SINGAPORE continues to play a role in the creation of a security architecture that will allow all the countries in the region to continue to enjoy peace and security and focus on their growth, said Mr Teo.
One example is the annual Shangri-La Dialogue hosted here. It brings together top defence officials from more than 20 countries to discuss and exchange views on issues.
He said: 'In that process, we create better understanding. There are also norms of behaviour, peaceful cooperation.'
This year, the countries agreed on a set of principles to guide how countries should offer help to disaster-hit states.
In the past, the dialogue had led to the successful 'Eyes in the Sky' initiative for combined maritime air patrols in the Malacca Strait.
01 July 2008: Straits Times
In an interview to mark SAF Day today, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean gave an update on developments in the region and beyond, and touched on Singapore's defence relations with various countries
Arms build-up in the region
REGIONAL countries have been building up their armed forces and this is something the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) views as natural.
Said Mr Teo: 'You can see this happening in Malaysia, Indonesia...also Thailand. They have developed their armies, navies and air forces with new aircraft, the most modern in the world, ships, submarines, artillery and armoured vehicles.
Major countries like India, China and Japan have also done so, while the United States is developing Guam as a major centre for its military in the Western Pacific. Of these, Mr Teo said: 'This is understandable because all countries want and need to invest in their defence, the defence of their national security.'
Countries in the region are now more dependent on trade, the importation of energy and raw materials, he noted. 'All of them are more interested in having the ability to influence what happens along their sea routes, so many of them are investing in their navies,' Mr Teo said.
He also observed that compared with the past, regional armed forces are sourcing weapon systems from a wider range of countries, including Russia, Korea, Turkey, China and India. The traditional suppliers have been the US and European countries.
According to the minister, the military build-up is 'not necessarily a negative thing. What is more important is to get countries together to do things in a cooperative way'.
This is where a security architecture helps.
Security architecture in Asia-Pacific
SINGAPORE continues to play a role in the creation of a security architecture that will allow all the countries in the region to continue to enjoy peace and security and focus on their growth, said Mr Teo.
One example is the annual Shangri-La Dialogue hosted here. It brings together top defence officials from more than 20 countries to discuss and exchange views on issues.
He said: 'In that process, we create better understanding. There are also norms of behaviour, peaceful cooperation.'
This year, the countries agreed on a set of principles to guide how countries should offer help to disaster-hit states.
In the past, the dialogue had led to the successful 'Eyes in the Sky' initiative for combined maritime air patrols in the Malacca Strait.
Mr Teo also said the situation in the Asia-Pacific region remained stable with positive signs: 'In North-east Asia, for example, the Korean Peninsula talks are continuing. Across the Taiwan Strait, after the recent presidential elections, we hope for positive progress as well.'
Defence ties with US
THE defence relationship between the two countries is a 'longstanding one' and Singapore can work with the US, no matter which administration governs it, according to Mr Teo.
He cited examples of defence agreements in areas such as joint military exercises, training and the use of the Changi Naval Base by US forces that were signed over the years with different administrations.
Mr Teo said: 'I think for the US and Singapore, in the defence and security area, there are core interests that we share which transcend political developments in the US from administration to administration.
'I think the close cooperation we have will continue into the next administration, whether it's Democratic or Republican.'
The US presidential elections will take place in November.
Defence ties with China
MR TEO, in describing defence relations with China as 'good', said defence exchanges with the country will be useful because its defence forces are growing.
In January, both countries signed their first defence agreement, formalising existing exchanges, including mutual visits and port calls.
'We want to encourage them to contribute to peace and security in the region, and the more they are able to interact with the other defence forces in the region and understand the issues and concerns that are closest to their hearts, the more likely it is we will be able to develop a cooperative security environment in Asia.
'So, it is in that context that we are developing closer cooperation and exchanges with the Chinese defence establishment and the People's Liberation Army.'
Defence ties with Indonesia
SINGAPORE is prepared to have closer defence ties with Indonesia, but this can proceed only at a pace the Indonesians are comfortable with, Mr Teo said.
Defence cooperation between the two states 'continues to be good'. Various exercises and activities have continued, he said.
The two countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) last year, but it ran into problems.
Mr Teo said: 'We were not able to conclude the DCA and I think that was for reasons unrelated to the relationship between the SAF and the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces), which continued to be good.
'We look forward to being able to build even stronger and close relations with the TNI, whether we have the DCA with them or not.'
Contributions to international ops
THE SAF is one element that contributes to Singapore's role as a responsible member of the international community, Mr Teo said.
He said the SAF has deployed aircraft and navy ships 'in support of the operations for reconstruction of Iraq and we have been doing that for the last six years'.
'In Afghanistan, the SAF has contributed medical as well as construction capabilities in Bamiyan province. And later this year, we will be putting medical elements into Oruzgan province to assist in the overall stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.'
Mr Teo added that it is important for the SAF to play a role in helping these efforts and it will continue to assist in a way that it is able to.
On the risks personnel deployed there are exposed to, he said: 'It would not be honest of me to say the risks are zero. But we make sure we train our people well, we prepare them well and we equip them well.'
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