Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen attended the 12th Aspen Security Forum (ASF) on 4 November 2021 (Singapore time), where he spoke on "Singapore Perspectives on US and China". The session was moderated by Aspen Strategy Group Co-chair and University Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Joseph Samuel Nye Jr.

At the ASF, Dr Ng first noted that US foreign policy in Asia had been built on the twin pillars of military and economic leadership and engagement. This has provided the stability for the region to prosper. He then cited key historical milestones in China's economic transformation that had benefited Southeast Asia and the world.

Established in 2010, the ASF is an annual security and foreign policy conference that brings together distinguished leaders and key players in the defence community. This year's ASF, held in Washington, D.C., US, also saw the attendance of US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and other US national security officials, members of the US Congress, policy experts and military leaders including the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.