The view from singapore with British High Commissioner to ... - NUSS

HIgHlIgHts
A View in Candour
Covering a broad range of topics during the Meet-The-Ambassador Series session
entitled The UK in Southeast Asia: the view from Singapore, His Excellency Antony
Phillipson put his best front forward as the British Ambassador to Singapore as he
candidly shared his belief that the key to expanding British interests overseas lies in
treating host countries as equals.
MEEt-tHE-AMbAssAdor
sErIEs wItH brItIsH
HIgH CoMMIssIonEr to
sIngAPorE
Date: 8 October 2012
Venue: Kent Ridge Guild House
In line with Thomas Jefferson’s
famous saying, “We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal”, HE
Phillipson revealed that his
thoughts aligned with Jefferson’s
beliefs when he observed, “We need
to talk to others as equals and not
as directors …to assess what our
strengths are and where they are
complementary.”
18 THE GRADUATE JAN-MAR 2013
HE Antony Phillipson is in many
ways the model British diplomat
- committed, willing and eager to
find out what is really important in
various corners of the world. During
his address to NUSS members, HE
Phillipson outlined six key areas
which would affect the interests of
the United Kingdom (UK) going forward.
They were: having a physical
commitment to the region such as
the Five Power Defence Arrangement
(FPDA); promoting the development
of ASEAN by positioning the UK as
a supporter; exploiting comparative
advantages and becoming the
partner of choice for other countries;
having separate policies for different
countries such as having more bilat-
“Deepening
economic ties in
Southeast Asia
is essential... I
believe the UK
is in a position
to build a strong
foothold in
these emerging
markets.”
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eral talks; exercising public diplomacy
and factoring in the interests of
the consumer market in the region;
and putting in a more coherent European
Union effort for the region.
“Deepening economic ties in
Southeast Asia is essential,” he emphasised,
adding that high-growth
markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia
and the Philippines are definitely on
the agenda. “I believe the UK is in a
position to build a strong foothold in
these emerging markets.”
Speaking on Singapore in particular,
HE Phillipson said that Singapore
shares many common roots with the
UK such as its political, legal and
education systems. This gives much
room for more cooperation in these
areas, particularly the latter two.
“We have common roots and
what we do with the common roots
is important,” he remarked.
During the lively Q&A segment,
HE Phillipson responded to questions
on how the
UK can tap on its
existing relationships
with Commonwealth
countries, once again
emphasising the need
to do so as equals and
not as former colonial
masters.
“The challenge
is to build all these
relationships very
quickly,” he added,
putting attention on
the speed of change
taking place in the
world today.
“We need to
find more common
agenda on geopolitical issues with
Southeast Asian countries,” he
concluded. “Southeast Asia is also a
key platform to build better relations
between the United Kingdom, China,
India and the rest of Asia.”