Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I must say that I am always very glad to listen to speeches from the Member for Sembawang, because his estimation of my capability is higher than that of my own. This is rather reassuring! In regard to his question as to how many embassies we now have in the different countries, there are at present seven Ambassadors and five High Commissioners in Commonwealth countries, one Permanent Representative in the United Nations, and one High Commissioner in Hong Kong. As regards whether we have any plans to set up new embassies or missions, we have set up an embassy in Brussels, and there is a consulate in Medan. As far as I know, we have no other plans to set up any more missions, unless there is the need for it. As the Member probably knows, we do not set up missions or embassies for the sake of prestige but only where there is a clear need, either political or economical, or otherwise, to set up such mission. As I have said in the past, sometimes you are able to promote the best of relations with other countries without having to set up embassies or missions in them. The other question which the Member asked was what benefits have we derived from being a member of ASEAN. ASEAN has been undertaking a number of projects during the past year for the mutual benefit of member-countries, but these are mainly in the field of tourism. In fact, a number of activities were conducted as part of the "Visit ASEAN Year of 1971". We have conducted trade seminars in Auckland, Sydney and Perth, for the tourist industry there. There was the Visit ASEAN Year commemorative stamps. Then also there was the ASEAN Film Festival held last year. The competition was organised to select an ASEAN musical team to introduce joint-ASEAN Radio and T.V. Programme as part of our cultural activities with ASEAN. A number of countries participated jointly in the ASEAN Pavilion at the 1971 Jakarta Fair, which is part of a joint effort to promote trade and commerce among member-countries. In regard to civil aviation, four project-teams of aviation experts visited the ASEAN capitals to survey operational and airport facilities available in each country, with a view to co-ordinating such services among member-countries so that each country can provide a better service for air traffic operations within the region. We have training courses, workshops and seminars relating to a variety of subjects, such as seminars on production and fisheries. Apart from these benefits, there are 11 Permanent Committees, all of which continue to exchange information relevant to their fields. During the year a number of them consolidated their activities by establishing clearing houses for collection, processing and dissemination of information and publications. We have also requested a United Nations Study Team to make a study and to report on the fields of trade and industrial co-operation, monetary and financial co-operation, forestry and forest industry, agriculture and shipping. The final report of this U.N. Study Team is expected to be ready sometime at the end of this month. Apart from all this, there have been the granting of scholarships under the ASEAN scheme and, as far as Singapore is concerned, there are a number of ASEAN scholars studying in Singapore. For example, there are 15 in the University of Singapore, eight in Nan-yang University and 74 Pre-University students. These are some of the activities, not very dramatic, but obviously progress is being made and this is a bit better than making no progress at all. As regards the question by the Member for Anson about establishing diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, I have stated on many occasions that, in principle, since we have recognised and supported China's admission to the United Nations we must, sooner or later, have other forms of relation with them. But we are an island-state situated in South-east Asia. We have many neighbours whose interests and views must be considered should we want to enter into negotiations to establish a diplomatic mission in the People's Republic of China. And as some Members here may be aware, the members of ASEAN have discussed this matter and there is general agreement that before any member of ASEAN enters into diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, he must consult the body and co-ordinate his action. The Straits of Malacca and of Singapore is a topical issue at the moment, but it is not necessarily the be-all and end-all of the issue. It is imperative that the Straits of Malacca and of Singapore should not become the catalyst for a new cold war. It could well become one, if the discussion and approach to this issue and the problems connected with it were discussed in terms inviting cold war postures by countries within or outside the region. Once such postures and attitudes are taken then it becomes, as it always does, an intractable cold war issue. Then rational solutions which are now open to us to resolve some of the real problems connected with the Straits may be closed, if not forever, then at least for a long time. The real problems could well be lost sight of, once the question of the Straits of Malacca and of Singapore is befogged by cold war considerations. I do not need to draw the attention of the Member, if he had been reading the papers recently, that we are coming close to a cold war over the Straits of Malacca, and by that I mean that there are incipient murmurs of such a possibility. This will be tragic, since, as a result of the detente between China and the United States, the prospects of running down the old cold war in Indochina and in South-east Asia are generally better than they bad been for many years. Therefore, it will be tragic if we start a new cold war in our region. As Singapore sees it, the Straits of Malacca and of Singapore is a vital lane for sea communications and trade between Europe, Africa and Western Asia on the one hand, and the Far East on the other. 4.45 p.m. We believe that this lane should be freely accessible to all nations without discrimination. It has been used as an international waterway for centuries and has become a major artery of the network of international communications and trade. To do anything or to say anything to disrupt this is to disrupt international communications and trade seriously. But Singapore, together with Indonesia and Malaysia, are concerned with some of the problems affecting our national interests which have arisen as a result of increased traffic through the Straits. There is need to ensure safety of navigation, to avoid danger of collisions as a result of larger vessels and increased traffic. There is also the danger of oil and other forms of pollution, which can have disastrous consequences for the three countries bordering the Straits. There are also problems of security arising from naval rivalry of big powers. In other words, while Singapore stands for unimpeded passage of all ships of all nations through the Straits, it also feels that those who use it must, in turn, agree to observe certain rules and regulations to ensure safety, security, and avoid risks of collision in the Straits. With this end in view, the three countries held discussions in November last year and agreed to establish a body composed of their representatives to coordinate efforts for the safety of navigation. The three countries agreed that the problems of safety of navigation and the question of the so-called internationalisation of the Straits are two separate issues. Indonesia and Malaysia were of the view that the Straits of Malacca and of Singapore are not international straits, while recognising the use of the Straits for international shipping in accordance with the principle of innocent passage. Singapore, however, could not go any further than to take note of the views of our two neighbours. The reason is that, in Singapore's view, the status of the Straits of Malacca and of Singapore should not be considered in isolation but in conjunction with the status of some 114 straits scattered throughout the world and which are considered vital links in international sea communications. These straits are spread over all continents and adjoin many countries, such as Canada, Denmark, United Kingdom, United States, the U.S.S.R., Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and many others. We feel that it would be premature to settle the status of the Straits of Malacca one way or the other without reaching agreement on the other 113 such straits which are considered by the U.N, to be of international importance. There must be uniformity of agreement in regard to the status of all straits of international importance. The alternative to an international agreement is a dangerous scramble for the carve up of not only straits, but of oceans as well. Hitherto, most conflicts known to mankind have had to do with the carve up of land and rectification of land frontiers. Now that most of the world's land mass have been carved up, there could well be a scramble for the carve up of straits and oceans. And once the principle is conceded that the oceans are open for picking by those with power and might and strength, and to declare portions of these oceans as their preserves, then small countries - whoever else may win- will certainly be the losers. That is why Singapore is strongly of the view that the status of all straits, including that of Malacca and Singapore, should be settled by mutual accord and agreement in a rational way at the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference tentatively scheduled for next year. Were the future of the oceans and straits of international importance to be settled on the basis of unilateral carve ups on the principle of "finders keepers", then the seas of the world - they make up most of the world - could well become areas of anarchy and contest where right must be and will be largely on the side of those who have the might which, in technological terms, means those who have the biggest navy, the largest submarine fleets, and the greatest air power. So for this reason, we believe that the Straits of Malacca and of Singapore should not be made a cold war problem or a power conflict problem, but largely a problem of communications.