In 1824 an Anglo-Dutch treaty left Malaya and Singapore in the British sphere, and in August the whole of Singapore Island was ceded to the British for a monetary payment. Two years later Singapore, Penang, and Malacca (Melaka) were combined as the Straits Settlements to form an outlying residency of India.
Most of them were Chinese, which made Singapore an ethnic Chinese enclave in a largely Malay region (which it still is). What are the reasons for British colonising Singapore? In a nutshell, it was all about securing trade with China.
By then, Raffles and his party had concluded in a survey that Singapore was an ideal location. Not only did it have abundant drinking water and a natural sheltered harbour formed by the mouth of the Singapore River, the island was also strategically placed along the British trade route leading to the Straits of China.
Britain's defeat in the Battle of Singapore was due to the following factors: Britain's lack of commitment to Singapore. Successful invasion of Malaya by the Japanese and the ensuing Japanese air superiority. Incompetent leadership and inadequacy in defense, resources and soldiery.
1819 - Signing of the Treaty between Singapore and the British
Could Britain have won Singapore?
In WW2, could the British forces at Singapore have prevailed if led by a different general? On paper, yes. Defence favours the defender and the 85,000 British Commonwealth forces also outnumbered the 30,000 Japanese. However, the Japanese had armour, air cover and naval support, while the British side did not.
On 6 February 1819, Stamford Raffles, Temenggong Abdu'r Rahman and Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor signed a treaty that gave the British East India Company (EIC) the right to set up a trading post in Singapore.
Singapore declared independence from Britain in 1963 and became part of Malaysia. It was a short-lived move however, and in 1965, Singapore became an independent and sovereign state. Its inaugural National Day was held on August 9, 1966, with a parade held at the Padang.
On 9 August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign state. The separation was the result of deep political and economic differences between the ruling parties of Singapore and Malaysia, which created communal tensions that resulted in racial riots in July and September 1964.
Singapore became a very rich country by implementing measures such as mandatory allocation of 10% of Singaporeans' salary to a pension fund, creating strategic state-owned companies, limiting the growth of the public service, privatizing loss-making companies, and maintaining a strong currency.
What were the negative effects of British colonialism in Singapore?
It promoted opium smoking, which ravaged countless lives in Singapore. Unemployment levels were high, and working conditions were often horrendous. And in the Second World War, Britain utterly failed to defend the colony against invasion by Japan, which subsequently killed countless Singaporeans.
Singapore enjoys good relations with the United Kingdom which shares ties in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) along with Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Singapore also enjoys robust defense ties with the United States while simultaneously maintaining good relations with China.
What happened to Singapore after the British left?
Singapore became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. By the 1990s, the country had become one of the world's most prosperous nations, with a highly developed free market economy and strong international trading links.
The British were also prepared to embark on a program of gradually increasing self-governance for Singapore and Malaya. On 16 September 1963, Singapore became a state of Malaysia, completely ending 144 years of British rule.
On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army of some 8,000 men to General George Washington at Yorktown, giving up any chance of winning the Revolutionary War.
Nationalist movements in Asian and African colonies fought to end British rule and to gain independence. Mahatma Gandhi was leader of the nationalist movement against British rule of India and used nonviolent methods to fight for India's independence.
Like the Romans, the British fought a variety of enemies. They also had the distinction of being defeated by a variety of enemies, including Americans, Russians, French, Native Americans, Africans, Afghans, Japanese and Germans. Even in defeat, there is something glorious in losing to so many different foes.
While the British military is strong and well-equipped, it may not match China's naval forces in terms of sheer numbers. However, the UK's soft power, strong international relationships, and nuclear deterrent play a significant role in influencing global affairs and preventing direct military confrontations.
Bilateral relations. The United Kingdom co-operates with Singapore on a wide range of international issues. Singapore's non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council (2001/02) further intensified bilateral contacts on key issues affecting international peace and security.
At a special parliamentary session earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explained that Singapore's “longstanding support for a two-state solution remains unchanged”, in that Palestinian people have the right to a homeland and that Israel has the right to live within secure borders.
Singapore is home to an estimated 5,000 British businesses and 45,000 British nationals. The UK exported £4.6 billion worth of goods and services to Singapore in 2020 (ONS, 2021).
