TAIWAN and Singapore plan to renew military cooperation later this month despite China's efforts to woo the city state away from Taipei, it was reported Feb 12.

Taiwan's naval commander-in-chief Li Chieh, and Defence Minister Wu Shih-wen separately visited Singapore in December last year and last month, where they were decorated for their bids to promote bilateral military cooperation, the Liberty Times said.

Singapore's chief of general staff also visited Taiwan in late December.

During the exchange of visits, the two sides "reached a concensus on details of the agreement between Taiwan and Singapore," the paper said.

The planned agreement, based on an existing programme known as Operation Hsing Kuang (Starlight), would continue to provide training venues for Singapore artillery, armoured vehicles and infantry units, the paper said.

Taiwan would also offer logistic support to Singapore units including maintenance of tanks and air defence missiles.

"The agreement is due to be forged before the end of this month," the paper said.

Singapore has operated three training camps in Taiwan under the Starlight programme.

Taiwan's defence ministry declined to comment on the report.

The London-based Jane's Defence Weekly said last month China had offered to provide Singapore with facilities on Hainan Island as part of its efforts to sabotage Singapore's longstanding military links with the island.

It said the offer, the first to a foreign country by China, coincided with the first exchange of defence attaches between the two countries.

Jane's said Singapore was reluctant to accept the offer for fear of changing its current arrangement with Taiwan, adding that Singapore's "conservative leadership would be disinclined to widely expose their regular troops to mainland Chinese influences."

Singapore recognises China but maintains close ties with Taiwan which Beijing regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Taiwan sent air force and naval officers to Singapore during the city state's early years of independence after 1965.