Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen is in Simi Valley, California from 3 to 5 December 2016 (Singapore time) to attend the fourth Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF). Established in 2013, the RNDF brings together distinguished leaders and key players in the defence community to address national security issues. This year's RNDF is attended by the US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and other US national security officials, foreign defence ministers, Members of the US Congress, policy experts and military leaders.

On 4 December 2016 (Singapore time), Dr Ng spoke on the topic "A View of US National Defense from Friends and Allies" alongside United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon, US Senate Armed Services Committee member Senator Lindsey Graham, Norwegian Minister of Defence Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, and House Armed Services Committee member and NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Mike Turner on the panel.

In his remarks, Dr Ng highlighted that the US' presence in the Asia-Pacific region cannot be for the sole purpose of containing China, perceived or otherwise. He said, "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."

Dr Ng also spoke about the importance of the US' continued engagement of the Asia-Pacific region. He said, "One should see the rise of China, India and ASEAN… as a virtuous outcome of the US foreign and defence policies over the last 70 years… 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."

On our continued support towards the US' engagement of the Asia-Pacific, Dr Ng noted, "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…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."

On the sidelines of the forum, Dr Ng also met with Secretary Carter as well as Members of the US Congress, including Congressman and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mac Thornberry, Congressman Bradley Byrne, US Senator Dan Sullivan and former Senator Jon Kyl.