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The claim that Singapore, a signatory of the 1971 Five Power Defence Agreement (along with Malaysia, UK, Australia and New Zealand) was "surrounded by hostile s

The claim that Singapore, a signatory of the 1971 Five Power Defence Agreement (along with Malaysia, UK, Australia and New Zealand) was "surrounded by hostile states" is absurd on its face. I can't really take the rest of this article seriously.

refurb 5y ago
Singapore gets a large part of its water supply from Malaysia, although it’s sourced more internally lately. When relations go South, Malaysia has in a few instance threaten to “cut off water to Singapore”. And when Malaysia violates Singaporean airspace Singapore fire up the jet fighters (they have one of the largest air forces in SE Asia?) So not hostile in the sense of East and West Germany, but hostile none the less (at least Malaysia and Indonesia).
- pydry 5y ago
  It's entirely typical for bordering states to have conflict. It doesnt mean Malaysia is threatening to destroy the city - theyre the ones who kicked them out in the first place after all. Malaysia also knows that turning off the taps = invasion. Singapore isnt shy about expressing its displeasure.
  - alienchow 5y ago
    The Malaysian government sure enjoyed trolling with Pukul Habis though. Also airspace above our military training base seems to be FFA to them. "Malaysia knows turn off the tap means invasion." I mean, that's exactly the reason why we went over the top with the military thing isn't it?
    - pydry 5y ago
      I rather thought that was a reaction to WW2 that lingered long past its sell by date. Of course it also provides a highly obedient and compliant workforce which keeps the foreign investors happy. That being mainly what Singapore is all about these days (foreign capital even dictated that chewing gum be legalized and thus it was so).
shawntan 5y ago
It's definitely not to the extent that Israel is surrounded by states hostile to it, but I think there is some grounds to claim this, depending on how far back you want to go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacDonald_House_bombing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacDonald_House_bombing

refurb 5y ago

Singapore gets a large part of its water supply from Malaysia, although it’s sourced more internally lately. When relations go South, Malaysia has in a few instance threaten to “cut off water to Singapore”. And when Malaysia violates Singaporean airspace Singapore fire up the jet fighters (they have one of the largest air forces in SE Asia?) So not hostile in the sense of East and West Germany, but hostile none the less (at least Malaysia and Indonesia).

pydry 5y ago
It's entirely typical for bordering states to have conflict. It doesnt mean Malaysia is threatening to destroy the city - theyre the ones who kicked them out in the first place after all. Malaysia also knows that turning off the taps = invasion. Singapore isnt shy about expressing its displeasure.
- alienchow 5y ago
  The Malaysian government sure enjoyed trolling with Pukul Habis though. Also airspace above our military training base seems to be FFA to them. "Malaysia knows turn off the tap means invasion." I mean, that's exactly the reason why we went over the top with the military thing isn't it?
  - pydry 5y ago
    I rather thought that was a reaction to WW2 that lingered long past its sell by date. Of course it also provides a highly obedient and compliant workforce which keeps the foreign investors happy. That being mainly what Singapore is all about these days (foreign capital even dictated that chewing gum be legalized and thus it was so).

shawntan 5y ago

It's definitely not to the extent that Israel is surrounded by states hostile to it, but I think there is some grounds to claim this, depending on how far back you want to go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacDonald_House_bombing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacDonald_House_bombing