The Straits Times said that Singapore still has certain advantages over Hainan. In terms of the storage and distribution of energy sources such as crude oil and natural gas, Singapore still has significant advantages, while Hainan is still somewhat behind in this regard.

Professor Bai Shipan, a visiting professor at National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, said that Singapore has signed bilateral free trade agreements, agreements to avoid double taxation, and investment protection agreements with many countries around the world. Enterprises can use Singapore's trade and investment network to access international markets.

At first glance, this sounds quite reasonable.

But upon closer reflection, it's just an excuse, a sleight of hand.

It is well known that the main customers of Hainan Free Trade Port are Southeast Asian countries, not other countries. Southeast Asian customers are our priority, for example, the banana ships from the Philippines first go to Singapore before transferring to China. From a geographical perspective, this is neither reasonable nor scientific. They should be able to sail directly to China, but instead they go through Singapore and then to China, which takes time and increases costs. If they sailed directly to China, these losses could be avoided.

Now that Hainan has opened up, I don't believe that the banana transport ships from the Philippines will continue to stop at Singapore in the future.

As for ships from other countries (non-EU), they can go via Indonesia, and there's no need to necessarily pass through the Strait of Malacca via Singapore.

Even if Singapore has operated for many years and has agreements with these countries, what good does that do?

Don't forget, the final destination of these countries' goods is China, not Singapore. As long as we issue a statement that foreign cargo ships passing through Singapore for transshipment will be taxed when entering China, how many foreign cargo ships would still stop at Singapore for transshipment?

I admit that Singapore port is a transshipment terminal, but you are not, I don't recognize you, you're nothing.

As for the expert's statement, "Singapore's advantages also include stable and efficient political operations, sound macroeconomic management, a favorable business environment, and reliable and advanced legal and international arbitration systems."

What era is this? Still using this kind of rhetoric to deceive people.

This is not an exam answer.

No matter how good your environment is, if people can't make money, they won't come. People come from far away to make money, not to listen to your preaching.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852677408510980/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.