Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Committee of Supply Debate 2011

Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Committee of Supply Debate 2011 02 Mar 2011 Regional Security Environment Mr Michael Palmer and Ms Indranee Rajah enumerated the various challenges in the regional security environment and asked for an update on the regional security environment, as well as the role played by the US, China and other regional countries. Sir, in the Asia-Pacific, China and India continue to grow at a fast pace. This contrasts with the picture elsewhere. Europe continues to be gripped by the woes of a number of eurozone countries. The United States is grappling with a large budget deficit. This has meant that economic dynamism and weight has been shifting eastwards. Defence expenditures reflect this shift. They are falling in the West while rising in Asia. The recent unrest in several Middle Eastern countries has also led to some concern with the stability of global energy supply and prices. The growing economic weight of China and India has given them more confidence, and a greater desire to play a larger role in regional and global affairs. They have new and expanded interests, such as access to trade routes and resources, and will want to safeguard them. They are expanding their naval and air forces to extend their reach and influence. This is resulting in a shift in the relationship between the major powers in our region. Traditional flashpoints such as the Korean Peninsula also remain. On this issue, which Mr Palmer asked about, we hope that all parties will exercise restraint and reduce tensions through dialogue, as a stable and nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is crucial for regional stability. We do not want to see nuclear proliferation in our region. The key question on everyone's minds is how dynamics between the US and China affect our region. Given the high degree of interdependence in the relationship, both sides recognise that having friendly relations is in their best interests. However, there is also potential for competition and friction. Domestic pressures in both countries, too, will continue to complicate the relationship. As China undergoes a leadership transition and the US a presidential election in 2012, both sides cannot afford to appear weak, especially on matters that affect domestic support. Southeast Asia, rich in natural resources and where critical sea lanes converge, is a region where the key interests of the US and China intersect and often play out. China is working hard to build up its relationship with Southeast Asian countries, and to manage areas where there are differences. In parallel, the Obama Administration has resolved to remain a "resident power" in Asia and has stepped up its engagements with Southeast Asian countries. Both sides seek to deepen their trade relationships with the region. These are positive developments for Southeast Asia, which can then play a role in fostering good relations between the US and China. Regional Security Architecture Mr Palmer, Ms Rajah , Dr Lily Neo and Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef asked about the regional security architecture, and the role played by MINDEF as well as other countries in shaping it. In today's evolving strategic environment, countries need to come together to build trust and confidence, and to cooperate in tackling complex security challenges that affect everyone. An open, inclusive and flexible regional security architecture can facilitate this process, by bringing together the key stakeholders to address issues of concern, promote mutual understanding, build confidence, and provide a construct through which countries can cooperate in areas of shared interests, in spite of differences in other areas. On our part, MINDEF seeks to contribute ideas and concepts to crystallise and strengthen the security architecture, as well as useful capabilities towards regional cooperative activities. We play an active role in institutions such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), and the ADMM-Plus, the newest component of the architecture, which Dr Lily Neo asked about. Last year, only four and the half years after the first ADMM in 2006, the ADMM-Plus was inaugurated with an ADMM+8 format, comprising the ten ASEAN countries and eight "Plus" countries - Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the US. These are key extra-regional countries that have a stake in the region and can contribute expertise, perspectives, and resources to help deal with regional challenges. The establishment of the ADMM-Plus is a significant milestone in the history of ASEAN, strengthening ASEAN's ability to set the regional agenda and its position as a driving force for regional defence cooperation. The inaugural ADMM-Plus agreed to advance practical cooperation among the 18 militaries, particularly through the establishment of Experts' Working Groups (EWGs) in five areas - humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, peacekeeping operations, counter-terrorism and military medicine. So the ADMM- plus provides a forum where people can air their views, say how they feel, what their concerns are, and so others can understand them. At the same time after the discussions, it provides an avenue for them to work together in these five areas and develop in a concrete way their desire for cooperation. MINDEF is also actively involved in the Shangri-La Dialogue, held annually in Singapore. The Shangri-La Dialogue plays a unique role in the regional architecture by bringing together defence ministers, senior officials and academics from the region and beyond for a frank exchange of views. This key event will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. 2011 also marks the 40th Anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), a grouping that has become an integral part of the regional architecture. The 8th FPDA Defence Ministers' Meeting will be held in Singapore on 1 November 2011. "1-11-11". It marks the day the FPDA was founded 40 years ago. Over the years, the FPDA has proven to be an adaptive institution, relevant to the changing strategic environment and the needs of its members. Bilateral Defence Relation Ms Ellen Lee asked about bilateral defence relations with our neighbours and key partners. Our defence ties with Malaysia are deep and broad-based. They encompass a wide range of interactions between the defence leadership as well as among the rank and file through regular bilateral exercises and exchange visits. Last October, I attended the inaugural Putrajaya Forum in Kuala Lumpur, where I spoke alongside Defence Minister Dato' Seri Zahid during a panel discussion. Singapore and Malaysia also collaborate closely in the Malacca Strait Patrols and the FPDA. All these interactions have enhanced the friendly ties between both sides. Our defence relationship with Indonesia remains strong, with regular and wide-ranging interactions between the SAF and the Indonesian National Defence Forces. I recently visited Indonesia last December, and attended the 30th anniversary celebrations of Elang Indopura, a bilateral exercise between both Air Forces. It was a wonderful occasion because they brought back the officers who had taken part in the early Elang Indopura exercises from the very beginning and they were able to interact with one another. I also met with President Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono, and Defence Minister Purnomo. In my interactions with these Indonesian leaders, I was heartened to hear their strong affirmation of our warm and friendly bilateral relationship, and their agreement that both sides should further explore opportunities to expand cooperation for mutual benefit. The US remains one of our strongest and closest defence partners, and a country with whom we share fundamental interests and strategic perspectives. Our relationship with the US affords us technology access and training opportunities to build our operational capabilities and readiness. Last November, the SAF conducted in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the first battery live-firing exercise involving our new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Our new Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters were also based in the US from November 2009 to September last year for integration training with our frigates. We continue to maintain F- 16, F-15SG, Chinook and Apache training detachments in the US. On our part, we also welcome visits by US ships and aircraft to Singapore. We believe that the continued presence in our part of the world by the US is important for regional peace and security. With China, we have progressed our defence relationship. A second joint counter-terrorism exercise between the SAF and PLA, which focused on counter-terrorism security operations for major international events, was held in Singapore last November. We continue to enjoy close defence ties with Thailand and Brunei, and increasingly with Vietnam, with whom we conducted mutual naval ship visits and our third Defence Policy Dialogue last December. Our relations with other regional partners like Australia and New Zealand also remain warm and strong. We share a history of operational cooperation with both countries, such as in the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Last year marked the 20th year that the SAF has been exercising at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Australia and I am glad that some of the Members of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) were able to come along with me to see that exercise. Following the earthquake in Christchurch last week, more than 100 SAF personnel, who had been on exercise in New Zealand at that time, together with an SCDF team, have been assisting the New Zealand Defence Force and local authorities in their rescue and relief operations. We have also deployed two C-130s to airlift humanitarian aid and supplies to victims of the earthquake and evacuate civilians from Christchurch to Wellington and Auckland. A team of forensic experts from the SAF, Health Sciences Authority, and the Singapore Police Force, has also just arrived in Christchurch to help with the identification of earthquake victims.

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