Mr Chin Siat Yoon arrived in Tokyo as Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Japan on 16 April 2012.

A Colombo Plan Scholar, Mr Chin began his career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as an army officer in 1972. In his service with the SAF, he held numerous key appointments, including that of the Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Logistics) and Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Intelligence). In 1984, with the inception of the Joint Staff, Mr Chin became the first Director of the Joint Intelligence Directorate - an appointment he held until his departure for further studies at Johns Hopkins University in the United States in August 1989. He held the rank of Brigadier General.

Mr Chin was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1990 and retired from the SAF in December 1995. While in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chin served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand from September 1990 to December 1994, with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar and Cambodia. From January 1995 to July 1996, he served as Singapore's Trade Representative in Taipei, before he became Ambassador to Germany from August 1996 to December 1997. Mr Chin then served as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China for fourteen years from February 1998 to March 2012.

Mr Chin was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) (Military) in 1981, the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2000 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2006. In recognition of his role in promoting bilateral military relations between Singapore and Indonesia, Mr Chin was awarded the Bintang Yudha Dharma Pratama ("Star of Honour" - Second Class) by the Republic of Indonesia in 1989.

Mr Chin is married with three children.