Panellists see more avenues for Japan, S'pore to deepen ties

There are many opportunities for Singapore and Japan to deepen their relationship amid the Covid-19 pandemic and global challenges, speakers at the 14th Japan-Singapore Symposium have said.

Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Chee Hong Tat noted that both countries have started vaccinations, a move which bodes well for the reopening of their economies, restoration of connectivity and resumption of people-to-people exchanges.

"We look forward to working with Japan and other countries on the issue of mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates," he said, adding that there is huge potential for cooperation in new areas like digitalisation, smart cities and the green economy.

Other speakers at Thursday's symposium expressed hope for greater cooperation in better distribution of vaccines, and growing common values such as the rule of law, freedom of navigation and free trade.

The speakers included Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Eiichiro Washio, Singapore's Ambassador-At-Large Tommy Koh, and Waseda University professor Yukiko Fukagawa.

In his opening speech at the symposium, held virtually for the first time since it began in 1995, Mr Chee said Singapore will continue to cooperate closely with Japan as both countries chart their paths towards a post-Covid-19 recovery.

He added that Singapore can learn from Japan its "X factor" - the people's resilience and civic-mindedness.

Despite the sudden and devastating East Japan earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, he noted that the Japanese cared for one another in the community, and collected only the food and blankets they needed at distribution centres, keeping in mind others who also needed the provisions.

In his speech, Mr Washio said that the pandemic has added complexities to an increasingly uncertain world, with fundamental values and principles such as democracy, rule of law and the market economy coming under threat.

The security environment is also becoming more difficult. He said there were unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea, pointing to China's new law allowing its coast guard vessels to fire on foreign ships in waters it claims as its own.

Japan is working to realise the idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Mr Washio said, noting that Asean had issued its outlook on the Indo-Pacific in a statement in 2019 which articulated principles of rule of law, transparency and inclusiveness.

"We feel there is essential commonalities with the FOIP (free and open Indo-Pacific) that Japan is promoting and we are very much encouraged," he said.

In a panel discussion, Nanyang Technological University professor Joseph Liow pointed out that the geopolitical concept of the Indo-Pacific was problematic for Asean.

The grouping's approach has been to remain equidistant from both the United States and China, even as it continues to recognise the importance of the United States' role in the region, said Prof Liow, who is dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

He added that multilateralism is an area in which Singapore and Japan have cooperated and must continue to do so, including in the distribution of vaccines and strengthening globalisation, which both economies rely on.

The symposium was organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and the Japan Institute of International Affairs.