Taipei: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday expressed “grave concerns” following Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s remarks opposing “Taiwan independence” during a recent meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Singapore.

According to Focus Taiwan, the meeting between Wong and Li, which took place on Saturday, centered around cross-strait developments as highlighted in a statement from the Singaporean foreign ministry. The statement emphasized Singapore’s adherence to a “One China” policy and its opposition to Taiwan independence.

In response, Taiwan’s MOFA reiterated that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign nation with notable achievements in political freedom, economic development, and global competitiveness. MOFA emphasized that the future of Taiwan should be determined by its people. The ministry urged Singapore to acknowledge the Republic of China (ROC) as a sovereign state and to refrain from making comments that could harm the bilateral relationship.

Although Singapore officially recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and adheres to a “One China” policy, it maintains close informal and economic ties with Taiwan. The Agreement on Economic Partnership (ASTEP), signed on November 7, 2013, and effective from April 19, 2014, underscores the strong trade and investment relations between Taipei and Singapore.

Furthermore, a 1975 agreement allows Singaporean soldiers to train in Taiwan due to Singapore’s limited land and airspace. Despite the absence of official diplomatic ties, both nations continue to engage in cooperative endeavors.