China using seized armoured vehicles row to ramp up political pressure on Taiwan’s president, say analysts

The seizure in Hong Kong of nine armoured ­personnel carriers ­belonging to Singapore that were part of a military exercise in ­Taiwan is being used as a ploy by Beijing to isolate and put more political pressure on the island’s president, according to analysts.

The move by Beijing is also a warning to Singapore over its military cooperation with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province, they said, and could make other countries in the region more wary in following in the city state’s footsteps.

Watch: What’s going on with the Singaporean military vehicles in Hong Kong

According to Hong Kong customs, it was carrying out a routine search on a vessel arriving from Taiwan last Wednesday at Kwai Chung container terminal, when it found suspected controlled items. Sources with knowledge of the matter said the nine military vehicles belonging to Singapore did not have the permits required by the Hong Kong government, and the vehicles were subsequently impounded.

It’s unclear whether Beijing tipped off customs or directed ­local authorities to take the action. But by forcing the military relationship between Singapore and Taipei into the spotlight, Beijing had opened a new avenue to pressure Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the experts said.

Ties between Beijing and Taipei are at their lowest point in eight years after Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, took office in May. Beijing says Tsai must accept the 1992 consensus as the basis of relations, but she has so far refused. The agreement made that year between the two sides stipulates there is only one China, but ­allowed each to have its own ­interpretation of what that means.