Relationship dossier
Singapore
Taiwan
Relationship assessment
Substantial unofficial economic and security cooperation within the limits of Singapore’s One China policy
Singapore toward Taiwan
+40Singapore maintains substantial unofficial economic ties with Taiwan, including through the bilateral economic agreement that entered into force in 2014. Singapore has also maintained military training arrangements in Taiwan. Singapore recognizes the People’s Republic of China, so its engagement with Taiwan is conducted on an unofficial basis.
Taiwan toward Singapore
+40Taiwan has maintained substantial unofficial economic relations with Singapore, including through the bilateral economic agreement that entered into force in 2014. Taiwan has also hosted Singaporean military training under a longstanding arrangement. Engagement is conducted without formal diplomatic relations.
Overall relationship
+40The relationship combines durable unofficial economic ties, a bilateral trade agreement and longstanding security cooperation. Singapore’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China constrains the formal level of engagement, but has not prevented substantive cooperation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Singapore and Taiwan maintain substantial unofficial ties, including economic cooperation and longstanding Singaporean military training in Taiwan. Their 2013 economic agreement, which entered into force in 2014, provides a durable framework for trade. Singapore recognizes the People’s Republic of China and conducts relations with Taiwan unofficially, shaping the limits of bilateral engagement.
Key developments
Singapore and Taiwan signed an economic cooperation agreement, which entered into force in 2014.
Singapore has maintained military training arrangements in Taiwan.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of the economic agreement are unclear.
- The scale and future of Singaporean military training in Taiwan are unclear.