Posted 04 Dec 2016 17:12
Updated 04 Dec 2016 17:20
SINGAPORE: The US presence in the Asia-Pacific should not be for
the sole purpose of containing China, either perceived or otherwise, Singapore
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said during a panel discussion at the Reagan
National Defense Forum on Sunday (Dec 4).
"It
is neither possible nor strategically necessary to contain China’s rise ...
China is now an integral leader of global systems of trade, finance and
security. It is clear that China needs the world as much as the world needs
China, and I think this interdependence will grow, not diminish,” he said at
the forum in Simi Valley, California, attended by US Secretary of Defense
Ashton Carter, foreign defence ministers and members of the US Congress.
He
added that the rise of China, India and ASEAN are a "virtuous
outcome" of the US foreign and defence policies over the last seven
decades. "That very fact alone validates the US foreign and defence
policies in Asia over the last few decades. But I think this success brings a
suite of new challenges as we contemplate US foreign policy moving
forward," Dr Ng said.
Asked
about potential collaboration between the incoming Donald Trump administration
and Taiwan, in the wake of a phone call between
the US president-elect and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Dr Ng said it was not
Singapore's place to second-guess on the reason for the call.
"The
president-elect’s administration team followed up after the phone call to say
that they adhere to the one-China policy, as does Singapore and we are very
careful and in fact, constructive," Dr Ng said, pointing to instances
where Singapore helped advance the one-China policy, such as hosting
the Wang-Koo talks in 1993, the 1992 One Consensus meeting and the meeting
between Chinese President Xi Jinping and then Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou.
Said
the defence minister: "I think there are a lot of benefits of a strong
China; being able to provide opportunities for both US and other countries in
the world, and I think that there are many areas that you can focus on that are
productive."
Dr Ng
said that he does not believe, even with any new administration, that the
US would reduce its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
"The
US’ presence in the Asia-Pacific region based predominantly on security is
unidimensional and structurally brittle… The US needs a multifaceted
relationship with countries in Asia," he said. "Singapore looks
forward to working with the new administration to continue to allow the US to
be a stabilising force in the Asia-Pacific region.”
- CNA/am
Original post channelnewsasia.com
Must be really desperate and running out of
options of how to get the IFV back.
Really glad China did this to Singapore as have been acting like a little
super power for too long without any reprisal.
This incident would teach them a lesson.
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