SINGAPORE TO MODIFY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGNERS, FACILITATE OFFICIAL TRAVEL
Channel: A Singaporean
Date: 2021-04-21

SINGAPORE TO MODIFY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGNERS, FACILITATE OFFICIAL TRAVEL

Tightened Restrictions for India, Loosened Restrictions for HK, Borders open to UK, SA

Singapore has finally decided to immediately reduce the number of travellers from India allowed entry. This does not include Singaporean citizens or permanent residents coming back from there. This comes in light of the rapidly deteriorating Covid-19 situation there, where more than 200 thousand new cases emerge daily, along with many dangerous Covid-19 variants. Singapore is far from the only country to do this, with the US, UK, Hong Kong (HK) and New Zealand also restricting entry. Indian travellers coming here will have to serve an additional 1-week stay home notice (SHN) at their place of residence, following the normal 2-week SHN at dedicated facilities.

On the other hand, HK's situation has improved sufficiently for HK travellers to be subject to a reduced SHN period at dedicated facilities, from 2 weeks to 1 week only, and they can even serve the SHN at their place of residence instead if deemed suitable. Singapore will also open up its borders to travellers from the UK and South Africa (SA), with 2-week SHN at dedicated facilities followed by 1-week SHN at their place of residence, meaning that their SHN period is the same as India. Singapore had previously closed its borders to both countries due to the emergence of contagious variants of Covid-19 in each nation.

Official Travel to be Facilitated

In an effort to facilitate critical official travel of national importance, vaccinated officials who travel for such purposes need only be subjected to self-isolation rather than regular SHN upon return. This reduces the time taken for them to be ready for diplomatic service again, hence safeguarding our national interests.

Officials who have not been vaccinated will continue to be subject to the normal SHN.

BOAO FORUM CONTINUES

Chinese President Xi Jinping Speaks

At the Boao forum yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged countries to cooperate and show mutual respect by not telling other nations what to do or to interfere in their internal affairs. He also said that he firmly opposed the unjust domination of the world by any one nation and called on all countries to avoid adopting a Cold War mentality and engaging in ideological disputes.

His comments are clearly pointed at the US, which has in recent years stepped up its criticism of China over its supposed human rights abuses in Xinjiang and curtailing of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. Xi is additionally upset with US moves to recognise Taiwanese sovereignty, and the trade war and sanctions started under the Trump administration.

Moving onto less charged topics, Xi urged foreign leaders to do more to acknowledge climate change and to fulfill their Paris Climate Agreement pledges. This is an interesting statement, as Xi has not announced any new and ambitious goals for China itself to meet under the Paris Climate Agreement, which was expected by many experts to happen at the Boao Forum.

Xi then welcomed all interested parties to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, as he viewed it as a useful tool to alleviate poverty for nations taking part.

Singapore President Halimah Yacob Speaks

Singapore President Halimah Yacob said at the Boao Forum yesterday that multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) could provide science-based frameworks to guide nations opening up to foreign travel, and that global cooperation was crucial to overcoming the Covid-19 crisis. The sentiment was echoed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adren.

President Yacob noted that while the pandemic may have hurt livelihoods, worsened social problems and hurt global institutions, it has served as a powerful motivator to speed up the pace of digitalisation, creating numerous opportunities for growth.

President Yacob highlighted examples of Singapore's commitment to multilateralism, such as our cooperation with New Zealand, and some nations in ASEAN and South America to keep global supply chains open during the pandemic. Other examples raised included our joining of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with the rest of ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea and Japan, and Singapore's move to join the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (Covax) Facility to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.