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NOTES

1 Anne-Marie Brady, “Magic Weapons: China’s Political Influence Activities under Xi Jinping,” Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, September 18, 2017, accessed October 11, 2018, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/magic-weapons-chinas-political-influence-activities-under-xi-jinping. Also see Anne-Marie Brady, “Looking for Points in Common While Facing Up to Differences,” Small States and the New Security Environment, November 14, 2017, accessed October 11, 2018, https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/media/documents/research/Looking-for-points-in-common-while-facing-up-to-differences.pdf.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

6 Anne-Marie Brady, “University Links with China Raise Questions,” New Zealand Herald, July 13, 2018, accessed October 11, 2018, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12086974.

7 Matt Nippert, “University of Canterbury Professor Anne-Marie Brady Concerned Break-ins Linked to Work on China,” New Zealand Herald, February 16, 2018, accessed October 11, 2018, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11995384.

SINGAPORE AND ASEAN

Singapore is unique in that it is the only majority ethnic Chinese state outside of Greater China (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao). Singapore is also unique in Southeast Asia because its rigorous standards of governance and zero tolerance for corruption make it virtually impossible to bribe or openly suborn political leaders or opinion-leaders.

In 2016–17, Singapore’s generally friendly, smooth relationship with China took a downturn. The proximate cause was Singapore becoming country coordinator for China for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This post is held by ASEAN member states by rotation for a three-year term. China seemed to have convinced itself that the role entailed Singapore “coordinating” ASEAN’s position on the South China Sea (SCS) territorial disputes in its favor. But China has long been unhappy with Singapore’s clear and consistent position on the SCS. Singapore is not a claimant state to the South China Sea. The previous country coordinator was Vietnam, a claimant state whose relationship with China has been historically fraught. Chinese expectations of Singapore may have been unrealistically high, particularly after the Arbitral Tribunal on the case brought by the Philippines against China ruled against China’s position in a verdict in July 2016.

China criticized Singapore’s support for SCS disputes being resolved in accordance with international law as “taking sides.” It objected to Singapore’s leaders and officials even speaking on the SCS issue. When Singapore stood firm on its right to state its position on an issue of undoubted importance to the region, the Chinese influence apparatus

Appendix 2

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