Singapore international law

In 1961 and 1962, Singapore had entered into Water Agreements with Johor. As Johor is a
constituent state of Malaysia, it does not have the legal status to enter into an international treaty.

To protect its vital interests, Singapore inserted a "water clause" in the Independence of Singapore
agreement with Malaysia, that required the Malaysian Government to guarantee that the Johor
Government would abide by the terms of the water agreements. Singapore also registered the
independence agreement with the United Nations as an international treaty.

- In 1994, when Malaysia imposed a protectionist trade measure to protect a Malaysian company
against competition from Singapore, Singapore tried to resolve the dispute through consultations
and negotiations. When these proved fruitless, it decided to invoke a dispute settlement mechanism
with the World Trade Organisation. The policy was eventually rescinded.

- In 2004, Indonesia alleged that a consignment of compost sent to Batam and meant for use as soil
conditioner and fertilizer contained heavy metals and was "hazardous waste" under Indonesian law.
Indonesia notified the secretariat of the Basel Convention, which regulates the movement of such
waste across borders, and an expert found that the material was not hazardous. Still, Singapore
"generously offered to take the material back"

Singapore has sought to use international law as both a sword to advance aggressive interests, and a
shield to protect defensive interests, veteran diplomat Tommy Koh said on Thursday (Oct 8).

Even then, its belief in international law is "not based on blind faith"

In the face of convoluted yet delicate quandaries, Singapore has continually maintained its
adherence to international law and upholds a foreign policy of non-alignment, strategies that its
ministers and lawmakers have reiterated time and time again since the nascent stages of its
independence.
In the case of the South China Sea dispute, Singapore urged all parties to respect The Hague
Tribunal, which ruled in favour of the Philippines, thereby invalidating Chinas territorial claims on
the nine-dash line.

Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs elaborated on the ruling with a statement: Singapore is not a
claimant state and we do not take sides on the competing territorial claims. However, we support
the peaceful resolution of disputes among claimants in accordance with universally recognised
principles of international law, including Unclos, without resorting to the threat or use of force. As a
small state, we strongly support the maintenance of a rules-based order that upholds and protects
the rights and privileges of all states.