| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE : At the opening dinner of the fifth Asia-Pacific Security Conference, Education Minister and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said armed forces need to adapt and evolve as security threats become more complex.
He said: "Today's armed forces will have to acquire new equipment, develop new concepts of operation, size the right force structure, as well as train and develop the necessary human capital in order to build capabilities for counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-piracy and other non-traditional operations."
He also added that individual states - "even those with large and powerful militaries" - cannot adequately address the complex security challenges today alone, and that collaborative efforts are needed.
Citing the recent Sino-US joint statement during President Obama's state visit to China on November 17 last year, Dr Ng said Singapore was encouraged that both parties agreed to nurture and deepen bilateral strategic trust.
"Despite recent events which led to China's announcement to suspend planned mutual military visits with the US, we remain hopeful that the desire to deepen understanding and mutual cooperation amongst the major powers will prevail as issues of collective security will affect us all," said Dr Ng.
The minister also mentioned that it is important for Singapore to play its part in multi-national efforts to counter global terrorist threats.
As an example, the minister highlighted Singapore's involvement in Iraq where the SAF completed five deployments of Landing Ship Tanks (LST) and KC-135 tanker aircraft, and one deployment of C-130 transport aircraft from 2003 to 2008.
He said: "Singapore was gratified that these niche capabilities were valued by coalition partners. For example, our LSTs helped to protect key installations in the Northern Arabian Gulf such as the Al-Basra Oil Terminal from sea-borne terrorist attacks, while our KC-135s provided refueling services to coalition aircraft in the skies over combat zones." - CNA /ls
|
