The Little Red Dot: Reflections by Singapore's Diplomats

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THE LITTLE RED DOT Reflections by Singapore's Diplomats

edited by Tommy Koh & Chang Li Lin

2005 is the 40th anniversary of Singapore’s independence. This collection of essays by Singapore’s past and present diplomats tells the remarkable story of how this small and vulnerable country has become a stable, prosperous and respected member of the international community. The essays include those from the late President Wee Kim Wee and President S R Nathan as well as seminal contributions from the four former Foreign Ministers — Mr S Rajaratnam, Mr S Dhanabalan, Mr Wong Kan Seng and Professor S Jayakumar. The current Foreign Minister, Mr George Yeo, has written the foreword. The absorbing stories about people, places and international politics make this book a highly enjoyable read for all who are interested in Singapore, its history, and foreign policy. In the stories contained in this book you will find and discover:

which other Q (quotient), besides IQ (intellectual quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient), a successful diplomat needs how our diplomats helped to look after and evacuate Singaporeans in dangerous situations
how our diplomats have been able to overcome the size of our country and punch above our weight
why the burial of a buffalo head, with our diplomats acting as gravediggers, was of paramount significance to our embassy in Indonesia
about the 24/7 schedules that our foreign service desk officers keep, sleeping with handphones in their pyjamas
the advantage of being a lady Ambassador in a man’s world
the power of ideas and friends in diplomacy

Contents:

Foreword
by George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Introduction

Part 1: The Presidents

1.1 Making Friends by Wee Kim Wee

1.2 Diplomatic Experiences by S R Nathan

Part 2: Ministers

2.1 Principles of Singapore’s Foreign Policy by S Rajaratnam

2.2 Scenes from Cambodia Drama by S Dhanabalan

2.3 Continuity and Change in Singapore’s Foreign Policy by Wong Kan Seng

2.4 Singapore's First Lobbying Effort in the U.N. General Assembly by S Jayakumar

2.5 Solving Two Diplomatic Challenges by Lee Khoon Choy

Part 3: Permanent Secretaries

3.1 A Pioneer in the Service by Chia Cheong Fook

3.2 Singapore in the United Nations Security Council by Kishore Mahbubani

3.3 Fate and Circumstance by Tan Chin Tiong

3.4 Some Fundamentals of Singapore’s Foreign Policy by Bilahari Kausikan

Part 4: Madam Ambassadors

4.1 Friends and Ideas in Diplomacy by Chan Heng Chee

4.2 An Accidental Diplomat by Jaya Mohideen

4.3 I Wish I Had a Wife by Mary Seet-Cheng

Part 5: First Generation Diplomats

5.1 On Being a Singapore Diplomat by Mushahid Ali

5.2 Impressions of Diplomatic Life by Maurice Baker

5.3 A Jonah in Diplomacy by Harry Chan Keng Howe

5.4 The Human Side of Diplomacy by Chew Tai Soo

5.5 Representing Singapore in the Early Years by Chiang Hai Ding

5.6 A Soldier in Diplomacy by Winston Choo

5.7 Life in the Former USSR by Joseph Conceicao

5.8 An Ambassador in Transition – A taste of French Diplomacy by Foo Meng Tong

5.9 The Politics of Trade: Singapore and the World Trade Organisation by K Kesavapany

5.10 Eight Lessons on Negotiations by Tommy Koh

5.11 Reflections in Bits and Pieces by Lee Chiong Giam

5.12 Being An Ambassador the SIA Way by Lim Chin Beng

5.13 Reflections of 33 years in Diplomacy by Low Choon Ming

5.14 Speak Up for Singapore by Verghese Mathews

5.15 From Academia to Diplomacy and Back by Pang Eng Fong

5.16 A Sojourn in Diplomacy by J Y Pillay

5.17 Starting from Scratch by V K Rajan

5.18 The Importance of Friendships in Diplomacy by Ridzwan Dzafir

5.19 The Early Years by See Chak Mun

5.20 Culture of an inclusive organization by Kemal Tony Siddique

5.21 The Importance of Protocol in Diplomacy by Tan Keng Jin

Part 6: The Second Generation

6.1 Undiplomatic Wanderings Through Indonesia by Barry Desker

6.2 An Enriching Learning Experience in Thailand by Calvin Eu

6.3 Personal Relations and Diplomacy by Jacky Foo

6.4 Learning From Each Other by Mark Hong

6.5 Learning Lessons by T Jasudasen

6.6 Four Days in May by Edward Lee

6.7 MFA in the 1970s by Lin Chung Ying

6.8 The Other Legends by Ong Keng Yong

6.9 Championing Singapore by Raymond Wong

6.10 Language, Culture and History as Tools of the Trade by Walter Woon

Part 7: Non-Resident Ambassadors

7.1 Breaking Protocol by Chua Yong Hai

7.2 Men and Women of Our Foreign Service – A dedication by Philip Eng

7.3 Diplomacy, Singapore Style by Brian Lee

7.4 From Business to Diplomacy by Victor Loh

7.5 Drinking the Wine of Kings, Having a King for a Friend by Ng Ser Miang

7.6 Ruminations of a Non-Resident Ambassador by Pang Cheng Lian

7.7 A Businessman in Diplomacy by Gopinath Pillai

7.8 Building Goodwill, Charting New Course by Tan Kah Hoe

Annex I:Milestones of Singapore’s External Relations From 1965 – May 2005

Annex II:List of Countries with which Singapore has Diplomatic Relations

Index

Media Reports:

What’s Up. 2005. Making friends – for the whole country. October
What’s Up. 2005. They’re not superstars, but they shine in their work. October
The Straits Times. 2005. Small state’s big challenge to stay vital. 2 September
The Straits Times. 2005. Simple lessons go a long way. 1 September
The Straits Times. 2005. A pioneer in the service. 31 August
Today. 2005. Icy seas and a little red dot. 31 August
The Straits Times. 2005. Eight lessons on negotiations. 30 August
The Straits Times. 2005. Friends and ideas in diplomacy. 29 August
The Straits Times. 2005. Write on, S’pore diplomats. 14 August
Today. 2005. Nathan ready for race. 6-7 August
The Straits Times. 2005. How a little red dot made it in the world. 6 August
Channel News Asia. 2005 President Nathan launches The Little Red Dot book. 5 August

Koh, Tommy and Chang, Li Lin, eds. 2005. The Little Red Dot: Reflections by Singapore's Diplomats. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies and World Scientific Publishing Co. Ltd.

(492 pages, ISBN 981 256 414 4 )