antagonism of large neighbours such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Future prospects appeared quite dim.
In Lee Kuan Yew, however, the nation found its saviour. He became the father of modern Singapore, the unique hub of economic activity in the region. He led the journey “From Third World to First”, the title of his memoirs. He showed how a mix of superior intelligence, national discipline, and the ingenuity of people could prevail over the lack of natural resources. Henry Kissinger wrote that, in Singapore’s case, “the ancient argument whether circumstance or personality shapes events is settled in favour of the latter”. At a recent conference, India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar referred to Lee Kuan Yew as “a sort of geopolitical guru” whose counsel evoked worldwide respect.
Singapore is adept at navigating turbulent waters. It enjoys close economic relations with China and draws comfort on security issues from a close partnership with the United States. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has stated that America’s role “remains indispensable”. Yet, recent developments indicate Singapore is anxious and wary of China’s assertive and unilateral behaviour in the South China Sea. Ditto with Indonesia’s new tendency to take strong measures against illegal fishing in its waters by foreign vessels.
This is where India steps in as a regional balancer. India recognises Singapore’s value as a broad-spectrum partner. Singaporeans want India to further open its economy and cut back on red tape, even as they recognize that India is steadily marching ahead to achieve its destiny. In Singapore’s contemporary world view, shaped both by strategic and business considerations, India occupies a significant place. This perception fuels the bilateral.
The “5 S plank” is a useful tool to explore the multilayered relationship between Singapore and India. The 5 S’ stand for scaling up trade and investments, speeding up connectivity, smart cities, skill development, and state focus. India is Singapore’s tenth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade at $16.08 billion in 2015. Singapore is a major source of foreign direct investment into India, reaching $43 billion from 2000 to 2015. It covers diverse sectors such as technology, real estate, construction, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals. Singapore also receives Indian investments: a total of $37.8 billion over the same period till June 2015. [1]
Of the five ‘S’ planks, a proactive cultivation of the Singapore government and companies by Indian states is noteworthy. Singapore was a partner country in business summits held in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The chief ministers of West Bengal, Telangana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have visited Singapore in recent years. It has developed the master plan for Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, and was represented by a minister at the foundation ceremony of Amaravati in October 2015. Official sources point out that delegations from Assam, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat have also visited Singapore.
The joint statement on the strategic partnership, entitled “Renewed Spirit New Energy” issued last November, lays out an ambitious roadmap for expansion and diversification of bilateral ties. It highlights the importance of political, security, and defence cooperation, encouraging foreign ministers and defence ministers to hold “regular exchanges” under the agreed dialogue mechanisms. It also identifies a further seven broad areas, from economic and financial cooperation to science, technology, and innovation.
Regionally and multilaterally, the two governments have agreed to strengthen ASEAN centrality, enhance connectivity, and support the ASEAN community-building process pertaining to the political, economic, and socio-cultural pillars of the Association.
India has rapidly advancing political and economic cooperation with several other countries. What makes India-Singapore ties special are rich multidimensional exchanges and interactions at the people’s level. These p-to-p relations extend to tourists, civil society, universities, and the strategic community. Some of the think tanks based in Singapore are considered among the best in the world and their interest in India deserves to be encouraged.
On a recent visit to the Indian Heritage Centre in the Little India quarter of Singapore, this author had a Singaporean of Chinese origin as his guide. As she explained the distinction between Shiva’s sons Ganesha and Kartikeya, as well as the finer points of a carved Chettiar door, it was hard not to marvel at Singapore’s success story – and to look forward to the ever deepening Singapore-India friendship.
Rajiv Bhatia is Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Programme at Gateway House, former ambassador to Myanmar, and author of ‘India-Myanmar Relations: Changing contours’ (Routledge).
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[1] High Commission of India, Singapore, India-Singapore Relations, <https://www.hcisingapore.gov.in/pages.php?id=68>