Gnadenburg
agree with your comments on Singapore (a Claytons democracy?)
But ... they are "very" independent and, from admittedly old inside information (I knew someone who knew someone who ...... knew someone at the top levels of government - so very reliable !!)
Singapore are (at least used to be) paranoid about China claiming Singapore as part of their territory.
I was also told that their military usually used to go on high alert several times a year, mainly because of Malaysia (Mahathir at the time) and Indonesia (mainly Suharto), so they tended to be 'well drilled'. I don't know about since then.