Heng Chee How: Need for Multilateralism to be Renewed and Strengthened for Peace and Prosperity in the Region

Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How speaking at the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) on the topic of "Regional Security Aspects: Asia, Africa, and Latin America" earlier today.

Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How is in Moscow, Russia, from 23 to 25 April 2019 to attend the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS).

Mr Heng spoke at the Plenary Session titled "Regional Security Aspects: Asia, Africa, and Latin America" today, alongside six speakers: Major General Secretary of the Defense Council of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Pascualino Angiolillo Fernandez, Central African Republic Minister of National Defence Marie-Noelle Koyara, China Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe, Democratic People's Republic of Korea Minister of the People’s Armed Forces General No Kwang-Chol, Laos Minister of National Defence Lieutenant-General Chansamone Chanyalath and Russia Armed Forces First Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov.

In his speech, Mr Heng said that the post-World War II multilateral order had been beneficial for development and brought stability and prosperity to many countries. He highlighted the two challenges that multilateralism faces today – the emergence of a wave of protectionist and isolationist sentiment, and rivalry between the US and China. Discussing the implications of these challenges for the Asia Pacific, Mr Heng said, "First, more countries may be put in positions where they have to choose sides… Such zero-sum approaches pose hard choices for regional states. Second, ongoing trade tensions between the US and China have already slowed regional economic activity. Factory activity and export orders across the region, including in Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, have all slipped at the onset of the trade tensions. The tensions that I have highlighted have already generated costs, and risk undermining regional stability in the longer-run."

In the face of these challenges, Mr Heng spoke about how militaries in the Asia-Pacific region could contribute to strengthening multilateralism – "First, maintaining strong military-to-military cooperation and communication is essential to building trust. Communication and a degree of trust between military establishments are essential in averting crisis and countering escalatory narratives. Second, we must shore up regional security institutions such as the ADMM-Plus... Such institutions provide important platforms to foster practical cooperation amongst member states, to engage in dialogue, and to build trust… Such exchanges are important and contribute to stable bilateral and regional relations." Through these examples, Mr Heng emphasised the urgent need for multilateralism to adapt to the changing realities and for all parties to arrive at a new equilibrium.

Mr Heng also met Russia Deputy Minister of Defence Colonel-General Alexander Fomin, China Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe, and Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of Defence His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Salman on the sidelines of the 8th MCIS, where they reaffirmed the bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and their respective countries.

The annual MCIS brings together high-level defence, military, and foreign affairs leaders from around the world to discuss a range of security issues.

Mr Heng exchanging gifts with Russia Deputy Minister of Defence Colonel-General Alexander Fomin during a meeting on the sidelines of the 8th MCIS.

Mr Heng touched base with China Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the 8th MCIS.

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Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How at the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security