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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Embarrassing: Trump's Singapore nominee fumbles basic questions - who is Dr Anjani Sinha?
Since Donald Trump came back to the White House, Washington has started to resemble St PETERsburg—not the Russian city, but a living monument to the Peter Principle. For the uninitiated, the Peter Principle states that in any hierarchy, people tend to rise to their level of incompetence. Under Trump 2.0, that appears to be the primary qualification for public office. Loyalty? Optional. Expertise? Disqualifying. But even in this sea of spectacular underperformance, one recent Senate hearing managed to set a new low: the confirmation hearing of Dr Anjani Sinha, nominee for US Ambassador to Singapore. What was expected to be a routine appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 9 quickly turned into a masterclass in diplomatic unpreparedness. Dr Sinha, a retired orthopaedic surgeon and longtime Trump acquaintance, floundered as Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth subjected him to a barrage of basic questions on trade, defence, and Southeast Asian diplomacy—none of which he seemed ready for. 'This is not a role you can just pick up on a whim, or because Singapore is a great place to live,' Duckworth warned, moments before dissecting his talking points with surgical precision. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Student Loans with Zero Fees Earnest Learn More Undo 'I just feel that you are not taking this seriously.' Off by Billions Asked to state the size of the US trade surplus with Singapore in 2024, Dr Sinha confidently said US$18 billion. The actual figure? US$2.8 billion. 'You're off by a huge factor,' Duckworth said bluntly. His explanation of Trump's sudden tariff threats—up to 25% on imports from a long-time trade partner with a free trade agreement since 2004—didn't go over well either. 'The President is resetting the trade numbers,' he replied, offering no rationale for how a surplus justifies sanctions. Geography, Defence and Homework Gaps Things only got worse when Duckworth asked Sinha when Singapore would next chair Asean. He couldn't answer. '2027,' she supplied. When asked to name a priority issue for Singapore as chair, he cited 'defence and trade.' 'Too broad,' she shot back. Asked how he would strengthen US-Singapore military cooperation, Sinha mentioned joint exercises—again too vague for Duckworth. 'Name a specific facility,' she demanded. He couldn't. 'You want to be ambassador to Singapore, one of the most important friends we have in the Indo-Pacific... and you've not even done your homework,' she said, visibly frustrated. 'You think you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, but what we need is someone who's going to actually do the work.' Doctor vs Doctor? Not Quite. Republican senators tried to smooth things over. Lindsey Graham described Sinha as a 'talented entrepreneur.' Senator Pete Ricketts, fresh from the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, urged Sinha to bond with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan over their shared medical background. Sinha, eager to connect, replied: 'He became an eye surgeon, I became an orthopaedic surgeon. His wife is a neurologist, mine an anaesthesiologist. His kids are lawyers—ours are lawyers and doctors.' There was just one problem: Vivian Balakrishnan's wife isn't a neurologist. She isn't even a doctor. She's an educator and founder of a children's charity. The detail was not only incorrect but emblematic of a deeper issue: a nominee who appeared to have prepped for a dinner party, not a diplomatic post. St PETERsburg, USA Dr Sinha's performance would be comical if it weren't consistent with the broader dysfunction of Trump's second term. A Homeland Security Secretary who shot her own dog. A Defence Secretary who leaked classified plans on Signal. A National Security Adviser who added journalists to chats about bombing Yemen. A Vice President who asks foreign leaders to say 'thank you' and rivals Death in his unpopularity. In Trump's Washington, incompetence isn't accidental—it's structural. The Peter Principle isn't just theory anymore. It's the governing philosophy of the world's most powerful democracy. And Sinha's nomination is one more brick in a crumbling edifice where personal loyalty and vibes matter more than preparation or policy. Who Is Anjani Sinha? Born in India and immigrated to the US in 1977, Dr Anjani Sinha made his name—and fortune—as a sports medicine specialist and medical entrepreneur on Long Island. Trump nominated him on March 11 in a brief Truth Social post, referring to him as 'Dr Anji Sinha' and hailing him as a 'highly respected entrepreneur with an incredible family.' His wife, Dr Kiki Sinha, a retired NYU anaesthesiologist, and their son were present at the hearing. His daughter, a lawyer in Norway, watched the proceedings online. In his opening statement, Sinha described Singapore as 'a key strategic partner and friend in the Indo-Pacific,' and promised to expand defence ties, tech cooperation, and people-to-people contact. The specifics, however, were scarce. What Happens Now? As of July 27, 2025, Dr Anjani Sinha has not yet been confirmed as ambassador to Singapore. His nomination was reported favorably by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 16 and is currently on the Senate Executive Calendar (No. 288), awaiting a full floor vote. With Republicans holding 53 of 100 Senate seats, his confirmation remains likely unless new objections emerge. If confirmed, Sinha will be dispatched to a country that has become one of the United States' most important Indo-Pacific partners—economically, militarily, and strategically. Whether he can represent that relationship with competence is a question that now hangs over the chamber—and the region.
Business Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
The lasting impact of FTAs amid global trade shocks
AS THE US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) marks its 20th year, the United States' imposition of a 10 per cent baseline tariff on Singapore casts a long shadow over two decades of strong economic partnership between the two countries. Endorsed by the US Congress on the basis that it would 'enhance and strengthen the strong US-Singapore trade relationship', the USSFTA was the US' first free trade agreement (FTA) with an Asia-Pacific country and remains its only FTA with an Asean country. Today, sweeping tariffs imposed by the US constitute the most significant disruptions in the history of global trade. The ongoing trade war and US retreat from multilateralism seems to threaten not only US-Singapore bilateral relations but also the open, rules-based global trading system. 'The era of rules-based globalisation and free trade is over,' remarked Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a recent ministerial statement. Unilateral measures such as tariffs, regardless of the good intentions, undermine the predictability that the existing global trading system was designed to uphold. The shift towards one-on-one negotiations, as seen in recent US trade policy, allows countries to leverage their market power at the expense of smaller countries such as Singapore that often have weaker bargaining strength. The result is weakening trust and stability in global trade. However, it is important to recognise all is not lost. Established through years of working together, institutionalised cooperation proves resilient. We believe FTAs have a lasting impact that will continue to anchor economic ties. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Quiet resilience of established institutional frameworks FTAs provide a sense of continuity in a volatile trade environment by establishing clear rules and standards. As commitments from these agreements spread across countries, the resulting regulatory harmonisation strengthens economic cooperation. The far-reaching influence of FTAs is exemplified by the USSFTA. Many of its core provisions, such as those on competition policy, have been widely replicated in subsequent US bilateral agreements and mega-regional trade deals. Shared commitments on competition policy help create a more secure and predictable legal environment for investors. Further, e-commerce facilitation provisions introduced in the USSFTA now reflect the baseline for digital trade regulation in FTAs. Newer agreements build on the digital trade rules included in the USSFTA, broadening the scope of commitments to cover nascent issues like cross-border data flows and cybersecurity. Institutional frameworks facilitated by FTAs also remain intact, sustaining stable and open channels of cooperation. For example, notwithstanding current trade disruptions, government procurement provisions in the USSFTA which provide opportunities for firms of each nation to bid on government contracts are still in effect. Singapore's Competition Act of 2004, enacted as part of its obligations under the USSFTA, further demonstrates how trade agreements can have a long-term impact on domestic legal and policy frameworks. The implications of these longstanding institutional frameworks are profound: trade and investment ties run deep. Research by Asia Competitiveness Institute finds that US exports of advanced manufacturing and professional services to Singapore have surged fivefold since the inception of the USSFTA. These exports have facilitated the creation of over half a million jobs in the US between 2000 and 2019. A recent study by the institute also finds that the USSFTA facilitated US expansion of manufacturing activities in Singapore, particularly in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics. Today, the US is the top source of inward foreign direct investment for Singapore, accounting for more than half of the greenfield investments in high value-added and research-intensive sectors. Existing institutional frameworks thus stand the test of time, providing a stable foundation for robust economic relations. Enduring attraction of trade pacts FTAs continue to hold strong appeal as tools of economic integration. Many agreements are being upgraded to address emerging trade priorities, such as tackling non-tariff barriers and enhancing supply chain resilience. The Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Upgrade entered into force in April this year and the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Upgrade is slated to be formalised by October. The FTA between Singapore and the Pacific Alliance – a Latin American bloc comprising Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, and collectively representing the world's ninth-largest economy – has entered into force for three of the five signatories. New forms of institutional arrangements are also emerging to complement traditional FTAs. Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs), designed to set high-standard rules for digital trade, are increasingly becoming key instruments of economic integration. The world's first DEA, the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) signed in 2020, continues to attract interest from a wide range of economies. As at July 2025, seven countries – China, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, El Salvador, and Ukraine – have applied to join the DEPA. Singapore and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) also concluded negotiations on a DEA earlier this month. Talks for Asean's Digital Economy Framework Agreement, expected to be the world's first regional digital economy agreement, are slated to conclude by the end of the year. These efforts to upgrade existing FTAs and forge DEAs reflect the growing demand for forward-looking frameworks suited to evolving economic realities. In particular, countries are seeking institutional mechanisms to govern the burgeoning digital economy. A coherent digital trade governance regime enables countries to better leverage new avenues of growth in digital trade, where more than two-thirds of new value created over the next decade are expected to be driven by digitally enabled platforms. Institutionalised cooperation: a stabilising force for the future Evidently, far from abandoning institutionalised frameworks, countries are deepening and modernising them. Next-generation arrangements continue to embed legal commitments, cultivating stronger cooperation and reinforcing a rules-based system for global trade. Further, countries have continued to deepen cooperation on trade despite the current absence of US involvement. Following US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the remaining member countries chose not to abandon the pact. Instead, they pushed forward with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is now one of the world's largest trade blocs, second only to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) of which the US is also not a member. As Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong notes, 'even though the US is abandoning the rules (…) the rest of the world is still there, and if we can work together, I think we have a fair shot at keeping the system up'. The dangers of a changing global trade landscape are profound and real, but continued commitment to institutionalised forms of cooperation remains a critical stabilising force that keeps the global trading system alive. Jesslene Lee is a researcher at Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Paul Cheung is director of ACI.
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Veteran diplomats and tech pioneer given honorary degrees by NUS
Find out what's new on ST website and app. (From left) Honorary graduands Chan Heng Chee, Dr Noeleen Heyzer and Wong Ngit Liong, and NUS president Professor Tan Eng Chye (far right) during the graduation ceremony on July 14. SINGAPORE – Veteran diplomats Chan Heng Chee and Noeleen Heyzer, as well as tech pioneer Wong Ngit Liong, received honorary degrees from the National University of Singapore (NUS) on July 14. The honorary Doctor of Letters degrees were presented by Education Minister Desmond Lee at the commencement ceremony for 99 graduates from the NUS Business School, held by NUS at the University Cultural Centre. The honorary degrees are the university's highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals whose service has had an impact in Singapore and globally. Professor Chan Heng Chee is an NUS alumna who graduated with first class honours in Political Science in 1964 when it was then known as the University of Singapore, and returned to do her PhD in 1974. She was NUS' first female head of Political Science, before being appointed to lead the new Institute of Policy Studies in 1988. In 1996, at the start of her 16-year stay in Washington as Singapore's UN Representative and Ambassador to the United States, Prof Chan deepened ties, culminating in the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement which was signed in 2003. In a citation, Professor Simon Chesterman, NUS' vice provost and dean of NUS College, said that through her career transitions, from academic to diplomat and then public intellectual, Prof Chan brought together a rare combination of intellectual independence and global experience. 'Throughout her career, Ambassador Chan has helped to shape how Singapore understands itself and how Singapore is understood by the world... at a time when expertise is not always valued quite as much as it is needed,' he said. While students of her time were focused on being 'present-ready' to grapple with political developments of the time such as Singapore's separation from Malaysia, Prof Chan said universities today have to prepare students to be 'future-ready'. With unpred icta bility and volatility being the new normal in 2025, she said students need to also develop an interest in politics and geopolitics. Addressing the graduands, she encouraged them to understand and follow what is happening in the world and locally, as it is crucial for their futures. 'Going forward, geopolitics is an inescapable part of our future, and we should be prepared to ride it, to deal with it,' said Prof Chan. Ambassador-at-Large Chan Heng Chee (left) being conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters by Education Minister Desmond Lee on July 14. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Fellow honorary degree recipient and NUS alu mn a Noeleen Heyzer was former Under-Secretary-General of the UN and the highest ranking Singaporean in the UN system from 2007 to 2014. A leadership pioneer for women, Dr Heyzer was the first woman from outside North America to head the UN's Development Fund for Women, and the first woman to serve as the executive secretary of the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific since its founding in 1947. Calling her a trusted voice in global governance, NUS' vice provost of student life and acting dean at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Leong Ching said that Dr Heyzer is a trailblazer for women's empowerment across the world. 'Her leadership has redefined the nature of power itself – as a force for dignity, inclusion, and transformation,' said Prof Leong. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Heyzer said that she is blessed to be born and raised in Singapore, where social mobility was provided for many, including her and her family. 'The transformative role of education and the thirst for learning played a big part in my evolving life,' she said. She called on graduates to provide new leadership in a world filled with paradox and disruptions, but also immense possibilities. Said Dr Heyzer: 'We are not just inheriting an emerging new world order. We are called to co-create it.' Dr Noeleen Heyzer being conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters by Education Minister Desmond Lee on July 14. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Mr Wong Ngit Liong, the final honorary degree recipient, is the executive chairman and founder of Venture Corporation. Since its inception in 1984, Mr Wong has led the company's evolution from a start-up in electronics manufacturing services into a globally recognised technology powerhouse. In public service, Mr Wong has been on numerous national boards and committees, including the Economic Development Board, 2002 Economic Review Committee and Singapore Exchange, among others. In a citation, Professor Aaron Thean, NUS' provost and deputy president of academic affairs, called Mr Wong a 'distinguished leader and pioneer in the global technology industry'. He added that as chairman of NUS' Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2016, Mr Wong's leadership was crucial in the university's structural transformation, including its propulsion into the ranks of the world's top universities. Recounting NUS's transformation since 2005, Mr Wong said he was part of a team that toured top universitie s in the US, Europe and China to learn and exchange ideas. Mr Wong Ngit Liong, executive chairman and founder of Venture Corporation, speaking after being conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters by Education Minister Desmond Lee on July 14. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Though foreign experts were invited to review local tertiary education strategy and curriculum, he said after some years, they were no longer needed. 'We adopted best practices, learned and leapfrogged to greater heights... We are so much more ahead of them, that they now have to learn from us,' said Mr Wong. A total of 17,646 students will receive bachelor's or graduate degrees this year from NUS at ceremonies taking place over 12 days from July 10 to July 21.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
From Donald Trump's pick for Singapore ambassador to 'embarassador': Why Anjani Sinha grilled in US Senate
Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Singapore, faced intense criticism during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday after struggling to answer basic questions about the island-state and US interests in the region. Sinha, an orthopaedic surgeon and entrepreneur with no diplomatic background, was pressed by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth on issues ranging from Singapore's trade surplus to the country's role in ASEAN and the US Navy's presence in the region. His inconsistent and often incorrect responses drew swift rebuke. Dr Anjani Sinha, a Florida-based orthopaedic and sports medicine surgeon, was nominated by President Trump in March to serve as the US Ambassador to Singapore. Hailing originally from India, Sinha graduated from MGM Medical School and Delhi University with a Master's in Orthopedic Surgery and has worked across both public and private health sectors in the US. He is also an entrepreneur who built a network of clinics across New York and later served as a senior surgical consultant in Florida. Trump praised him as a 'highly respected entrepreneur' and posted on Truth Social: 'I have no doubt that Anji will strongly represent our Nation's Interests, and put America First. Congratulations Anji!' The US State Department cited his 'native respect for both American and Asian values' and strong business background in the Indo-Pacific region as reasons for his selection. He and his wife, Dr Kiki Sinha, a retired anesthesiologist and former NYU faculty member, as per a document by Department of State, have donated to several educational institutions in the US and India. During the Senate confirmation, Duckworth questioned Sinha's knowledge of US-Singapore relations, ASEAN, and key regional issues. The nominee stumbled repeatedly, most notably when asked about Singapore's trade surplus with the US. He first claimed it was $80 billion, then corrected himself to $18 billion. The actual figure, Duckworth said, was just $2.8 billion. Dr. Anjani Sinha is deeply unprepared to effectively lead our nation's diplomatic mission in Singapore.⁰ ⁰He will not have my vote. — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) July 9, 2025 When Senator Duckworth asked him when will Singapore chair ASEAN next, Sinha incorrectly stated that Malaysia currently held the position. Duckworth, a retired Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel and the first Thai-American woman elected to Congress, pressed him again, prompting a pause, before finally supplying the correct answer herself: '2027'. Sinha also appeared uncertain while trying to defend President Trump's tariffs on Singapore. On April 2, Trump had announced a baseline 10 per cent tariff on imports from Singapore — despite a longstanding free-trade agreement between the two countries since 2004. Higher tariffs are anticipated in specific sectors, including semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Attempting to justify the decision, Sinha said: 'I believe in the president's decision of a free trade … and he's resetting the trade numbers with each country and he's open for discussion and dialogue with these countries.' Duckworth pointed Singapore's strategic importance during the hearing, describing it as 'one of the most important alliances, friends' that the US has in the Indo-Pacific. She added that it was a key location where the US would be 'going to be fighting against [its] greatest adversary in the region, the PRC', referring to China. The most heated moment came when Duckworth, visibly frustrated, accused Sinha of treating the posting like a 'glamour job.' Duckworth told Sinha: 'You are not currently prepared for this posting, period, and you need to shape up and do some homework.' She added, 'You think this is a glamour posting, that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, when what we need is someone who can actually do the work.' President Donald Trump's pick to serve as ambassador to Singapore, Anjani Sinha, faced tough questioning during a Senate confirmation hearing in which he struggled to answer inquiries from Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth about the city-state and its ties to Washington.… — Bloomberg (@business) July 10, 2025 The exchange has since gone viral in Singapore, where the US maintains significant strategic and economic interests. Critics online have mocked Sinha's lack of preparation, with one comment as reported by BBC, labelling him 'more embarassador than ambassador.' Despite the grilling, Sinha defended his candidacy, calling himself a 'lifelong bridge builder' and pledging to strengthen ties with Singapore. He was introduced at the hearing by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as 'a friend of President Trump for over a decade.' A final vote on Sinha's confirmation remains pending.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Unqualified for Singapore posting: Senate grills Trump's pick Anjani Sinha
India-born Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump's nominee for Ambassador to Singapore, faced sharp criticism during his Senate confirmation hearing, with lawmakers questioning his preparedness and qualifications for the high-stakes diplomatic role. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth called him unqualified for the position and said he needed to shape up and do his an orthopaedic surgeon and an entrepreneur, struggled to respond to basic questions about Singapore's geopolitical significance and the US-Singapore relationship – drawing a pointed rebuke from Senator Duckworth, according to a BBC nomination was announced by Trump in March, who described him as a "highly respected entrepreneur". During the confirmation hearing by the Senate's foreign relations committee, he was introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as "a friend of President Trump for over a decade", according to the his introduction and responses to senators' questions, Sinha described himself as a "lifelong bridge builder" and pledged to "create a very strong relationship with Singapore" while vowing to "defend the defence, security, and economic ties".SINHA GAVE INCORRECT NUMBERS ON TRADE TIES WITH SINGAPOREDuckworth opened her questioning by asking Sinha about Singapore's trade surplus with the US, to which he first responded with $80 billion (Rs 6.68 lakh crore), before changing his answer to $18 billion (Rs 1.50 lakh crore).Eventually, Duckworth noted the correct figure was $2.8 billion (Rs 23,380 crore).When asked how he would justify Trump's 10% tariff, imposed in April, to Singaporeans, Sinha gave multiple responses before concluding that "the dialogue is not closed".During the hearing, Sinha mistakenly stated that Malaysia currently chairs ASEAN and did not know that Singapore is set to take over the role in 2027."You are unqualified for this position," Senator Duckworth said during the hearing. She added that he needed to "shape up and do some homework.""You've not even done your homework, sir," Duckworth said."You think this is a glamour posting, that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, when what we need is someone who can actually do the work," BBC quoted her as that Singapore is a key US ally in the Indo-Pacific, Duckworth said, "You are not currently prepared for this posting, period, and you need to shape up and do some homework."The exchange sparked a wave of online criticism from Singaporeans, with many questioning Sinha's performance and his suitability for the role of US to the BBC report, despite the controversy, Sinha's confirmation remains a strong IS ANJANI SINHA?Anjani Sinha was born in India and is a graduate of MGM Medical School and Delhi University. He has a Masters in orthopaedic surgery, according to the US State is a distinguished surgeon on the US East Coast specialising in orthopaedics and sports medicine. He is an accomplished entrepreneur, and has served as a senior surgical consultant in State Department also said that Sinha has native respect for both American and Asian values, and has deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region. Hence, he is uniquely positioned to relate to key appreciation for Singapore's role as a financial hub, and his own business expertise – particularly in the life sciences and healthcare sectors – render him well qualified to serve as US Ambassador to Singapore, the State Department also said.- Ends
