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Ong Ye Kung: Open and Inclusive Regional Architecture Helps Countries Co-exist and Prosper
11 October 2016
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Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Ong Ye Kung spoke at the seventh Xiangshan Forum on the topic of "Responding to New Security Challenges in the Asia-Pacific through Cooperation" earlier this morning.
During his speech, Mr Ong highlighted the importance of an open and inclusive regional architecture. He said that such architecture and a rules-based international order could be "the underlying bases for which all countries, big and small, can co-exist and prosper in the era of globalisation."
He added that militaries could also play a part by enhancing practical cooperation, sharing views at forums such as the Xiangshan Forum and keeping communications open. Emphasising the importance of cooperative mechanisms and that trust-building is an ongoing process, he said, "All these cooperative mechanisms will enhance mutual confidence and reduce the risk of miscalculations during tensions and uncertainty. Our militaries can also do their part to promote regional stability, through holding joint exercises, sharing views at forums such as this, and keeping communication lines open… Through such engagements, we can improve understanding, build trust, forge a common sense of purpose, and work together to defend the way of life of our children, our grandchildren and our future generations." Mr Ong also shared Singapore's earlier proposals to expand the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea to cover all ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus countries, establish a code of conduct for submariners to enhance underwater and submarine operational safety, as well as a protocol to regulate air encounters between military aircraft.
While in Beijing, Mr Ong also met China's Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Admiral (ADM) Sun Jianguo this morning. Both parties reaffirmed our warm and friendly bilateral defence relationship, which has maintained positive momentum under the "Four Point" Consensus agreed by both sides in November 2014. Of note, both sides expressed appreciation that our militaries had strengthened their ties through regular professional exchanges. They noted the successful conduct of the third edition of Exercise Cooperation between both armies in November 2014, the inaugural edition of Exercise Maritime Cooperation between both navies in May 2015, as well as the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise where the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Singapore Armed Forces had exercised together with other military partners in May 2016.
Both sides also commended the mutual port calls by their navies. PLA Navy (PLAN) ships transit through Changi Naval Base regularly, with the number of transits increasing in recent years. Republic of Singapore Navy ships also visit China regularly, with the RSS Steadfast conducting a port call in Shanghai and engaging in a bilateral passage exercise with the PLAN in September 2016. Mr Ong also welcomed China's efforts to deepen defence cooperation with the region through platforms such as the Xiangshan Forum, Shangri-La Dialogue, and ADMM-Plus.
Mr Ong also had bilateral calls with Thailand's Deputy Minister of Defence General (GEN) Udomdej Sitabutr yesterday evening, and Brunei's Deputy Minister of Defence Yang Mulia First Admiral (FADM) (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohammad Tamit and Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Defence Y.B. Dato’ Sri Mohd. Johari Bin Baharum this afternoon.
The Xiangshan Forum is co-organised by the China Association for Military Science, and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies. Other topics discussed during the forum included the role of militaries in global governance, maritime security cooperation and international terrorist threats and countermeasures.
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