First, let me look at the reality TV show. Duckworth shot off to Sinha: “This is not a role you can just pick up on a whim, or because you think it will be glamorous, or because Singapore is a great place to live.” She drove the dagger in: “Frankly, I don’t think you are particularly qualified for this role, and I’m concerned about how your lack of understanding may even inadvertently cause friction in our critical relationship. Will you even be able to effectively lead our mission in Singapore? I have my doubts.”
Am I watching reality TV? This thought surfaced in my mind when I came across a video of US Senator Tammy Duckworth haranguing Dr Anjani Sinha, President Donald Trump’s Ambassador-designate to Singapore. Duckworth’s insistent attack on the orthopaedic surgeon has harmed American diplomacy and the global image of America’s political system.
Also, her comments on Singapore playing a military role, in America’s confrontation with People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Indo-Pacific, are uncalled for. This Democratic Senator should understand that the city-state is a sovereign country that takes its own strategic decisions within the global arc of power. Singapore will never be held hostage by the military choices that either Washington or Beijing makes.
