Taiwan's representative office in Singapore has hit back at former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani for calling Taiwan Asia's biggest crisis, saying he blames the victim rather than the party threatening force.

• Mahbubani told a forum in Malaysia that Taiwan is Asia's largest crisis and warned it not to declare independence or risk a major war.
• Taipei's office in Singapore called that logic backwards, saying the threat comes from the side trying to change the status quo by force, not from Taiwan keeping things as they are.
• Taiwan argues it is already a sovereign country, so the whole premise of a future independence declaration is a scenario that will not happen.
• The office stressed Mahbubani is retired and speaks only for himself, not Singapore's government.
• Singapore's own line has been consistent: it opposes Taiwanese independence, follows a one-China policy, and opposes any side changing the status quo by force.

Outlook: Expect more friction between Taipei and regional voices who frame Taiwan's own posture as the main risk, with Singapore likely to keep its careful middle position.