1) Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 175 countries through organizations like the UN, Commonwealth, ASEAN, and Non-Aligned Movement. 2) Singapore has been an active member of the UN since 1965, holding a seat on the Security Council from 2001-2002 and participating in peacekeeping missions. 3) International relations through the UN have benefited Singapore the most by gaining international recognition and assistance with economic and social development from UN experts.

1. How Singapore conducts… International relations Done by: 301 Kelvin Tan Tan Jia Hong Jonathan Lim

2. Introduction International relations involve ties among many countries and groupings throughout the world .An example of an extensive international relationship is the United Nations (UN). Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 175 countries although it does not maintain a high commission or embassy in many of those countries. It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement.

3. With the United Nations: Singapore was admitted as the 117th UN member on 21 September 1965. Singapore participates and contributes to activities and events organised by the UN. Read on to find out more. Example of Singapore’s involvement

4. Singapore held a rotational seat on the UN Security Council from 2001-2002, as well as served as it president. It participated in UN peacekeeping/observer missions in Kuwait, Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, and East Timor. Example of Singapore’s involvement

6. states clearly the rights of landlocked states to access the seas

7. provides guidelines on how to safeguard the marine environment

8. protects the freedom of scientific research in the sea.It was organised to decide on the territorial rights of a country over its waters. Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore’s former representative to the UN, served as its president in the third conference from 1980 to 1982. Example of Singapore’s involvement

9. With APEC APEC was suggested in January 1989 by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke for more effective economic cooperation across the Pacific Rim region. Singapore joined APEC in 1989. The APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore. was established to coordinate the activities of the organisation Example of Singapore’s involvement

10. Singapore is also involved in helping the organisationfacilitate economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, in addition to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community. Example of Singapore’s involvement

11. Benefits The benefits are as follows: Singapore was admitted as the 117th UN member on 21 September 1965.Membership in UN approves the sovereignty and independence of small states. This indirectly contributes to the independence and territorial integrity of Singapore, allowing Singapore to gain more respect and confidence from other countries. Foreigners may too be more willing to invest in Singapore.

12. Benefits Adding on, The UN also enables a small country like Singapore to develop friendship with other nations, monitor world trends and collect valuable information. Developing friendships will allow Singapore to receive aid in times of need. The world trends will meanwhile allow Singapore to predict and prevent what may happen in the future.

13. Benefits Furthermore, when Singapore became a member, UN helped Singapore by sending experts to advise and help in the economic and social development of the country. For example, Dr Albert Winsemius, an economic expert from UN helped Singapore in its industrial planning and development from the period of independence to the late 1970s. This allowed Singapore to gain stability and prosperity economically and socially.

14. Benefits Fourthly, Singapore was elected by the UN General Assembly to serve as a non-permanent Security Council member from 2001 to 2002. Being assigned to an important role, the election boosted the confidence other countries have towards Singapore. This allows Singapore to look capable and people will be assured putting their assets in Singapore.

15. Benefits Most importantly Singapore is an extremely small country without any natural resources. She is very vulnerable and in times of crisis, international friendship can prove to be very beneficial and offer help to solve economic and social problems.

16. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? For bilateral relations, it is true that Singapore enjoys good relations with many countries in the world, including the United States of America, United Kingdom and her neighbour countries. However, it is naturally obvious that if we are on good terms with many countries, should any 2 of Singapore’s friends end up in an argument, Singapore will be stuck in a sticky situation over whose stand should they stand on. Of course, the most viable way is to stay neutral, but that will eventually make Singapore look like a fair-weather friend.

17. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? For example, Russia and the United States are both Singapore’s allies. Russia and the United States had hardly or even never enjoyed good relations with each other since Russia became a Communist state and this has not changed even in the recent years, when Russia has switched away from its Communist ideology (Although efforts were made to improve them this year). For example, in August 2008, South Ossetia was invaded by Georgia. Russia supported South Ossetia while the United States stood on Georgia’s stand, enraging Russia. Their relations were also strained when undercover Russian spies were caught in the United States. !

18. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? So what will Singapore do should the relations between Russia and the United States become takes a stand for the worst? This shows that bilateral relations, while effective in helping Singapore maintaining good relations, might not prove beneficial in the long run.

19. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? It is also true that Singapore enjoys good relations with her neighbours now. However, what about in the past? Singapore has been bombed by Indonesia during the period of Konfrontasi. Malaysia left us in the lurch just after our independence and did not do much to help us. Even up to now, some outstanding issues between Singapore and Indonesia include the bans on the export of sand, and granite, both of which, Singapore's construction industry is reliant on. With this, can one still say that bilateral relations have been VERY helpful in helping Singapore (or at least better than the other two)?

20. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? Regional relations were too quite crucial in helping Singapore. However, most of this help were only towards the economic sector. The 3 aims of ASEAN was to: 1) Promote economic, social and cultural development of the region 2) protect the peace and stability of the region 3) provide opportunities for member countries to discuss and resolve differences peacefully. ASEAN has introduced Free Trade Area, the Comprehensive Investment Area and the Single Aviation Market. These have led to good economic integration among member countries and there are even plans to create an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. However, little policies have been introduced in other sectors such as in the social sector. Definitely, if little was done in those sectors, they will have only a minor impact on Singapore. Since regional relations have only improved our economy (and our relations with neighbour countries), is it the best form of diplomacy? Is there anything better?

21. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? Finally, international relations can be said to have benefited Singapore the most. Her entry into the United Nations (UN) on 21 September 1965 has helped paved the way for rapid development of Singapore (as it allowed Singapore to gain recognition as a sovereign state). For example, after her entry, the UN sent experts to advise and help in the economic and social development of Singapore, including Dr Albert Winsemius, who helped Singapore in its industrial planning and development from Singapore’s independence to the late 1970s.

22. Why is it the most beneficial form of diplomacy? The UN also served as a stepping stone for Singapore to develop friendship with other nations, monitor world trends and collect valuable information. All these has laid the foundation for Singapore to prosper as a powerful economy and improve her relations with the rest of the world. Because of this, our group can say that international relations have benefited Singapore the most more than the other types of diplomacy.

23. Bibliography CONTENT: www.un.org/en/ www.wikipedia.org Sec 3 Upper Secondary Social Studies textbook by Curriculum Planning and Development Division of Ministry of Education, Singapore Pictures: http://www.climateforum.com.au/images/united-nations1.jpg http://english.hhi.co.kr/UploadFactory/Editor/patrol-vessel.jpg www.armybase.us www.commons.wikimedia.org www.smartstockmarket.com www.ourstory.asia1.com.sg www.vermillionmediagroup.com www.educol.net www.usahockey.com/aaha www.aseansec.org www.supermerlion.com