SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has come under scrutiny online following remarks in Parliament that he has not contacted his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (7 Apr), Dr Balakrishnan asserted that Singapore would not enter into discussions with Iran over transit through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of principle, as doing so would run counter to established international maritime law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He said, “There is a right of transit passage; it’s not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state. It’s not a licence to be subjugated at all. It is not a toll to be paid. It is a right of all nations’ ships to traverse.”
Noting that Singapore views this right as part of customary international law, the minister said, “…as a matter of principle, and not because we’re taking sides, I cannot engage in negotiations for safe passage of ships or negotiate on toll rates.”
While many Singaporeans online supported Dr Balakrishnan’s approach as Singapore’s role as a maritime hub depends on defending rights under international law, one part of the minister’s speech raised eyebrows.
