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A familiy from Ukraine registers at the reception centre for refugees in Zurich, Switzerland, on March 15. According to figures released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 2.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia began its military invasion on February 24. Photo: EPA-EFE
OpinionLetters

Letters | Russia sanctions end Switzerland’s long history of political neutrality

  • Readers discuss Switzerland moving away from its tradition of neutrality, how Ukraine can secure its independence and Western demands on China
Ukraine war
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The first major victim of the war in Ukraine is actually a country whose tradition of political neutrality goes back centuries and which remained neutral even during the two world wars. By following the European Union and others in imposing sanctions on Russia, even though it is not a member of the EU, Switzerland has abandoned its long-held neutrality.

The politically savvy Swiss must have meticulously calculated all the risks. Neutrality, like English common law, is governed by precedents. Once a precedent is made, it is irrevocable and there can be no selective neutrality. We can safely argue that Switzerland from now on is no longer a neutral country.

Of course, there are privileges attached to neutrality. Swiss banks have thrived on them. But now, even if the Ukraine war ends with a satisfactory outcome, it is unlikely wealthy Russians and super-rich Chinese will continue to put more money in Swiss banks.

Imagine a Davos forum without participants from Russia and China. What about the international organisations based in Geneva, Zurich and Basel? Their physical presence might remain for a while, but the feeling is gone.

Without neutrality, what is the future role for the Swiss in Europe? More than seven decades after World War II and 30 years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Switzerland is no longer the frontier of East-West European confrontation. It will gradually be subject to the gravitational force of European integration.

Singapore is likely to be closely watching the loss of Swiss neutrality. The city state aspires to be the leading private banking and wealth management hub in Asia.

Singapore’s own decision to join in imposing sanctions on Russia could make it more challenging for it to strike a balance amid the intense Sino-US rivalry and remain above the fray. It might have lost its chance to host adversaries to play golf and sample satay and chilli crabs while diplomacy is carried out for a negotiated settlement.
Neutrality is an expensive crown. It has served Switzerland well for centuries. The Swiss might find it no longer suitable to wear. Even the Nordic countries such as Sweden and Finland could find neutrality more of a liability than an asset. Who will be the next owner of the crown?

Khaw Wei Kang, Macau

Neutrality will secure Ukraine’s freedom

US intelligence had for months warned the world about Russia’s impending invasion of Ukraine, and the warning unfortunately came true. War is a different kettle of fish from the political mischief Russian President Vladimir Putin has played in the past.
Having said that, the war is a result of America’s self-fulfilling prophecy. The United States has long seen Russia as a threat to Western countries and is accused of playing a role in the 2014 ousting of the Kremlin-friendly Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich.

Nato and the European Union have gradually expanded to the countries close to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, inexperienced in geopolitics, has chanced his luck by leaning towards Europe. All these led Russia to launch a bloody war to seize Ukraine as a satellite state of Russia.

Up to now, Ukraine’s Western supporters have not had the political appetite to send troops to help. Zelensky should realise this situation is tenuous and Russia is the one to call the shots in the region.

The EU’s expansion and Russia’s resistance is a game of tug of war; the one who loosens their grip loses the game. The EU conducted steady expansion in the past decade, and now Russia has acted to reverse the situation through war.

The US is the key stakeholder in the geopolitical game in Europe, but it won’t directly participate in the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron’s opposition to the war is meant to show their leadership abilities and serve their political self-interest.

So who is going to safeguard Ukraine? On March 5, a Ukrainian negotiator said the country is open to discussing “non-Nato models” for its national security which would include direct security guarantees from some countries. If Ukraine remains a neutral country, its national security could be guaranteed and its independence will be in its own hands. Ukraine itself is the one to guarantee its own national security.

C.P. Lee, Causeway Bay

Threatening China not the best way to ask for help

The West needs to stop demanding China boycott Russia and issuing all sorts of threats. The West needs to acknowledge China as a superpower and ask it for help to stop this war.

Our prime minister should also stop using the unrest in the world as an election ploy. He has already done enough damage to our country.

Doug Cliff, New South Wales, Australia

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