Taiwan’s disclosure of Singapore military training draws attention | Taiwan News

Nikkei Asia also noted that Taiwan previously publicized Premier Cho Jung-tai’s (卓榮泰) visit to Japan in a personal capacity. The report said visits by senior Taiwanese officials to Japan are generally considered politically sensitive because of the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Media coverage of Cho’s trip reportedly drew complaints from Japan.

Singaporean servicemember Siddharath Bhowmick wrote in a January Asia Times article, before entering military service, that Project Starlight serves as a deterrent, per UP Media. He wrote that an attack on Singaporean troops stationed in Taiwan could justify US intervention.

Bhowmick argued that the program’s deterrent value helps explain Taiwan’s continued support for the arrangement. At the same time, he warned that the cooperation could expose both deployed personnel and Singapore itself to additional risks in the event of a regional conflict.

Bhowmick also called for a more active Singaporean role in maintaining cross-strait stability and discouraging what he described as pro-independence tendencies in Taiwan, singling out President Lai Ching-te (賴清德). Singapore’s defense ministry later said the article reflected Bhowmick’s personal views, per Liberty Times.

The remarks came around the same time as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s (黃循財) public opposition to Taiwan independence.

Institute for National Defense and Security Research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) noted that Singapore has gradually reduced the number of troops participating in Project Starlight since 2016, per ETtoday. He suggested that the article could be intended to probe Taiwan’s red lines or represent cognitive warfare targeting Taiwan.