TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Singapore's nearly 50-year military training program in Taiwan faces potential disruption amid rising Taiwan Strait tensions, according to an editorial published Monday (Jan. 19). A member of the Singaporean Armed Forces wrote in the Hong Kong-based Asia Times that Singapore could consider withdrawing its troops from Taiwan if cross-strait tensions escalate. The editorial raises questions about the future of Project Starlight, a long-standing defense cooperation agreement between Singapore and Taiwan.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently restated Singapore's opposition to Taiwanese independence, drawing a response from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部). The Asia Times editorial suggested Project Starlight could become a bargaining chip in the Taiwan Strait conflict, with Singapore potentially using troop withdrawal as leverage. The author indicated Singapore might accelerate troop relocation to safer locations such as Brunei or Australia, signaling a possible shift in the city-state's Taiwan policy.
"In recent years, Singapore's relationship with China has become closer," said Tzu-Yun Su (蘇紫雲), director of the Division of Defense Strategy and Resources at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (國防院), a government-affiliated defense think tank. Project Starlight began in 1975 when Singapore and Taiwan signed an agreement allowing up to 10,000 Singaporean troops to train annually in Taiwan. Since 2016, Singapore has gradually reduced its military training presence in Taiwan to around 3,000 soldiers.
Singapore has expanded its overseas military training sites to Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and France, yet Taiwan remains a key location. Ying-Yu Lin (林穎佑), an associate professor at Tamkang University (淡江大學), said military exchanges through Project Starlight have benefited Singapore. "Taiwan currently has M1 (Abrams) tanks, HIMARS, and Apache helicopters. From a military exchange perspective, Singaporean forces could interact with Taiwan, which would definitely be beneficial for Singapore's island defense operations," he said.