01 March 2022
Ukraine conflict: Singapore to enact controls on items bound for Russian offensive
by Ridzwan Rahmat
A view of the Port of Singapore, which has often been ranked as the world's busiest transhipment hub. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
Singapore is moving to enact unilateral controls on the movement of items to Russia that can be used as weapons, in the wake Russia's ongoing offensive in Ukraine.
The city state, which has often been ranked as the world's busiest transhipment port, will be disclosing further details on these controls soon, said Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on 28 February in an address to the country's parliament.
In his address, Balakrishnan emphasised that Singapore values the good relations it enjoys with Russia and the Russian people. “However, we cannot accept such violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity of another sovereign state,” he said in reference to the Russian offensive that began in February 2022.
“We will continue to work with our ASEAN and international partners to take a strong stance against the invasion of Ukraine, and to end further violence and bloodshed, and to de-escalate tensions,” he added.
Balakrishnan further explained that Singapore has always complied fully with the sanctions and decisions of the UN Security Council, but has rarely acted unilaterally to impose sanctions on other countries in the absence of binding Security Council decisions or directions.
“However, given the unprecedented gravity of the Russian attack on Ukraine, and the unsurprising veto by Russia of a draft Security Council resolution, Singapore intends to act in concert with many other like-minded countries to impose appropriate sanctions and restrictions against Russia.”
“In particular, we will impose export controls on items that can be used directly as weapons in Ukraine to inflict harm or to subjugate the Ukrainians. We will also block certain Russian banks and financial transactions connected to Russia,” he said, adding that the specifics of these “are being worked out and will be announced shortly”.
Singapore will join at least five other countries across the Asia-Pacific region that have announced their respective intentions to either ban trade with Russia or join in on sanctions announced by the US and the European Union. The countries are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan. Similarly, the sanctions include prohibitions on the sale of military and dual-use technologies to Russia.
In response Balakrishnan's disclosure in parliament, the Embassy of Russia in Singapore expressed its regret on the same day and described the unilateral move as one that circumvents the UN Security Council. “We consider it runs against the friendly relations between Russia and Singapore, as well as counter to the need of speedy and peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine, which the Russian Federation continuously advocates,” the embassy said.
Share
Singapore is moving to enact unilateral controls on the movement of items to Russia that can be used...
Details