Washington Policy Center Special Luncheon Featuring U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Pat Herbold
Singapore as a Strategic and Economic Partner
2007-04
In an increasingly connected world, international ties are not a secondary matter but a primary concern. Pat Herbold, the current U.S. Ambassador to Singapore and former Washington Policy Center board member, illustrated the importance of our international relationships in her first official public appearance in Seattle since her appointment by President Bush in 2005.
The luncheon was held March 27th at the Washington Athletic Club’s Crystal Ballroom in downtown Seattle. The at-capacity luncheon featured over 130 guests to hear the ambassador speak on the positive benefits of our relationship with Singapore. Cosponsoring the event with the Washington Policy Center was the Discovery Institute, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, The National Bureau of Asian Research, Seattle CityClub, World Affairs Council, U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.
Paul Guppy, the Washington Policy Center’s Vice President for Research opened the luncheon with a summary and analysis of some of the legislation making its way through Olympia during this legislative session. First Paul spoke about the “Healthcare Connector” bill and the unexpected complexities of the plan. He then provided some innovative alternatives to improve health coverage such as allowing Washington State residents to buy health insurance legalized in other states. On schools, Paul painted out that while education funding as a portion of state budget may be decreasing, education funding is actually increasing and this has been the trend in Washington State. He stressed the need to make meaningful strides in education instead of simply spending more.
Introducing the Ambassador was Washington Policy Center board member and former chair Sarah Rindlaub. Ambassador Herbold was nominated in early 2005 by President Bush. Following some intensive training in Washington D.C., she assumed her post in November 2005.
Ambassador Herbold began her remarks with four points summarizing U.S. engagement in Asia:
She went on to say the United States is best served with a world at peace, when nations allow their citizens to choose their own futures, and when citizens enjoy an ever-rising standard of living. The Ambassador then described the economic integration of the United States and Asia. Asia is America’s largest trading partner, with over $800 billion in two-way trade annually. The United States is the largest or second largest trading partner to every nation in East and Southeast Asia. Five of America’s 10 largest trading partners are in Asia including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
Given the weight of the economic ties, the Ambassador stressed how the United States seeks to maintain the dynamism of the relationship. She described the signing of Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Australia and negotiations with South Korea and Malaysia. These agreements seek to bring down barriers between nations and promote future prosperity.
Ambassador Herbold also stressed the positive, two-way nature of the relationship. While the United States is sometimes criticized for its foreign policy in parts of the world, Ambassador Herbold described how U.S. partners in Asia would like to see more American involvement in the region. She stressed the need to build on this foundation to continue to promote prosperity and peace in the region.
The Ambassador then turned to the rising integration of Southeast Asia and the growing sophistication of the region’s international cooperation. Economic and social cohesion is being facilitated by organizations such as:
Following President Bush’s visit last year to the APEC summit in Hanoi, he and other regional leaders endorsed a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific or FTAAP. While FTAAP is a long-term goal, economic integration as a means to boost prosperity are among America’s top goals for the region. A long-term vision can show meaning and direction in short term developments and help paint an overall picture of our foreign policy.
However, American goals in the region are not merely economic. Asian allies have an important role in the war on terrorism. Singapore’s location as a major port gives it an important role in protecting American borders. Singapore sits on the straights of Malacca through which nearly a third of world cargo and half of oil shipments move. With many containers headed for American ports, Singapore is critical to protecting against potential threats. Cargo screening and thorough analysis of the passenger manifests are among the ways that Singapore continues to help the United States protect its borders while maintaining the free flow of goods.
These efforts are part of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy’s Secure Freight Initiative (SFI), an unprecedented effort to elevate security of the nation’s ports by expanding security beyond our nation’s ports. Singapore is one of the first nations to test new technologies in the screening of container-based cargo moving through its port.
Security is central to a prosperous economy, and our partners in Asia are aware of this. APEC members have passed the Secure Trade in the APEC Region Initiative or STAR to coordinate security measures. The region is also tackling other transnational problems such as human trafficking and money laundering, that demand support on all sides to find solutions.
Regional health organizations are coordinating to anticipate and locate potential pandemics in an era of unprecedented movement of goods and people. Following the Avian Influenza outbreaks, Singapore is among the most prepared nations in the region for first response. A high level of preparedness and preparation will be critical in the event of an outbreak and minimizing its effects.
The Ambassador’s comments then turned to the future of our relationships in Asia and specifically with ASEAN. In the future she said, Americans and Southeast Asians will move even closer together.
In November of 2005, President Bush and ASEAN leaders issued a joint vision statement on the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership and last year Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ASEAN ministers signed a plan of action for the Enhanced Partnership. The Enhanced Partnership is a comprehensive initiative addressing economic, educational, cultural and security cooperation in the future. These agreements will help outline future coordination between government agencies on all sides and provide guidance about future direction.
Outlining further economic integration, last year the United States signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement or TIFA with ASEAN. Initiatives such as ASEAN Single Window, an agreement standardizing customs procedures, and the standardization of agricultural and pharmaceutical regulations all seek to bring down barriers and ease the movement of goods and services across the region.
Washington State is particularly connected to Singapore. In 2006 Washington was the third largest exporting state to Singapore, with 2.3 billion dollars in exports that year. While Singapore is a nation of merely 4.5 million citizens, our exports to them amount to almost half the value of our exports to China. Companies such as Seagate, Exxon Mobile and Pfizer are among the major American companies investing in Singapore and utilizing the island nation’s strengths to grow their businesses.
The links between the United States and Singapore are not merely economic and political. There are currently over 50 university exchange programs between Singapore and U.S. institutions. Over 5,000 Singaporeans work or study in the United States annually, and this year the number of applicants hit an all time high. Over 250,000 Singaporeans visit the United States annually, 80,000 through a visa waiver program the United States operates with friendly nations to facilitate easier travel across our borders.
Ambassador Herbold’s comments moved to the bi-lateral security relationship the United States shares with Singapore. While the United States does not have a treaty alliance with Singapore, the Ambassador stressed the strength and depth of the relationship. The Free Trade Agreement, (FTA), and Strategic Framework Agreement, (SFA), are the basis of our strong relationship, in addition to mutual goals and outlook. She illustrated our cooperation with an anecdote describing how Singaporeans training in Texas with their National Guard counterparts took the first helicopters bound for Louisiana to rescue those trapped by the rising waters of Hurricane Katrina.
Ambassador Herbold noted how a small nation such as Singapore benefits uniquely from the strong military relationship it shares with the United States. A new facility to open in Idaho will house 12 Boeing built F-15 jet fighters purchased by Singapore and serve in addition to locations in Arizona and Texas where the Singaporean military trains with our military. Our bi-lateral relationship gives Singapore access to expertise and facilities that would be hard for the small island nation to find otherwise.
Singapore has provided strong support for U.S. forces overseas. Singaporean naval and aircraft vessels have been deployed the Persian Gulf, and they have provided police trainers to help the reconstruction effort in Iraq.
Singapore’s government just recently announced contribution of a provisional reconstruction team to Afghanistan. A team of dentists will assist in the staffing of a hospital and a team of engineers will assist in the reconstruction of bridges in the war torn nation. Significant efforts such as these show how even small nations such as Singapore can be important members of U.S. multilateral alliances.
Singapore’s location and relations with the nations near to it gives a different perspective on the political actions in many Asian nations. Lee Kwan Yew, Singapore’s former Prime Minister and the father of modern Singapore exemplifies this with his insights into the Hu government in China and provides the United States with a sophisticated understanding of his fellow officials. This cooperation and sharing of information is yet another way in which America benefits from its friendship with Singapore.
Following her remarks, the Ambassador had a few minutes before the end of the luncheon to take questions from the audience.
By the end of the luncheon Ambassador Herbold’s conclusion was clear. As Asia becomes increasingly economically and politically integrated, it is important the United States continue to pursue a proactive foreign policy in the region. The United States is a Pacific Rim nation and is critical to Asia’s continued success and prosperity. Our strong relationships with allies such as Singapore are important to seeing our interests represented in the future. She stressed it is important we do not rest on past successes but continue to strength our connections with nations in the region, particularly Singapore.