Australia, Singapore say defense pact should not worry China
ROD McGUIRK
ricky l19 seconds ago
Singapore has lack of land to train our soldiers - where our military is meant for defense - and never meant to be offensive.
Australia has extend their friendship to Singapore and Singapore has been training in Australia for more than a decade - and never the agenda is to contain China.
Singapore has been only able to carry out brigade size training mainly Armor operation in Australia with some skeleton Division training - in which we are not able to maximise training up to division level.
With this new pact, full Division level training is possible - to hone our full Army capabilities in logistics - airlift, sealift, landlift and coordinated Air-Land-Sea training.
As explained, regional peace is of upmost important - that form the foundation of growth in Asia Pacific - where both Singapore and Australia are one of the main trading partners with China.
It should not be interpreted that the larger scope of defense training in Australia - is view as a Bloc to contain China - because Singapore has always been a lookout to find spaces to conduct military training to ensure our soldiers are in tip-top condition to contain any security threat.
In fact, increasingly, our Army training has increasingly include tackling terrorism - which is our real threat - not containing China.
China should note that Singapore Armed Forces also have jointly conducted army exercise with China PLA - and this is also by no means a threat to US.
All these are part of military diplomacy and confident building.
Articulating the above is necessary when South China Sea is a sensitive issue with China (where Singapore is not even part of the claimant).
ricky l9 seconds ago
I think China is aware of Singapore training needs - because China has previously offer land for Singapore Army to train - when Singapore has given up the training land in Taiwan.
ricky l9 seconds ago
In fact, China slowdown in trade and China's growing debt worry us more.
Singapore will want China to do well and has no intention to contain China.
Practicaltalk2 hours ago
What make LHL and Turnbull think that they are a threat to China?????
By John Leong
Posted 14 Oct 2016 18:29
Updated 14 Oct 2016 19:25
Construction of new, state-of-the art military training facilities, jointly developed by Singapore and Australia, is slated to begin in Queensland in 2019, defence ministers from both countries announced on Friday (Oct 14).
It comes under a newly signed defence agreement which extends the defence partnership between both countries by 25 years and will allow Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to train in Townsville, in addition to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Rockhampton where SAF has been holding Exercise Wallaby for the past 26 years.
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On Friday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen was given a tour of parts of the new training areas in Townsville, from the air.
Said Dr Ng of the training area: "You can use it for tanks, you can use it for artillery, you can use it for armoured infantry, you can use it for the guards, special forces, as well as joint exercise - which means that you can use it for helicopter strikes, for strikes from fighter aircraft. So obviously, it’s a very rare piece of training ground where you can do all that, with enough size and distances for our armoured vehicles, for our mechanised and motorised brigades."
Singapore has reportedly committed up to S$2.5 billion over the next 25 years to the project, which includes a live-firing range and an urban training facility. Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said it could help make training more rigorous and realistic.
Australia will come up with a master plan for the development, and this is expected to take until 2018. Construction will begin the following year.
All through the development process, priority will be given to Australian businesses located near to the training areas. Defence leaders said Townsville residents have welcomed the changes and during a joint media conference with his Australian counterpart, Marise Payne, Dr Ng urged Singapore’s soldiers to return the hospitality.
“You have to have respect for these people here. You have to have respect for their rights, respect for their land, and you have to give back to the community. And you have to engage the community," he said. "So, we’ve met with some of the business leaders and the town leaders, and I think it’s a very good start. We understand this is a long road, but nevertheless, I think there’s enormous goodwill, and I hope that this tone will continue."
Both armed forces already cooperate in many areas including joint overseas missions in conflict zones, and Dr Ng and Ms Payne said the new pact extends a relationship that is extraordinarily strong.
"I think this is a very historic Memorandum of Understanding that will pave the way for very strong relations between Australia and Singapore, and between us Singaporeans and the people of Townsville," said Dr Ng.
- CNA/ly