By MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 5 March 2015]
Madam, despite long-running talks about implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea and even an agreement over a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), there remains no binding arrangement to manage and reduce friction in East Asia’s maritime domain. In fact, there seems to be persistent friction over the South China Sea.
The issues have the potential to affect regional stability and Singapore’s continued prosperity. Singapore needs to navigate carefully among the different positions of the United States, China, and our neighbours. MINDEF’s defence diplomacy and outward engagement in conjunction with other agencies can have important consequences for Singapore’s national security and interests.
I would like to better understand how MINDEF’s current and planned defence diplomacy efforts could bring concrete benefits to Singapore’s national security.
Defence Minister spoke about the need to “tackle the hard security challenges and to deliver concrete outcomes” at last year’s Shangri-La Dialogue. There, he also discussed the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting-Plus framework, he further highlighted a Bruneian plan for a government-to-government hotline and a Vietnamese proposal for a no first use of force agreement. Would the Minister provide an update on these proposals, how they concretely aid our national security, and how the government has responded.
Beyond these proposals, what other initiatives is MINDEF currently undertaking? How does MINDEF intend to reduce uncertainties, enhance understanding, and improve coordination in the region and beyond through defence diplomacy apart from conferences and meetings?