Singapore didn't respect the Chinese FM by not wearing a tie.
So China FM got angry and removed his tie to show his disrespect too. His team followed.
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Maturing as a young man in Singapore in the early 80s, I always remembered a phrase that Lee Kuan Yew used- “These are the rules of the game”. He was referring to the diplomatic protocol which is understood the world over when leaders meet.
A Prime Minister of a host country always has to go to the place where a visiting Head of State is staying, be it a hotel or the official guest house, to meet the VIP. It is important to follow these and other diplomatic rules in order to avoid creating embarrassing situations or offending the opposite side.
Like many, I was mortified when Vivian Balakrishnan greeted the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi without wearing a tie. Wang Yi had turned up in jacket and tie.To his great credit, the quick thinking Wang Yi immediately took off his tie when he saw that Vivian was not wearing one. This was a highly embarrassing incident which could have been easily avoided.
For those who follow international affairs,when have you ever seen Wang Yi without a tie when he meets the foreign minister or leader of another country? He is always immaculately turned out in jacket and tie.Did Vivian enquire whether Wang Yi would be without a tie before deciding not to wear one?
In International affairs,everything is choreographed. Nothing is ever left to chance.Earlier this year,President Xi had received President Macron of France in a State Visit in Beijing.President Macron delighted the Chinese leader with certain remarks he made in Beijing. Later,when Macron left Beijing to visit Guangzhou, Xi flew in to join him.They met at a famous garden where they took tea and Xi gave the French leader some lessons about Chinese history and philosophy.Both men were without ties, wearing only jackets. But do you think both men not wearing ties on that occasion was a coincidence? Of course not. Everything would have been planned and agreed by both sides.The informality was intended to convey that each felt at ease with the other and the great friendship which existed between the 2 nations.
Vivian has not learnt after all these years. Still remember his remarks at the Kim/Trump summit in Singapore several years ago,that Singapore’s role was to serve tea and coffee? The great Victorian British Prime Minister Disraeli said that prestige is the currency in International Relations.
Vivian has never as Foreign Minister been able to project Singapore prestige on the world stage.Is it any wonder when he relegated Singapore to serving tea and coffee at an important International Summit?
CCP does not practice what they preach? 
