Taipei: A top Taiwanese diplomat has clarified Singapore's stance on the one-China policy amidst growing diplomatic tensions. Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang stated that Singapore adheres to its own "one-China policy," distinct from China's "one-China principle." This differentiation became a focal point after a Chinese foreign ministry statement inaccurately represented Singapore's position on Taiwan, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical sensitivity surrounding Taiwan's status.According to Focus Taiwan, Tien's remarks came in response to a Chinese foreign ministry statement issued after a meeting between Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 15, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru. The Chinese statement claimed that "Singapore fully understands the Chinese government's position on the Taiwan question, opposes any form of 'Taiwan independence,' and firmly abides by the one-China principle." However, Singapore's own stateme nt simply reaffirmed its consistent "One China" policy, opposing Taiwan independence without explicitly endorsing the one-China principle.Tien explained that this substitution of terminology by Beijing is a part of what he describes as the PRC's "disinformation warfare." This discrepancy was highlighted when lawmakers in Taiwan requested clarification regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)'s statement on November 16, which labeled China's claims about the Xi-Wong meeting as "unmistakably false."However, Chang Ching, a retired Navy captain and Taipei-based research fellow, suggested that MOFA might have mischaracterized Singapore's statement. He argued that Singapore did affirm its commitment to the one-China policy and its opposition to Taiwan independence, which led to further inquiries and Tien's subsequent clarifications.The "one-China principle" is rooted in the PRC's assertion that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, with the PRC as its sole legitimate government, and that Taiwan is an integral part of China. Conversely, Taiwan's official designation is the Republic of China (ROC). Many countries with diplomatic ties to the PRC develop their own "one-China policy," which often does not explicitly concede that Taiwan is part of China, differentiating it from the principle.The United States, for example, navigates its one-China policy through the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. The U.S. maintains that it opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo, does not support Taiwan independence, and expects peaceful resolutions to cross-Strait differences. Similarly, Singapore's policy mirrors that of the U.S., as it maintains a "One-China" policy while opposing Taiwanese independence, using carefully constructed language to articulate its stance.In a rare instance of specificity, a joint statement in April 2000 by Singapore and the PRC acknowledged that "Singapore recognizes that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China," marking Singapore's recognition of the PRC government.