Hong Kong caught in diplomatic bind as customs seize shipment of military vehicles from Taiwan
Sources say it may be one of the biggest seizures of strategic commodities in two decades; details about owner, sender and consignee still being investigated
A routine customs inspection in Hong Kong that led to the seizure of nine armoured personnel carriers has placed it in the middle of diplomatic tension between Singapore and China over the city state’s long-running military exchanges with Taiwan.
The seizure of the military vehicles on a Singapore-bound cargo ship from Taiwan at the Kwai Chung container terminal on Wednesday afternoon has put the spotlight on an issue that has long irked Beijing.
Watch: What’s going on with the Singaporean military vehicles in Hong Kong
Last night, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence confirmed ownership of the eight-wheeled armoured infantry vehicles and called for them to be returned “expeditiously”, describing the situation as a “delay due to a request for routine inspections by Hong Kong customs”.
“The Terrex ICVs were used by the Singapore Armed Forces in routine overseas training and shipped back via commercial means as with previous exercises. Singapore authorities are providing relevant assistance to Hong Kong customs and expect the shipment to return to Singapore expeditiously,” the ministry said in a statement.