Singapore has appointed a new Ambassador to Japan.

Ambassador to South Korea previously

Peter Tan Hai Chuan, who was Deputy Secretary/ Southeast Asia & Asean in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from January 2015 to September 2019, will be taking over from Lui Tuck Yew, who was a former transport minister from 2011 to 2015.

Tan will assume the role of the Republic's new ambassador to Japan.

Tan was the Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (concurrently accredited to Mongolia) from February 2011 to January 2015.

Worked on multiple global issues

According to a press statement by MFA released on Thursday, Sep. 26, Tan has served in various capacities dealing with multiple issues and regions since joining the ministry in 1992.

He has worked on issues related to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, United Nations and Technical Cooperation.

Japan-related experience

Tan has accumulated significant diplomatic experience with regards to Japan, having served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo as First Secretary from 1995 to 1998, as Counsellor from 2001 to 2002, and subsequently as Acting Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission.

In between, he served in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as Counsellor from 2001 to 2002.

Tan was also appointed as Second Director of the Southeast Asia Directorate on Dec. 27, 2005, and served as Director from October 2006 to August 2010.

Studied East Asian Studies in Columbia University

As for his educational background, Tan graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts, Hons II Upper.

He was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and obtained his Master of Arts in East Asian Studies from Columbia University, United States, in 2000.

Tan was also awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008, and is married to Sim Siew Eng.

Lui's stint among the shortest for a Japanese ambassador

Lui was appointed Ambassador to Japan on June 1, 2017.

Since diplomatic relations were established in 1966, 11 previous Ambassadors have served in the Japanese Embassy, including former president of Singapore, the late Wee Kim Wee.

1. Ang Kok Peng (June 1968 to April 1971)

2. Loy Keng Foo (August 1971 to September 1972)

3. Wee Mon Cheng (June 1973 to August 1980)

4. Wee Kim Wee (September 1980 to April 1984)

5. Lee Khoon Choy (June 1984 to July 1988)

6. Cheng Tong Fatt (July 1988 to June 1991)

7. Lim Chin Beng (July 1991 to November 1997)

8. Chew Tai Soo (February 1998 to July 2004)

9. Tan Chin Tiong (October 2004 to January 2012)

10. Chin Siat Yoon (April 2012 to June 2017)

Lui's stint as ambassador from June 2017 to September 2019 is among the shortest, at slightly over two years.

In fact, Lui's stint is the shortest compared to the past five ambassadors before him.

The late Lee Khoon Choy served a shorter stint that Lui, and he was also a former politician.

Lui to be a new ambassador in one of the two major superpowers?

At 58, Lui would have been part of the 4G leadership if he did not leave politics.

It is likely that the former Chief of Navy, and the former Chief Executive of Housing Development Board will continue to serve his country in a new capacity.

If Lui were to continue as an ambassador for Singapore, two countries -- the United States and China -- come to mind.

The current ambassadors to the United States and China are career diplomats and have already served as ambassadors for slightly over seven years since 2012.

If either one of them is feeling homesick, a former minister such as Lui will be a candidate to navigate these great power relations as Singapore's envoy.

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Top image adapted via Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Singapore Embassy in Tokyo