Hong Kong has agreed to release the consignment of Singaporean armoured vehicles seized by customs officials late last year, ending a two-month stand-off that has exposed military tensions in the region.
The nine Terrex armoured personnel carriers were impounded in November while returning from military exercises in Taiwan. Most analysts believe Hong Kong seized the vehicles at the behest of China, which disapproves of Singapore’s cordial relations with Taiwan, the self-governing island that it insists is part of its territory.
Taiwan has allowed Singapore to hold military manoeuvres on its territory every year since the 1970s. Singapore also signed a trade deal with Taiwan in 2013.