[Defending the Lion City] As usual, Alex Tan Zhixiang can only lie and lie

As usual, Alex Tan Zhixiang, "Chief Editor" of the one-man operation slime site, States Times Review, cannot help but to spin yet another lie.

Alex Tan claims that China/HK had already agreed to "release" the Terrex ICVs on 28 Nov 2016.

But a quick search on the web for any official statements on the "release" from China or HK just draws a blank.

Pic: FLOP

As of 13 Dec 2016, there is no such news found on the South China Morning Post. Even the Communist Party's hawkish mouthpiece/tabloid, the Global Times, has no article that says the ICVs have been released.

In fact, on 27 Nov, just a day before Alex Tan's claim, Global Times published an editorial that said that the ICVs "should be melted down". Does this sound to you like our ICVs have been released?

So it is very clear that Alex Tan has yet again spinned another lie to draw internet traffic to his trash-site so that he can continue stir irrational fears and to make money from advertising.

Pic: Shut Down TRS (STR FB post made on 6 Dec 2016)

However, what is disturbing here is NOT the news that some extreme elements of China's communist govt wants to destroy Singapore's property WITHOUT any clear reasons or legal basis, apart from trying to make a obtuse political statement.

What Singaporeans should truly be concerned about here, are the intentions of our "so-called" opposition supporters, politician-wannabes and "alternative media" sites like States Times Review.

FB Comment posted by Alex Tan / STR on 12 Dec 2016

It is one thing to be opposing the government. That is a given and is rightly expected in any democratic system.

However, it is totally different situation when you are "opposing" based on twisted lies and half-truths to try and gain support for your cause to profit from lies you spin.

It is even more damning when you start to side with foreign interests to backstab and betray your country simply for the sake of 'opposing' the government.

In the case of the Terrex ICVs, it is very obvious that even based on their own laws, China / HK has no legal basis to detain our vehicles.

If China / HK can openly justify the detention accordingly to their own laws, they would have already done so by now. But they haven't.

Singapore has not changed its stance on the One China Principle since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990. Nor has it attempted to hide its relations with Taiwan over defence matters.

In 1990, the then Chinese Premier Li Peng said Beijing would not be "too disturbed" by the Republic's continued use of military training facilities in Taiwan after the establishment of Sino-Singapore ties. 

Mr Li had said at a news conference: "We sympathise with Singapore's position and understand its need to build a strong defence force. On this matter, suitable arrangements will be made. (Reference)

So it is very clear to any observer that China is simply taking advantage of the ICV situation to pressure Singapore to bow to China's wishes.

So should Singapore be intimated by China's bullying tactics?

Alex Tan Zhixiang and his followers demand that Singapore "apologize" to China.

Our question to Alex Tan Zhixiang, is "Apologise for fuc what?"

As the facts show thus far, Singapore is simply standing her ground based on principles and protecting her interests.

And these interests includes not appearing to be a weak vassal state of any foreign power - China or otherwise.

Alex Tan Zhixiang claims to be a "patriot".

But would a real patriot make up fake stories for his own profit, and side with foreign interests to attack their own country?

As one great and loyal Opposition MP had once said:

"...there are certain people there who would like to see Singapore being run down and attacked Singapore. 

The issue here is not just about people like Chee Soon Juan who come and go in any event but about the survival of Singapore. 

Singapore's survival is at stake because there is an attack on the basic institution of Singapore and on the system of Singapore. 

And it is the duty of loyal Opposition to defend Singapore." 

Mr Chiam See Tong  

3 Nov 1995, Parliament (Column: 280)

Read more here:

MINDEF News Release:  (6 Dec 2016) - Update on Detention of SAF Terrex ICVs. "... have  not  been provided  formal  reasons  as  yet.."

South China Morning Post: News coverage of Singapore's Terrex ICVs

Channel NewsAsia: (6 Dec 2016) 2 weeks on, no formal reasons given for detention of SAF vehicles in HK: MINDEF (6 Dec 2016)

Nikkei Asian Review: (5Dec 2016) China pressures Singapore with seizure of military hardware

Channel NewsAsia: (1Dec 2016) Formal reasons for detaining armoured vehicles not yet given: MINDEF

Financial Times: (25 Nov 2016) Mystery over seized Singapore army vehicles in Hong Kong

South China Morning Post: (24 Nov 2016) Hong Kong caught in diplomatic bind as customs seizeshipment of military vehicles from Taiwan

Channel NewsAsia: (24 Nov 2016) 9 armoured vehicles bound for Singapore 'delayed' at Hong Kong customs

Mr Chiam See Tong's quote, 3 Nov 1995, Parliament, Column 280

Parliament of Singapore: Official Reports - Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)

YouTube video of speech

[Defending the Lion City] Still unable to give reasons for detaining our Terrexes

Really, What the Fu*k China/HK?

After two weeks of "investigations", you still can't tell us up front why you are detaining our Terrexes?

Don't get us involved in your domestic politics.

Return our Terrexes!


Read more here:

Channel NewsAsia: (6 Dec 2016) 2 weeks on, no formal reasons given for detention of SAF vehicles in HK: MINDEF

Channel NewsAsia: (1Dec 2016) Formal reasons for detaining armoured vehicles not yet given: MINDEF

Channel NewsAsia: (24 Nov 2016) 9 armoured vehicles bound for Singapore 'delayed' at Hong Kong customs

[Defending the Lion City] No matter how the Wind howls, the Mountain cannot bow to it.

“No matter how the Wind howls, the Mountain cannot bow to it.”

As of 2 Dec 2016, China / Hong Kong have yet to provide any satisfactory reason to Singapore for detaining 9 Terrex ICVs on 23 Nov 2016. 

This is despite of APL (the shipping firm contracted to ship the Terrex ICVs) meeting with the HK Customs authorities for 7 hours last Tue, 29 Nov, and at a second meeting on 1 Dec 2016.

I wonder if China realizes that the longer this fiasco drags out without any proper explanation, it actually makes China look really bad in the eyes of the international community.

If this whole thing was about having proper papers / permits / whatever-else-documentation-you-need/want, this would have been easily resolved before it ever made the news.

So really, IMO there are only two possible explanations.

One – The HK Customs are really, really badly ineffective / inefficient / incompetent.

But that’s very unlikely – given that (1) this is NOT the first time that Singapore’s military equipment has transit through its ports, and previous transits have had no problems. And (2) HK is also one of the world’s busiest ports. You don’t become one of the world’s busiest ports by being ineffective / inefficient / incompetent.

That means the only reasonable explanation is that China (or maybe some faction of the communist leadership) really wants to show Singapore/Taiwan/Hong Kong who’s the boss.

They want to let Singapore and the rest of the world know that they are damn buay song (unhappy) over Singapore's stand of respecting and upholding the primacy of international law (vis a vis the Hague Tribunal's South China Sea Ruling) when it comes to settling disputes.

And/or maybe some of these communist 's balls comrades are itching to stir up some  communistic fervor in hopes of scoring some brownie points with the Communist President.

But whatever China’s rational/irrational reasons are, I do wonder if China realizes how big a dick moron this incident makes them to be before the international community?

If this incident is over the fact that Singapore continues to have direct defence relations with Taiwan, then it is all the more puzzling.

Singapore has not changed its stance on the One China Principle since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990. Nor has it attempted to hide its relations with Taiwan over defence matters.

In 1990, the then Chinese Premier Li Peng said Beijing would not be "too disturbed" by the Republic's continued use of military training facilities in Taiwan after the establishment of Sino-Singapore ties.Mr Li had said at a news conference: "We sympathise with Singapore's position and understand its need to build a strong defence force. On this matter, suitable arrangements will be made. (Reference)

If China continues to drag this fiasco on without providing a valid reason, legal or otherwise, for the detention of our Terrex ICVs, then China will only be hurting themselves in the long run.

The Chinese President had said at the UN General Assembly in 2015, “The big, strong and rich should not bully the small, weak and poor. Big countries should treat small countries as equals, and take a right approach to justice and interests by putting justice before interests.” (Reference)

China seems to have conveniently forgotten what it had said before the world.

The incident will show that China can, and will take arbitrary action when it pleases or deems it profitable to do so without regard to international law and justice.

It will show China as a shallow-minded nation who does not value sincere friendships and loyalties, and is only interested in fair-weather friends who are willing to acquiesce to China in exchange for benefits.

It will prove that China will be a vindictive power, who believes that might makes right, and therefore all other countries must bow in deference to China’s whims and fancies.

President Xi’s often repeated assurances to the world that China will be a peaceful nation and will not pose as a threat will start to ring hollow.

After all, if China can callously coerce/pressure Singapore, whose relationship China labels as “special and unique”, over simple issues that do not agree with China, then what assurances do other countries have that they will be dealing with China in good faith?

No one would trust or believe the word of China any more.

As for Singapore, it cannot, will not, bow to external pressure and intimidation when it comes to issues that pertain to Singapore’s sovereignty and interests. Neither will it allow itself to be made use of as a pawn in someone else's geopolitical game.

As Ambassador-at-large Bilahari Kausikanputs it:

“Our government is not rash but the considerations are not just relations with China.  

If we allow ourselves to be intimidated by Beijing what do you think our immediate neighbours will think?”

Read more here

The Straits Times: 2 Dec 2016 - Seized SAF vehicles: APL meets HK Customs again

The Straits Times: 2 Dec 2016 - Putting Terrex issue in perspective

TODAY: 1 Dec 2016 - No formal reason given by HK a weekafter detaining SAF terrex vehicles: Mindef

The Straits Times - 30 Nov 2016: Training arrangement with Taiwan dates back to 1975

The New York Times: 22 Nov 2014 - Asia’s‘Big Guy’ Spreads Cash and Seeks Influence in Pacific Region

Republica: 29 Sept 2015 - Big, strong and rich countries shouldn't bully small, weak.