In any negotiation, you must know what the other party wants. In this case, it is clear that China doesn't want the Terrex. These are inferior armor vehicles compared to theirs. There is no reason for them to keep the Terrex. What 's use is there for them ?
If Singapore violates the international law of shipping , then going by the rule of the law, all they have to do is to pay China the penalty for the violation. That will be straightforward for Singapore. However, insofar, China has not stated hat Singapore has violated any shipping law. The only thing that China claims Singapore has violated is the One China policy. According to them, the violation of the policy means that they have the right to confiscate the Terrex that were in transit in Hong Kong Port. Applying the same logic , it can also mean that if the shipment is travelling in the disputed South China seas which China claims are theirs, the Terrex can also be subjected to seizure and confiscation.
CCS going there to appease the Chinese is like a sheep going to the den of wolves. I will chop if he can get anything out of the negotiation without bringing along a huge Christmas turkey as a present to the Chinese.
The card that CCS can use is the economic relations that Singapore have had with China for many decades and the economic relationship that was built up over time. China is interested in the HSR. This is the Christmas turkey CCS can use to induce a settlement.