(Issue 3) Chapter 11: How to respond to tensions arising from security impacts of globalisation?

Question 1

Preventive measures

Answer 1

1. Border controls -> Use of biometric technology and radiographic image
2. Border controls -> Restricting air travel
3. Collaboration with other countries

Question 2

Preventive: Use of biometric technology and radiographic image

Answer 2

• in the immigration clearance process and analysis of cargo vehicles crossing Singapore’s borders
• Eg. the biometric passport contains unique biological data such as fingerprint data, facial image and passport details on a contactless chip.
  -> this helps to detect and identify theft and terrorism
  -> prevents movement of foreign terrorists and materials that can be used to produce explosives into Singapore through the land, sea, and air checkpoints

Question 3

Criticism against biometric technology and radiographic image

Answer 3

• biometric passports may result in data breaches
  -> information can be obtained illegally for criminal use, like for illegal immigrants

Question 4

Preventive: Restricting air travel

Answer 4

• Eg. in USA, there is a No-fly List with names of known or suspected terrorists
• Americans outside USA placed on the list will not be allowed to board any plane back to the USA
• Non-Americans based in the USA will not be allowed to board a plane to return to their home country

-> ensures the security of countries and the passengers who are travelling by air

Question 5

Criticism against restricting air travel

Answer 5

• such restrictions violates the right of individuals to have freedom of movement as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human rights
• some individuals may be wrongly identified on the list, causing a lot of inconvenience

Question 6

Preventive: Collaboration with other countries

Answer 6

• Eg. UN Security Council Resolution 1973
  -> member countries share intelligence on individuals or group practising or planning terrorist acts
• country members also take actions against terrorists
• necessary for countries to work together as terrorism is global in nature
• with enough information, the countries can stop acts of terrorism from being carried out
• Eg Singapore collaborates with ASEAN countries
• the ASEAN Counter-Terrorism Workshop where countries exchange best practices to enhance counter-terrorism in the region
• Eg. Singapore is also a member of the Container Security Initiative (CSI)
• it screens to identify and target high-risk American bound containers and pre-screen them before they are shipped to ports in USA
• this helps to prevent any terrorist plan against USA, keeping it safer