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War correspondents in Korea in the 50s and in Vietnam in the 60s know that armies vary in
the discipline, grit and stamina of its soldiers and the quality of their officers. For example,
the Vietcong have a healthier respect for some than for others of the soldiers on the
American side. And, they do not flee with the same alacrity when pursued by some of the
Asian contingents as when pursued by the South Koreans.
Recently, the Institute of Strategic Studies in London sent me a book about the defence
and security of Southern Asia. In the appendix was set out the strength in numbers and the
equipment of the various armed forces of Asia. Some have armies that run into millions of
regulars and militia. Some have jets, tanks and naval ships. But, there was one component
which was missing. And without this data, it was impossible to compare the capacity of these
various armed forces. And the data was: What is the conversion rate between the various
armed forces?
In other words, how many Koreans and Formosans in the last war equalled one Japanese
soldier. Or, to bring the example more up to date, how many South Vietnamese soldiers
equal one Vietminh soldier from the north, or vice-versa?
Those of you who remember the years of confrontation can amuse yourself with this
exercise in mental arithmetic: How many of the parachutists trained in Indonesia dropped
down over Labis in 1964 equalled one Australian or one New Zealander? For it was they who
eventually helped to round them up.
Upon your performance in the years ahead, people will assess if one Singaporean equals
one Gurkha as foot soldiers. But, that is not good enough, for, unlike the British officered
Gurkhas, we must forge our own officer cadre. As we go up the scale in sophisticated
weaponry, the Singaporeans must match themselves against the best in the world. For only
then will our survival rate be high and secure.
Remember, if knowledgeable people like military attachés in foreign embassies trained to
observe and report on these matters, regard us an unequal in the discipline or perseverance
and, under adverse conditions to be wanting in courage, or that we lack in intelligence to
develop the skills which can come only after intense application to sophisticated weapons,
then it will not be long before others pick up this contempt for our capacity to stand up for
ourselves. This is one of the surest ways to invite an attack to subjugate us and turn us into
economic serfs, or worker ants, for the welfare and well-being of others.
We in Singapore have established our reputation as a resourceful and ingenious community
of merchants, manufacturers, workers and technicians. We have ample time up till the middle
’70s for you and those who will follow you in SAFTI to establish a reputation of us as a
hardy and well organised people. We must transform a rootless society of migrant stock into
a closely knit community, determined to dig our toes in into our own corner of Asia.
SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER MR. LEE KUAN YEW