Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan asserted on April 7 that Singapore maintains a firm, principled stance regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that such transit constitutes a fundamental right rather than a concession granted by neighboring states.
The Principle of International Law Over Negotiation
During a parliamentary discussion concerning the impact of Middle East instability and governmental responses, Dr. Balakrishnan clarified that Singapore would not enter negotiations with Iran to secure safe passage through the strait. He emphasized that attempting to do so would undermine the established legal framework provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), under which Singapore is a signatory.
“There is a right of transit passage; it is not a privilege granted by the bordering state,” stated Dr. Balakrishnan. He added, “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.”
The minister further asserted that this right constitutes customary international law and cautioned against treating it as an exemption for states that have not ratified UNCLOS. These remarks were made in response to a question from MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who inquired if the government was consulting with Iranian authorities about transit arrangements or willingness to pay any fees.
The situation in the region has prompted differing responses globally; for instance, other countries like the Philippines, which sources 98 per cent of its oil from the Middle East, have reportedly struck deals with Iran. Additionally, nations including India, Iraq, Thailand, and Pakistan are reported to have secured safe transit routes, while data cited by China’s Ministry of Commerce indicated that some vessels were paying fees up to US$2 million (S$2.6 million) to Iran for passage.
While confirming prior contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before the war, Dr. Balakrishnan stated, “But 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.”
Strategic Importance of Chokepoints
The importance of the Strait of Hormuz to Singapore was highlighted, especially given the nation’s proximity to the equally critical Strait of Malacca. The minister pointed out that more maritime oil—both crude and refined—and a greater volume of global container trade pass through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore than through the Strait of Hormuz.
Furthermore, while the narrowest point in the Strait of Hormuz is 21 nautical miles wide, the comparable bottleneck at the Singapore Strait measures less than two nautical miles. This led Dr. Balakrishnan to argue that a “categorical position” upholding international law and UNCLOS as the “Constitution of the oceans” is necessary.
Discussions on Energy Resilience
Separately, during the session, Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science &Technology Tan See Leng addressed questions concerning energy supply. He reported that Singapore is intensifying discussions with neighboring countries to secure energy supplies and explore new sources. These talks also incorporate renewable energy imports.
Tan revealed that Singapore had granted conditional approval for the import of up to approximately 8.35 gigawatts of renewable energy, an increase from the initial target of 6 gigawatts. This capacity is slated to come from eleven projects spanning Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sarawak (Malaysia), and Vietnam.
In response to inquiries regarding strengthening regional cooperation through avenues like joint nuclear investments within ASEAN, Dr. Tan cautioned that while Singapore can be a rapid adopter of new technologies, it cannot be the first mover due to public safety concerns. Regarding energy stock levels, when questioned about meeting international standards for emergency resilience (such as maintaining oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports), Dr. Tan assured members that “we have supplies to last for months, and we will keep it as that.”
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