{"id":42557,"date":"2026-04-08T01:02:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T17:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=42557"},"modified":"2026-04-08T01:02:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T17:02:37","slug":"spore-will-not-negotiate-for-safe-passage-through-strait-of-hormuz-as-matter-of-principle-vivian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=42557","title":{"rendered":"S\u2019pore will not negotiate for safe passage through Strait of Hormuz as matter of principle: Vivian"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->Singapore will not negotiate with Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of principle, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on April 7. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Doing so would implicitly erode the legal principle of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which Singapore is a signatory, he said during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/unprecedented-energy-disruption-from-middle-east-conflict-govt-announces-support-measures?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">discussion in Parliament<\/span><\/a> on the impact of the Middle East conflict and the Government\u2019s response.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThere is a right of transit passage, it\u2019s not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state,\u201d said Dr Balakrishnan. \u201cIt\u2019s not a licence to be subjugated at all. It is not a toll to be paid. It is a right of all nations\u2019 ships to traverse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that Singapore also takes the position that the right of transit passage is part of customary international law. \u201cThis is not a \u2018get out of jail free\u2019 card for states that have not ratified UNCLOS.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The minister was responding to WP MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who asked whether the Government is engaging with the Iranian authorities to secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz for Singapore-flagged vessels, and if the Republic would be open to paying a toll.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Vivian Balakrishnan on why S&#039;pore doesn\u2019t negotiate with Iran for safe passage of ships\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LRgjxoaG46A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Several nations \u2013 such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/asia\/se-asia\/iran-to-allow-safe-passage-of-philippine-ships-fuel-supply-through-strait-of-hormuz-says-manila?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">the Philippines<\/span><\/a>, which imports 98 per cent of its oil from the Middle East\u00a0\u2013 have struck deals with Iran for safe passage through the embattled strait, which was effectively closed on Feb 28. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Countries such as India, Iraq, Thailand and Pakistan have secured safe transit, while China\u2019s Ministry of Commerce website, citing a recent Lloyd\u2019s List report, said some ships are paying US$2 million (S$2.6 million) fees to Iran for transit through the waterway. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Dr Balakrishnan told the House that he engaged with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi\u00a0before the war, adding: \u201cI\u2019m sure I will engage him in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said: \u201cBut as a matter of principle, and not because we\u2019re taking sides, I cannot engage in negotiations for safe passage of ships or negotiate on toll rates.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Passage through the Strait of Hormuz is of profound importance to Singapore, he added, as the country sits on the Strait of Malacca \u2013 another critical choke point for global shipping.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He pointed out that more maritime oil \u2013 crude and refined \u2013 passes through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore than the Strait of Hormuz. Similarly, more global container trade flows through the region than the Strait of Hormuz. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While the narrowest point in the Strait of Hormuz is 21 nautical miles wide, the narrowest point in the Strait of Singapore is less than two nautical miles wide, he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cDo you understand now why we have to take a categorical position that international law and UNCLOS is the Constitution of the oceans?\u201d Dr Balakrishnan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore remains in close contact with owners and operators of Singapore-flagged or Singapore-registered ships in the Persian Gulf, and agencies are exploring potential opportunities to facilitate safe transit of the ships, he said. Regional counterparts are also being engaged on other possible arrangements. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">During the discussion, Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science &amp;\u00a0Technology Tan See Leng addressed various questions from MPs on energy-related matters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said Singapore is ramping up negotiations and discussions with neighbouring countries on energy supplies, and <!-- -->the potential of exploring new areas<!-- --> to tap.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those conversations happen alongside discussions on renewable energy imports, he said, adding that Singapore has given conditional approval to import up to about 8.35 gigawatts of renewable energy, exceeding the original target of 6 gigawatts. The conditional approval was for 11 projects from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sarawak (Malaysia) and Vietnam.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) asked if the <!-- -->current <!-- -->energy crisis provides an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in energy resilience, including exploring ASEAN collaboration in nuclear energy, such as joint investments and joint operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In response, Dr Tan said it is \u201cnot for want or lack of trying\u201d and, regardless of how it collaborates with other ASEAN states, Singapore must ensure that the technology is safe. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There are some<!-- --> <!-- -->nuclear sites <!-- -->in the process of <!-- -->being commissioned in China and the US, but there is no site currently operating small modular reactors \u2013 the kind of nuclear technology Singapore is studying.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Singapore can be a fast adopter but not a first mover in this area, he said. \u201cWe will never put our population at risk<!-- --> of<!-- --> adopting a first-of-a-kind technology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He also responded to WP MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) on whether Singapore\u2019s energy stock levels meet an international benchmark for emergency energy resilience \u2013 oil stock levels should be equivalent to no less than 90 days of net imports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI\u2019m not asking for us to reveal all our cards, but just our adherence to this international standard,\u201d Mr Giam said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Dr Tan said he is glad Mr Giam recognised that this is an issue of national security. \u201cSuffice to say, I\u2019ve put it on record that we have supplies to last for months, and we will keep it as that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/spore-will-not-negotiate-for-safe-passage-through-strait-of-hormuz-as-matter-of-principle-vivian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Singapore will not negotiate with Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of principle, said Foreign Minister Vivian&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42559,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}