US embassy cable - 05SINGAPORE3443

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 003443 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL FROM AMBASSADOR HERBOLD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, ETRD, SN 
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE SCENESETTER FOR A/S HILL 
 
1. (SBU) We warmly welcome your December 14-15 visit to 
Singapore.  Singapore's leadership highly values access to 
senior Washington policymakers and will regard your visit as 
a testament to the importance we attach to the relationship. 
They will be very interested in your views on developments in 
Asia and the U.S. role in the region and can be counted on to 
provide thoughtful views on questions such as terrorism in 
Southeast Asia and the rise of China.  Your visit offers the 
opportunity to advance our counter-proliferation objectives 
with the GOS and to send a public message throughout the 
region of the United States' commitment here. 
 
Strategic Partners, not Allies 
------------------------------ 
 
2. (SBU) Our excellent relationship with Singapore is founded 
on a convergence of views on key strategic issues and 
substantial trade and investment ties.  Singapore views a 
strong U.S. diplomatic, military, and economic presence in 
the region as essential to regional peace and prosperity. 
Singapore is a valuable logistics hub for U.S. forces and 
seeks greater interoperability with us, highlighted by its 
recent selection of the F-15T for its Next Generation 
Fighter.  To expand our strong security ties, President Bush 
and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signed the Strategic 
Framework Agreement (SFA) in July.  As with our two-year old 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the SFA is designed to make a 
good relationship even better.  To preserve its autonomy and 
credibility with its neighbors, however, Singapore limits its 
closeness to us.  It specifically does not want to be a 
treaty ally; our military leases facilities from the GOS -- 
there are no U.S. "bases" on the island. 
 
Terrorism and Non-proliferation 
------------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Singapore is a reliable and highly capable partner 
in the Global War on Terrorism.  In 2001, the GOS uncovered a 
plot by Jemaah Islamiya to bomb targets in Singapore, 
including this mission.  Singapore continues to view itself 
as a high-profile terrorist target and the GOS regularly 
warns its citizens that a terrorist attack is inevitable. 
Singapore's leaders are concerned about the growth of radical 
Islam in Southeast Asia and the long-term threat to secular 
authority. 
 
4. (SBU) Singapore is an active member in counterterrorist 
programs such as the Proliferation Security Initiative and 
the Container Security Initiative and is working with 
Malaysia and Indonesia to enhance maritime security in the 
Strait of Malacca.  We have been working with Singapore -- a 
major transshipment hub -- to expand and tighten its export 
controls to bring them up to world class standards.  As an 
IAEA board member, Singapore has supported our efforts to 
press Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. 
 
Regional Issues 
--------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Singapore views the Taiwan Strait and the Korean 
Peninsula as the most significant potential flash points in 
East Asia.  In particular, GOS leaders worry that Taiwan 
could spark a conflict with China over perceived moves toward 
independence, but this concern has lessened over the last 
year.  While less directly affected by the Korean Peninsula, 
Singaporean leaders will welcome your insights on the Six 
Party Talks and other ways we are trying to modify North 
Korean behavior.  This offers an opportunity to highlight the 
importance of our non-proliferation objectives. 
 
6. (SBU) Singapore supported an inclusive approach to the 
East Asia Summit and, in general, encourages outside powers 
to take an interest in Southeast Asia.  The GOS frequently 
urges us to engage more with Indonesia and welcomes our 
resumption of military ties there. 
 
Democracy? 
---------- 
 
7. (SBU) PM Lee is only the third head of government in 
Singapore's forty years and his People's Action Party retains 
a tight grip on power.  The Singapore leadership openly 
rejects the notion that Singapore should adopt a 
"western-style democracy" and is proud of its record of 
catapulting Singapore from the Third World to the First in 
only two generations.  At the same time, the senior 
leadership recognizes the need for openness and creativity in 
an increasingly advanced services and knowledge-based 
economy.  It is grappling with how to encourage that without 
loosening its control. 
HERBOLD