The Kizuna of Singapore-Japan Relations
Abstract
2021 marked the 55th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Singapore and Japan. Although Singapore is a relatively young country, it has forged a strong relationship with Japan over the past five decades. Singapore had learnt a lot from Japan during its development, including Japan’s productivity and adapting Japan’s koban system. Based on convergent interests, Singapore and Japan have benefitted from working with each other in many areas, most prominently in the economic realm. Japan has for a long time played a major role in the prosperity and security of the ASEAN region. What are the new areas of cooperation to keep this strong bilateral relationship going? But what do the ongoing global challenges and uncertainties portend for the future of Singapore-Japan relations? How will the kizuna between Singapore and Japan be stretched or tested under these challenges or will they be strengthened further?
About the Speaker
Ambassador Peter Tan Hai Chuan has been Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan since 27 October 2019. He presented his Letter of Credence to His Majesty Emperor Naruhito on 12 February 2020.
Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, Ambassador Tan has served in various capacities on issues related to Northeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. He served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo as First Secretary from 1995 to 1998 and in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as Counsellor from 2001 to 2002. He also served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo from
2002 to 2005 as Counsellor, and subsequently as Acting Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission. He was appointed as Second Director of the Southeast Asia Directorate on 27 December 2005, and served as Director from October 2006 to August 2010. He was Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (concurrently accredited to Mongolia) from February 2011 to January 2015. Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Tan was Deputy Secretary/Southeast Asia & ASEAN in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from January 2015 to September 2019.
Ambassador Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Hons II Upper from the National University of Singapore in 1992. He was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and obtained his Master of Arts (East Asian Studies) from Columbia University, USA, in 2000.
Ambassador Tan was awarded Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008.
