Singapore shows readiness for nuclear power, could collaborate with Asean countries: IAEA chief
'My personal impression is that within a few years, you will see your first nuclear power (project) – be it small or bigger – and perhaps in a wider sense, in combination or cooperation with your Asean neighbors,' said Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday (Jul 25).
Grossi was speaking at a dialogue on nuclear power and safety at the National University of Singapore, organised by the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute.
He believes that Singapore is 'prepared to host nuclear power relatively soon', given its technological expertise and institutional maturity, as well as its decarbonisation goals.
The Republic is currently studying advanced nuclear power technologies but has not decided whether to pursue nuclear power.
Singapore could be 'the most perfect example of a country that needs nuclear energy,' said Grossi, citing how land constraints make renewable options such as wind power challenging.
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Regional cooperation on nuclear power is 'not impossible', he added, citing how Slovenia and Croatia have 'very successfully' collaborated on a nuclear power plant.
Many Asean economies are exploring nuclear power, albeit in different ways, depending on their individual economies. 'All of them are saying we want nuclear energy; how can we get it?' noted Grossi.
Asked whether the recent tensions between Thailand and Cambodia could affect nuclear power ambitions in Asean, Grossi acknowledged that the world is 'increasingly fragmented'.
'But in parallel with that, we have a number of very positive developments in energy, in industry, in infrastructure all over the world.
'So the fact that we have conflict does not affect the reality that our economies continue moving – and nuclear power is part of that,' he said.
He cited the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a promising trend, as they could offer an 'off-the-rack' option for nuclear power.
'Let's imagine, if this technology succeeds, and we see it being applied in many countries… it can be transported even by truck, lorry or barge… it's a completely different scenario than a traditional nuclear power plant,' said Grossi.
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Explainer-Could the Palestinians become a full member of the United Nations?
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) as they meet at the Kremlin, in this file photo, in Moscow, Russia, 10 May 2025. Yuri Kochetkov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo UNITED NATIONS - Momentum seems to be building for more countries to recognize a Palestinian state in Israeli-occupied territory after France said last week it would do so in September. Britain said Tuesday it would follow suit at the U.N. General Assembly unless Israel had taken steps to ease the Gaza crisis and bring about peace. The Palestinian Authority, which represents the Palestinian people at the United Nations, where the delegation is officially known as the State of Palestine, is not a full member and has no vote in the 193-member General Assembly. Here are some details about the status of the Palestinians at the United Nations: WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PALESTINIANS AT THE U.N.? The Palestinians are a non-member, observer state at the United Nations - the same status as the Holy See (Vatican). The General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in November 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to "non-member state" from "entity." There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions. WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR? Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Water supply issues during Toa Payoh blaze affected firefighting operations; SCDF investigating Singapore 3 taken to hospital after fire in Marsiling flat Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Singapore Tampines, Toa Payoh BTO flats most popular among first-time home buyers in July HDB launch Sport Leon Marchand sets first world record at World Aquatics C'ships in Singapore Singapore Jail, fine for man linked to case involving 3 bank accounts that received over $680m in total Singapore Provision shop owner who raped 11-year-old gets more than 14 years' jail Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made In May 2024, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommending the U.N. Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably." That resolution also granted the Palestinians some additional rights and privileges from September 2024 - like a seat among the U.N. members in the assembly hall. The May vote by the General Assembly amounted to a global survey of support for the Palestinian cause to become a full member - a move that would effectively recognize a Palestinian state - after the United States vetoed the step in the Security Council in April 2024. The Palestinians remain a non-member observer state as the 15-member Security Council has not acted on the General Assembly recommendation. HOW DOES THE UNITED NATIONS ADMIT NEW MEMBER STATES? Countries seeking to join the United Nations usually present an application to the U.N. secretary-general, who sends it to the Security Council for an assessment and vote. A council committee of the 15 members first assesses an application to see if it satisfies the requirements for U.N. membership. The application can then either be shelved or put forward for a formal vote in the Security Council. Approval requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the U.S., Russia, France, China or Britain. If the council approves the membership request, it then moves to the General Assembly for approval. A membership request needs a two-thirds majority to be cleared by the assembly. A country cannot join the United Nations unless both the Security Council and General Assembly approve. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PALESTINIAN APPLICATION IN 2011? A U.N. Security Council committee assessed the Palestinian application for several weeks to see if it satisfied requirements for U.N. membership. But the committee was unable to reach a unanimous position and the Security Council never formally voted on a resolution on Palestinian membership. Diplomats said the Palestinians lacked the minimum nine votes needed to adopt a resolution. Even if they had won enough support, the United States had said it would veto the move. WHAT IS THE U.S. POSITION? The United States, Israel's most powerful and influential ally, has said a Palestinian state can only be established through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The latest round of those negotiations broke down in 2014 and the process remains frozen, with prospects for revival dimmed further by the ongoing, devastating war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Under U.S. law, Washington cannot fund any U.N. organization that grants full membership to any group that does not have the "internationally recognized attributes" of statehood. The United States cut funding in 2011 for the Paris-based U.N. cultural agency, UNESCO, after the Palestinians joined as a full member. REUTERS
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Thai-Cambodia ceasefire an ASEAN win - but US, China ‘loomed large'. What roles did they play?
BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Artillery fire along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border might have fallen silent for now, but the battle for regional sway between the United States and China continues. A joint statement issued after an unconditional ceasefire agreement between Thailand Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet was brokered in Malaysia on Monday (Jul 28) revealed that the meeting was co-organised by the US, with China's 'active participation'. While analysts lauded the ceasefire as a win for Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), repeated references to Washington and Beijing by the three PMs at the post-talks press conference point to deeper superpower involvement. China's foreign ministry also announced on Wednesday that Thailand and Cambodian representatives met in Shanghai for an informal meeting, while US President Donald Trump declared himself 'president of peace' in his social media post on Monday. 'ASEAN hosted the talks, but the weight of Washington and Beijing loomed large,' said veteran Malaysian diplomat Ilango Karuppannan, also a former High Commissioner to Singapore and Ambassador to Lebanon. 'Malaysia helped shape the outcome but it did so in an environment made more conducive by external push and pull factors,' he told CNA. However, the approaches by Beijing and Washington differ. Analysts say the US uses a carrot-and-stick strategy, leveraging tariffs for influence. In contrast, China prefers quiet engagement to safeguard its regional interests. To observers, the episode illustrates how both powers remain aligned - at least tactically - in preventing further escalation in a region where their economic and strategic stakes are deeply entrenched. Analysts note that neither Beijing nor Washington benefits from prolonged instability along the Mekong frontier, which could disrupt supply chains, threaten infrastructure investments, and trigger wider political fallout across mainland Southeast Asia. In the immediate term, analysts say both powers may see some reputational gains among regional elites for helping to avert a deeper crisis. But the contrast in style also reinforces long-standing perceptions: Washington as forceful but transactional, Beijing as cautious but ever-present. Whether these approaches translate into lasting diplomatic capital may depend on whether the ceasefire holds - and how both powers respond if it begins to unravel. 'Both these superpowers are friends of Southeast Asia. All the countries here depend on these two for either trade or security ... they have an important role to play,' said Karuppannan. WASHINGTON'S OPEN ASSERTION, BEIJING'S QUIET INTERVENTION At the Monday press conference announcing the ceasefire, all three leaders - Anwar, Hun Manet and Phumtham - made references to roles played by the US and China. Anwar described the meeting as 'co-organised by the United States of America, with the active participation of the People's Republic of China', adding that both powers had worked to 'promote a peaceful resolution' to the ongoing conflict. He also noted that their presence, alongside ASEAN and host country Malaysia, reflected 'a shared commitment to peace, dialogue, and regional stability'. Hun Manet offered particular praise for Washington, thanking Trump for what he described as 'decisive mediation' on Jul 26. That same day, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, saying he had spoken directly with Hun Manet and was preparing to call Thailand's acting leader to press for an immediate ceasefire. 'We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal ... if they are fighting - And I have told them so!' Trump wrote. 'Cambodia values the effort of the United States and thanks its government for organising this crucial meeting in support of peace,' said Hun Manet. He also acknowledged Beijing's contribution, thanking 'the government of China for its efforts and participation in this process in order to achieve the outcome that we have today'. Phumtham echoed the sentiment, briefly thanking both China and Trump. These public acknowledgements reinforced the perception that Washington and Beijing had applied pressure to steer the two parties toward de-escalation. Trump has also openly taken credit for brokering the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire deal, declaring that his intervention brought peace and paved the way for renewed trade talks. 'By ending this war, we have saved thousands of lives,' Trump said on Truth Social. 'I have instructed my trade team to restart negotiations on trade. I have now ended many wars in just six months - I am proud to be the President of peace!' Experts said Trump's call for peace was loud - threatening to cease trade talks with both Thailand and Cambodia if hostilities continued - and appeared to work. It was also an opportune window, they added, with both Thailand and Cambodia facing 36 per cent tariff hikes set to begin on Aug 1. 'I guess Trump can shock leaders into action. His direct diplomacy did appear to get the Thais and Cambodians to talk and have an agreement,' said Ja Ian Chong, an assistant political science professor at the National University of Singapore, noting that the US leader had 'linked tariff talks to a ceasefire'. 'ASEAN and Malaysia clearly had a role in facilitating the agreement (but) ASEAN on its own was unable to broker a meeting earlier or to prevent conflict from breaking out,' Chong said. 'But for all the talk about (the importance of Chinese exports), it seems that these states still can't do without the US market.' The Thai-Cambodia ceasefire deal was a clear win for the US, said Bradley Jensen Murg, senior advisor to the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, an NGO think tank in Phnom Penh. 'In the immediate term, on Sino-American competition in the region: the points go to Washington - a much needed 'win' following significant erosion of American influence in 2025,' he said. Trump has vowed to be a 'peacemaker' president during his second White House term, promising to end global conflicts like the Gaza war and Israel-Iran conflict. In Scotland on Monday, he also set a new deadline of 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress in ending the war in Ukraine, threatening sanctions if unmet. Rather than position itself as a public confrontational mediator like the US, China has often favoured behind-the-scenes engagement and messaging that emphasises centrality and regional solutions, experts said. For instance, China today hosted an informal trilateral meeting in Shanghai - its latest diplomatic effort to reinforce the fragile ceasefire and avert further escalation. According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met with representatives from both Cambodia and Thailand in what was described as a 'candid, friendly and cordial' exchange. Representing Cambodia at the meeting was Kung Phoak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Thailand was represented by Jullapong Nonsrichai, executive advisor to the Thai foreign minister. 'The Cambodian and Thai sides reaffirmed to the Chinese side their commitment to the ceasefire consensus and expressed appreciation for the constructive role China has played in helping de-escalate the situation,' the statement read. China's top diplomat Wang Yi has also called for calm. In separate meetings held earlier this month with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn, Wang, who's China's foreign minister, expressed hope that the two Southeast Asian neighbours would uphold peace and resolve their dispute through dialogue. In comparison, analysts said that while the US has adopted a carrot-and-stick approach by using tariffs as economic leverage over both Southeast Asian countries, China by contrast, has been more restrained and nuanced - especially when compared to Trump's headline-grabbing approaches. 'The Trump administration's diplomacy was overtly transactional and used the prospect of favourable or punitive trade terms as leverage,' said Sothyridh Ean, a Cambodian commentator and PhD political science candidate at the University of Toronto. 'Beijing, by contrast, kept a lower profile, preferring quiet envoy-level engagement that protects its regional economic interests while avoiding direct entanglement,' he said, adding that it had chosen a 'wait-and-see approach designed to preserve influence without heavy political costs'. Beijing might not have taken the lead in shaping the ceasefire text but it played a vital role in shaping the environment that allowed Malaysian and ASEAN officials to facilitate talks, said veteran Malaysian diplomat Karuppannan. '(Beijing) would probably have been playing the role behind the scene ... to keep things under the lid, so that (the negotiation) doesn't break apart,' he added. COMMON STRATEGIC INTERESTS For both global superpowers, the Thailand-Cambodia conflict was not merely a border skirmish - it represented a strategic flashpoint in a region central to both US and Chinese economic and geopolitical interests, experts said. Prolonged fighting and instability risks disrupting trade corridors, undermining infrastructure investments, and damaging political capital accumulated over decades, they added. China's interests in keeping the region stable was both 'economic and strategic', said Karuppannan, adding Beijing had poured billions into infrastructure and energy projects through its Belt and Road Initiative, with Cambodia being one of its most loyal partners in the region. 'China relies upon Southeast Asia for not only supplies, but also exports, and trade, and investments,' he said. 'Disruption here would actually bring about ... a big disaster in so far as global trade is concerned.' 'Whether they (China and the US) like it or not, they have to keep Southeast Asia intact.' Ean noted Beijing's delicate balancing act, carefully protecting its 'extensive economic stakes in Thailand and strategic ties with Cambodia'. 'China's bilateral trade with Thailand is very large while trade with Cambodia has grown to record levels,' he said. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, said China's risk calculus was clear. 'China does not want to see a military conflict and attendant instability in mainland Southeast Asia, which it considers its backyard.' Even with an official ceasefire in place, experts said the situation remained fragile and have also cast doubt on whether the deal would hold. 'I am very sceptical that this ceasefire will work,' said Kurlantzick, noting that there had already been reports of 'continued fighting'. 'I'm not sure the ceasefire will make it out this week.' Still, experts agreed that willingness from both Washington and Beijing to support the diplomatic process reflected a rare moment of alignment.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
S'pore's economic resilience will face headwinds in second half of 2025 from tariffs, trade conflicts: MAS
MAS said both the global and local economies remain subject to significant uncertainty for the rest of this year and next. SINGAPORE - Singapore's better-than-expected economic performance so far this year will be put to test in coming months as higher tariff rates kick in, along with the risk of renewed trade conflicts and financial shocks, the central bank said on July 30. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) added that both the global and local economies remain subject to significant uncertainty for the rest of this year and next. MAS said the anticipated rise in tariff rates and persistent uncertainty of their impact are likely to weigh on final demand across many economies. As a result, growth in Singapore's major trading partners is projected to slow over the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. ''Against this backdrop, Singapore's growth is expected to moderate over the rest of the year,'' MAS said in its quarterly Macroeconomic Review report. Still, reflecting the stronger-than-expected performance in the first half, economic growth for the whole of 2025 is expected to be firmer than previously envisaged, MAS added. The economy averted a possible technical recession in the second quarter of 2025, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by a seasonally adjusted 1.4 per cent quarter on quarter. That was a turn around from the 0.5 per cent contraction in the first quarter. On a year on year basis, GDP grew 4.3 per cent, extending the 4.1 per cent growth in the first quarter. However, the stronger-than-expected performance was mainly credited to a pickup in the trade-related sectors of the economy - aided by front-loading of orders by businesses ahead of potential increase in US tariffs. MAS said the front-loading of exports from Singapore and other Asean economies was motivated by a trade truce between the United States and China, lowering the spike in tensions after April 2 announcement of reciprocal tariffs. Coupled with the exemptions for electronics and pharmaceutical products from the tariffs, trade-related activities increased. However, the boost from front-loading was uneven, with re-exports outperforming domestic manufacturing. MAS said in real terms, re-exports surged by 31 per cent year on year in the second quarter, while domestic exports and industrial production grew at a more moderate pace. Trade flows were also lopsided. MAS said Singapore's re-exports were underpinned by the US and Taiwan markets, reflecting the Republic's traditional role in facilitating trade in both the downstream and upstream stages of the production chain. In the downstream segment, there was a sharp increase in Singapore's re-exports of final electronics such as personal computers and mobile phones, as well as a broad range of machinery and equipment bound for the US. But the thrust in front-loading of export orders will likely dissipate as the time out of potential tariffs ends on Aug 1 for most economies and the trade war truce for China ends Aug 12. ''The trade-related sectors could experience some payback from the front-loading driven growth seen in the first half of the year while underlying demand could be weighed down by prevailing uncertainties,'' MAs said. Some progress has been made in trade negotiations between the US and other countries, with tariff rates for China, the EU, Japan and Vietnam settling below the April 2 levels following the recently concluded framework agreements. But overall tariffs on Singapore's trading partners, particularly those in its immediate neighbourhood, would likely rise above the base 10 per cent rate Singapore is subjected to. This would in turn affect Singapore indirectly through its intermediate goods and services exports to these countries, MAS said. ''Externally-oriented sectors are likely to see softer activity as front-loading effects fade and global demand weakens.'' While external headwinds may spill over into domestic-oriented sectors such as retail and food and beverage, healthy household balance sheets and government support measures should help cushion the impact. ''Some pockets of support also remain in the construction sector as well as the sentiment-sensitive segments within the financial sector.'' MAS said search for better returns by global and local investors could provide some upsides to growth in Singapore's financial sector. 'Notwithstanding the heightened volatility, financial markets seem rather resilient, largely recouping the sharp valuation losses of early April by end-May as trade negotiations showed signs of progress.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MHA to support HSA's crackdown on Kpod abusers and help in treatment of offenders: Shanmugam Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Singapore Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA's social experiments Asia Powerful 8.8-magnitude quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami; Japan, Hawaii order evacuations Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Business Seatrium to pay $168m to Brazilian authorities, $73m to Singapore authorities to settle corruption case Asia 'Hashing things out': Japan, Vietnam, EU contest terms of US tariff deals behind the scenes Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made Amid these market gyrations, some retail investors had increased their allocations to oversold assets and benefited from the subsequent recovery. Similarly, institutional investors such as fund management firms have increased their net risk exposures since April and are looking at diversifying their portfolios amid the increasingly complex global investment landscape. 'As such, market trading activity could pick up and provide some support to growth through net fees and commissions of banks, fund managers, forex, and security dealers.' MAS said. However, the uncertainty facing the Singapore economy is likely to persist and affect companies investment decisions. 'As firms remain wary of the longer-term impact of tariff and non-tariff barriers, they could put longer-term plans on hold while making incremental adjustments to production and investment decisions.' Consequently, business expenditure might decline gradually, extending the drag on gross fixed capital formation and hence GDP growth over a more prolonged period, MAS warned. The central bank said labour market conditions in Singapore could also moderate further in the second half of 2025, amid uncertain economic growth prospects. 'Demand for workers could continue to soften over the second half of this year as GDP growth slows and firms hold back on their expansion plans given an uncertain economic outlook.'
