Social Studies Forum Assignment

Alina Ang Sihui [01]

Khor Jie Ling [08]

Leow Wan Ting [09]

Vivien Ong Li Li [26]

Diplomacy

Bilateral relations Regional relations International relations

International Relations

Singapore's Participation

• UN Law of the Sea Conference

• International Humanitarian Efforts

• Regional Special Forces Counter- Terrorism Conference

Singapore's Participation

• UN Law of the Sea Conference

• International Humanitarian Efforts

• Regional Special Forces Counter- Terrorism Conference

Singapore's Participation

• UN Law of the Sea Conference

• International Humanitarian Efforts

• Regional Special Forces Counter- Terrorism Conference

1. UN Law of the Sea Conference This law defines how countries can draw

territorial borders in the sea and states clearly the right of landlocked states (countries with no coast, surrounded by other countries) to access the seas.

Provides guidelines on how to safeguard the marine environment and protects the freedom of scientific research on high seas.

1. UN Law of the Sea Conference The Third UN Conference on the Law of

the Sea was convened in New York. To reduce the possibility of groups of

nation-states dominating the negotiations, the conference used a consensus process rather than majority vote.

With more than 160 nations participating, the conference lasted until 1982.

Organised to decide on the territorial rights of a country over its water.

1. UN Law of the Sea Conference Singapore played an important role Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore's former

representative to the UN, was President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea from 1980 to 1982.

Introduced a number of provisions.

Eg. setting limits, exclusive economic zones, deep seabed mining, protection of the marine environment, scientific research, and settlement of disputes.

BENEFITS Prove that Singapore can handle such a

position at the international scale so well

Singapore's Participation

• UN Law of the Sea Conference

• International Humanitarian Efforts

• Regional Special Forces Counter- Terrorism Conference

Singapore's Participation

• UN Law of the Sea Conference

• International Humanitarian Efforts

• Regional Special Forces Counter- Terrorism Conference

2. International Humanitarian Efforts In December 2004, SAF dispatched:

-3 Endurance class landing platform dork ships with medical and engineering teams and volunteers with NGOs, medical supplies and heavy equipment to help clear roads and debris (Meulaboh)

-6 Chinook helicopters, 2 Super Puma helicopters (Aceh)

-2 Chinook helicopters, 2 Super Puma helicopters

(Phuket, Thailand)

-C130s to ferry relief supplies to massive tsunami-hit areas

2. International Humanitarian Efforts In September 2005, Singapore send 4 CH-47

Chinook helicopters and 45 RSAF personnel (Hurricane Katrina in the United States)

SAF sent a medical team, comprising of two doctors, two nurses, and two paramedics to Bali (Aftermath of 2005 Bali bombings)

In October 2005, the Singapore Civil Defence Force dispatched a 44-member Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team to help in the relief and rescue operations (2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan)

BENEFITS Singapore sends in humanitarian aid in support

of our national interests and our responsibilities as a member of the international community. This is Singapore’s interest and Singapore’s humanitarian efforts strongly support it.

Singapore does not encounter any natural disasters. If Singapore does not do a single thing to help other countries in need, she will be deemed as “selfish and ignorant”. Country around the globe will not want to work with Singapore, and Singapore will thus not have a chance to prove her abilities.

BENEFITS Other countries sending in humanitarian aid will

have a common thing with Singapore and will thus conduct relations with Singapore. With limited sources, if Singapore were to render help to another country, other countries will step in to help too. This way, Singapore will be able to help more people and will be recognised for her efforts.

Security and stability in other countries have significant implications for issues that are critical to Singapore. When Singapore help others, she is helping herself too.

Singapore's Participation

• UN Law of the Sea Conference

• International Humanitarian Efforts

• Regional Special Forces Counter- Terrorism Conference

3. Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference

An annual event participated by various armed forces and counter-terrorism agencies

Provide participants the opportunity to share professional insights and discuss ways to enhance information-sharing

Aims to develop closer co-operation while strengthening working-level relationship among members of the Special Forces.

Singapore hosted the Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference from 21–25 November 2005.

BENEFITS Countries around the globe can discuss on

terrorism together, to get more ideas on anti-terrorism efforts.

Countries work together to ensure the safety of their people and prevent terrorism.

Increase country's efficiency rate to prevent terrorism in their country will strenghten the international relations among them.

Singapore organises large-scale events that involves the participation of many other countries. Other countries will be willing to help Singapore when she meets with any difficulties, or require participants in certain activites.

BENEFITS (Conclusion)

Just these three examples only can bring about so many benefits, wouldn't there be even more benefits if we take the whole of international benefits into consideration?

Why is International Relations more

beneficial than the other forms of diplomacy?

Bilateral Relations VS International Relations

Bilateral Relations: Only limited to a few countries

International Relations: Deals with more countries. With more

countries, more work can be done, with much more efficiency.

Regional Relations VS International Relations

Regional Relations: Proven to be inefficient before

Eg. ASEAN was not able to find a solution on the Rohingya issue. Instead, Asean passed on the Rohingya issue to the Bali Process for People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. Also, in the Bali Process, the only action agreed was an ad-hoc working group to discuss Rohingya movements at future meetings. ASEAN could not sense the urgency and importance of the Rohingya issue, thus proving it inefficiency.

International Relations Ties among many countries and groupings

throughout the world An organisation representing all countries in

the world: United Nations (UN) As a member of the UN, Singapore gained

recognition as a sovereign state UN helped Singapore by sending experts to

advise and help in the economic and social development of the country.

International Relations Although bilateral relations also helped to speed

up Singapore’s economic and social development, international relations makes this possible on a larger scale, with more countries involved.

With more countries involved, more will be done to help our economic and social development.

International Relations Definition of diplomacy: The way in which

countries manage or conduct relations with one another. Its main aim is to promote common interests and to resolve conflicting interests in a peaceful manner.

With common interests, it enables different countries to cooperate with one another to solve common problems like terrorism, SARS and the avian flu.

With international relations involving more countries, countries get to share new advancements, new ideas to solve the different problems.

Conclusion As the saying goes, “two brains are better

than one”.

Similarly, the cooperation of many countries is better than the cooperation of just one or two countries.

Therefore, we think that International relations is more beneficial than the other form of diplomacy.

Bibliography

• Social Studies Textbook• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Singapore

• http://www.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MzYz-4Ix1ufJmPJg%3D

• http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2003/nov/10nov03_nr.html

• http://www.sof.or.jp/en/activities/index6.php

• http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/mfa/press_release/P-20090930-1.html