S'pore, Chinese troops wrap up Nanjing war games

By Jermyn Chow, Defence Correspondent In Nanjing, The Straits Times, 10 Nov 2014

THE People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China and the Singapore Armed Forces wrapped up their biggest joint war games to date, in which 140 troops from both sides teamed up to fire their weapons and practise battle manoeuvres.

The exercise, codenamed Cooperation, was the third in a series and played out over Nanjing's rugged terrain, in an area the size of Pulau Ubin.

It is the first time that both armies are putting their infantry troops through conventional land warfare scenarios, stepping up the intensity of the joint military drill.

The previous two exercises in 2009 and 2010 were based on anti-terror drills that tested how 120 soldiers from both sides responded to chemical and explosive threats, among other missions.

This time round, foot soldiers went through their paces in a series of missions, which included shooting practice and clearing obstacles.

The nine-day drill, which started on Nov 1, culminated in a combined live-firing exercise that saw Singaporean and Chinese soldiers fighting alongside each other, firing live rounds to take out hostile targets. They were backed up by three of the PLA's main battle tanks.

The PLA's mortars also fired rockets that screamed towards targets in quick succession, creating huge puffs of smoke and dust.

All in, the troops pounded 84 targets with 7,000 small-arms rounds.

The sound and fury of the 45-minute mock battle was witnessed by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who attended yesterday's closing ceremony at the Xingli training area. Also present was the Nanjing military region commander, General Cai Yingting.

Brigadier-General Lim Hock Yu, the army's Chief of Staff - General Staff, said the wide range of training activities allowed troops to "understand each other better and forged stronger friendships between both armed forces".

Dr Ng, who is in China for a week-long visit that will end this Friday, thanked Gen Cai for hosting the Singapore troops, saying that the joint exercise builds good and close military ties between both sides.

"There are very few things that forge closer ties than charging up the hill together, sleeping in the same barracks, bathing in cold water together and eating food together," he said.

Gen Cai said this year's joint exercise has taken Sino-Singapore ties to "new highs" as it has improved the camaraderie among the troops who "fight shoulder to shoulder in the battlefield".

China has participated in joint training exercises with other countries in the region, such as Australia, Indonesia and Thailand. Engaging the PLA in such interactions could help build bilateral relations with China and cooperation among these countries.

Post by cyberpioneer.

S'pore to step up defence relations with China: Ng Eng Hen

By Jermyn Chow, Defence Correspondent In Qingdao, The Straits Times, 12 Nov 2014

SINGAPORE will find ways to step up military ties with China, on the back of the mutual confidence both nations have built up over the years, said visiting Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

Although Singapore has a small navy, its Chinese counterpart knows that the Republic is a "good friend" and that bilateral relations are strong, Dr Ng said.

"We treasure each other's confidence... and we will continue to find ways to step up defence relations." He was speaking to reporters yesterday after touring the Qingdao naval base, the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army Navy's North Sea Fleet, on the fourth day of his China trip.

Dr Ng, who was accompanied by senior military officers and defence policy makers, met the northern fleet's chief of staff, Rear-Admiral Wei Gang, and also checked out the Chinese navy's latest missile corvette, Fushun. The 89m stealth warship, which went operational four months ago, features anti-ship cruise missiles and anti-submarine torpedos, among other weapons.

Noting that the Chinese navy only opens up its newest warship and weapons to "selected guests", Dr Ng said: "It speaks of a PLA Navy that is confident of its abilities and also very professional in its military outlook."

The North Sea Fleet, one of China's three naval fleets, is responsible for the Yellow Sea and coastal areas in north-east China. The fleet has also contributed ships to counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

In 2012, Dr Ng visited the South Sea Fleet, which is based in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province.

Rear-Adm Wei said the northern fleet and the Republic of Singapore Navy are "old friends", with sailors and ships involved in multilateral sea drills, and calling at each other's ports. Moving forward, the North Sea Fleet will continue to build "strategic trust" with its Singapore counterpart.

For instance, the fleet is in the midst of selecting the first PLA Navy officer to be positioned in a Singapore-based maritime security watch group, the Information Fusion Centre, which is housed in the Changi Naval Base.

Sino-Singapore military ties have grown over the years since the PLA and the Singapore Armed Forces inked an agreement to formalise bilateral defence activities in 2008.

Last Sunday, both armies wrapped up their biggest joint war games to date, with 140 infantry troops from both sides teaming up to fire their weapons and practise battle manoeuvres.

Tomorrow, Dr Ng will deliver a speech on the Asian Century at the PLA National Defence University in Beijing.

Post by cyberpioneer.

Bigger, more regular Sino-S'pore military drills
Ng Eng Hen to propose measures to boost military ties with China
By Jermyn Chow Defence Correspondent In Beijing, The Straits Times, 14 Nov 2014

BIGGER and more regular joint training exercises are on the cards, under Singapore's plan to boost its military ties with China, said visiting Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen yesterday. He said he will propose such exercises and discuss new initiatives to boost dialogue and understanding through high-level exchanges when he meets his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan in Beijing today.

In China on a seven-day visit that ends today, Dr Ng had witnessed the close of the biggest joint war games between the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Singapore Armed Forces in Nanjing on Sunday.

In a speech at the PLA National Defence University in Beijing yesterday, he mentioned the plans to boost military ties and expressed hopes that these will grow in tandem with bilateral relations.

Addressing more than 100 senior Chinese military officials, Dr Ng said China and Singapore, which celebrate 25 years of diplomatic ties next year, have built "a strong relationship with many key tangible achievements".

He also touched on why both countries found mutual benefits in cooperation and collaboration.

As a small country with five million people, Singapore, like many countries, can benefit from China, which has "abundant resources, especially manpower and very intelligent minds".

China, in turn, still wants to learn from Singapore and sends its officials to the Republic's learning institutes, he added.

"For China and Singapore, I believe that our differences complement our relationship, and we can learn from each other because we can share perspectives from different vantage points," he said.

Dr Ng said China and Singapore have each other's well-being in mind as the starting point, so "the more honest and open we can be with each other, the more our countries can benefit and grow together".

In his speech, Dr Ng also urged China "to take a leadership role to create conditions of lasting peace and stability".

While Asean countries have benefited under the strategic defence umbrella that the United States provided, Dr Ng said China has grown in influence and power. "By virtue of its strategic global weight, China has a crucial role to play in maintaining peace and stability in the region, and indeed globally," he said.

While the Asian century is of great promise, Dr Ng also pointed to risks and challenges.

Asia has seen simmering tensions due to competing claims in the East and South China Seas and the US' pivot to the region.

As more countries in the region spend more on defence, the spectre of instability has also grown, which Dr Ng said is "worrying".

Singapore is thus glad that leaders of the US, China and Japan - the three biggest economies worldwide - have met one another on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing this week, he said.

He singled out the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as an important first step to improve ties between the two states. "All countries hope that this will lead to further concrete measures that will provide assurance of regional stability in North-east Asia," he added.

Yesterday, Dr Ng called on Vice-President Li Yuanchao and General Xu Qiliang, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.

On territorial disputes

DR NG Eng Hen took questions from Chinese military officials yesterday. Here are some excerpts:

Will the United States' backing of Japan's claims on the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku isles affect China-Japan ties?

"The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a reassuring, bold and necessary act by both leaders. The meeting is an important first step to improve relations between China and Japan.

"We cannot be trapped by our history. We have to find a way to move forward... this is a difficult topic and not one that others can advise China and Japan on. The Chinese and Japanese people will have to decide: 'Will I move forward and how do I move forward?' For this relationship between China and Japan, I think the US takes a secondary role."

What is Singapore's view of the South China Sea territorial disputes between China and other countries?

"Singapore is not a claimant state (of territories in the South China Sea) so we can be more objective about this.

"Territorial disputes are always the most difficult issue to resolve... But there are ways to de-escalate the tensions. Freedom of navigation is easy for all to observe. I think ultimately, it boils down to political will, how much two disputing countries want to benefit rather than contest."

Post by Ng Eng Hen - Defence Minister.

Concrete moves to make Sino-S'pore defence ties stronger

Measures include more joint war drills and wider training scenarios

By Jermyn Chow Defence Correspondent In Beijing, The Straits Times, 15 Nov 2014

SINGAPORE and China have agreed to expand their military ties after defence ministers from both countries met yesterday.

Visiting Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan discussed not only what they wanted to do to broaden bilateral cooperation but also how they would do it.

The steps include the two sides increasing the scope and frequency of joint war drills and widening training scenarios as part of a new move to put in place concrete measures to expand military links.

Specifically, soldiers and sailors from Singapore and China will work more closely together in joint war games that can happen as often as every year.

Both militaries will also work together in areas such as counter- terrorism and maritime security drills, and set up closer links between military academies on both sides.

In a joint statement issued after their hour-long meeting, both sides reached a four-point consensus to deepen mutual understanding and trust through practical cooperation and face-to-face interactions.

Wrapping up his seven-day visit here yesterday, Dr Ng told reporters that the latest move "goes beyond motherhood statements" and reflects the confidence and the goodwill that both sides have for each other.

"One, it lays out the principle that we have mutual regard and respect and try to accommodate each other's security needs for mutual trust," he said.

"Two, substantively how we are going to do it... (with) very concrete programmes that will lead to improved defence ties."

The moves will boost Sino-Singapore military ties, which have grown over the years since the People's Liberation Army and the Singapore Armed Forces inked an agreement to formalise bilateral defence activities in 2008.

Both armies have engaged in three joint exercises, code named Cooperation, in 2009, 2010 and last week. The latest were the biggest war games to date, with the PLA and SAF putting 140 infantry troops through their paces to fire their weapons and practise battle manoeuvres.

The stepped-up military ties come ahead of Singapore and China celebrating 25 years of diplomatic ties next year, which has been largely economic and cultural in nature.

Both sides have launched numerous joint government projects like the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City.

On its part, the PLA Navy's North Sea Fleet has said it is in the midst of selecting the first PLA Navy officer to be positioned in a Singapore-based maritime security watch group, the Information Fusion Centre, which is housed in the Changi Naval Base.

Guns, soldiers 'not the answer to maritime spat'
Ng Eng Hen urges S. China Sea claimants to use diplomacy instead of the military
By Jermyn Chow Defence Correspondent In Beijing, The Sunday Times, 16 Nov 2014

Singapore rejects a military solution to defuse simmering tensions in the fiercely contested South China Sea.

Instead, countries with competing claims should use diplomatic means to resolve the ongoing maritime territorial spat, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen last Friday.

"The less involved our militaries are, the better for all of us. It's not an issue that requires a military solution. It should never require a military solution.

"In fact, the military should stay as far away as possible from this, and allow diplomatic and other aspects of resolution."

Speaking to the media on the final day of his week-long trip to China where he met his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan and other leaders in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Dr Ng said they discussed how Singapore hopes there would be a peaceful way to resolve the dispute over the waters, through which 50 per cent of world trade flows.

China and Taiwan, along with four Asean nations - Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei - have competing claims over parts of the South China Sea.

Dr Ng said he hopes that the competing parties will move forward to implement the guidelines in a non-binding agreement that was signed in 2002, paving the way for a binding code of conduct to resolve the dispute in accordance with international laws and prevent conflict from flaring up.

Beijing has angered the Asean nations from time to time, asserting its claim to 90 per cent of the disputed waters. In May, the Chinese sent an oil drilling rig to waters claimed by Vietnam, sparking deadly anti-Chinese riots in Vietnam.

But in a move to mend ties last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at the East Asia Summit that Beijing wants closer defence ties with Asean.

Dr Ng said countries should take China at its word.

Pointing out China's proposal to sign a treaty of cooperation with Asean nations and its offer to host a meeting with Asean defence ministers next year, he said: "These are gestures that (show) that China is reaching out and trying to establish dialogue and... confidence."

"We ought to respond positively to this," said Dr Ng, adding that Singapore would be happy to attend the informal summit and that he would encourage his Asean counterparts to do so.

Describing his visit to China - his second since 2012 - as productive, Dr Ng hailed the agreement between China and Singapore to put in place concrete measures to expand their defence ties.

Both sides have reached a four-point consensus on how both militaries will broaden bilateral cooperation.

This includes the two sides increasing the scope and frequency of joint war drills and widening training scenarios. Specifically, soldiers and sailors from Singapore and China will work more closely together in joint war games that can happen as often as every year.

Both militaries will also work together in areas such as counter-terrorism and maritime security, and set up closer links between military academies on both sides.

Singapore's closer ties with China will not exclude other countries such as those in Asean or the United States, which is trying to reconsolidate its influence in the region, said Dr Ng, who will be meeting his Asean counterparts in Myanmar later this week.

While Singapore is reluctant to play broker or mediator in any issue because it is a small nation, Dr Ng said, the Republic will make its voice heard to maintain regional peace and security.

"We do articulate our views very clearly... we want clear rules that everyone can follow, clear rules that provide stability, clear rules that facilitate disputes' peaceful resolution and international law."

What message will you take to your Asean counterparts when you meet them, after the latest China trip?

"China does not need Singapore to be its spokesman. China is big enough for it to be able to speak for itself. But where there are positive principles that Singapore feels work towards its own interests, as well as interests of regional stability, we ought to lend our voices to it. Because if we don't, other less virtuous principles may come into operation."

DEFENCE MINISTER NG ENG HEN



Comparing how Singapore and other countries work to broaden bilateral cooperation with China:

"We are not involved in a race to get so close to China, compared to other countries. That's not our intent. We have not said it first because our DNA... is not to overstep, not to overproject our importance nor demand excessively others' attention. That's our way of defence diplomacy.

Each time they (PLA officers) go to Singapore, they feel at home. Each time we come (to China), they feel as if we're almost relatives. We are very thankful for that."