(S) M/V GANT STAR: GOS RELEASES CHEMICALS TO

S E C R E T SINGAPORE 001998 SIPDIS SIPDIS ISN FOR EDNA SIDLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 TAGS: ETRD ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM PREL SN IR SUBJECT: (S) M/V GANT STAR: GOS RELEASES CHEMICALS TO CHINESE SHIPPER REF: A. SINGAPORE 1871 ¶B. STATE 129214 ¶C. SINGAPORE 1409 ¶D. STATE 57239 ¶E. SINGAPORE 1258 Classified By: DCM Dan Shields for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Singapore has released to the Chinese shipper the sodium perchlorate originally destined for Iran that Singapore had seized earlier this year, according to Tan York Chor, Director of MFA's International Organizations Directorate. Tan called E/P Chief and Econoff into MFA late in the afternoon of November 1 to tell us the GOS had released the chemicals to the Chinese shipper with the proviso that they be returned to China rather than shipped to a third country. The vessel carrying the sodium perchlorate left Singapore earlier in the day, Tan said. (Note: Tan agreed to our request that we be provided the name of the vessel, which we will forward upon receipt. End Note.) ¶2. (S) Tan explained that the GOS had completed an "exhaustive investigation" but could not link the cargo to any UN-listed entities. The GOS had determined that the Chinese shipper was the only party with a legal claim to the chemicals, so Singapore had no choice but to return the sodium perchlorate to them. E/P Chief expressed disappointment that the GOS had taken this step and urged Singapore to work closely with us to establish the facts in such cases. Tan predicted there would be more cases like this in the future, and said Singapore remains interested in helping prevent trade in contraband. However, the GOS would only bring winnable cases to court. He suggested that the USG follow up on the sodium percholrate shipment with the Chinese government. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm HERBOLD