Singapore’s spat with China over the island state’s nine armoured personnel carriers impounded in Hong Kong has intensified after Beijing suggested their release required the Singapore to abandon its low-key relations with Taiwan.
The escalation comes at an important moment in Asian alliance politics, with China seeking to isolate Taiwan further by putting pressure on nations such as Singapore.
“China-Singapore relations have hit rock bottom,” said Shi Yinhong, an authority on China’s foreign relations at Beijing’s Renmin University. Mr Shi linked the dispute to Singapore’s trade and defence relations with Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, and its position on Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
您已閱讀33%（722字），剩餘67%（1448字）包含更多重要資訊，訂閱以繼續探索完整內容，並享受更多專屬服務。