REACH (Telegram) 125 - What are your views on the Government’s efforts in safeguarding Singapore from foreign interference and strengthening Singapore's defence? Which aspects of their speeches resonated most with you?
(SK)
03 Mar 2026 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
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[3/3/2026 10:01 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing, and Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong delivered their Committee of Supply (COS) speeches on February 27 and March 2.
The Ministers outlined efforts to strengthen Singapore’s ability to remain a united, safe and resilient nation in a changing world, including safeguarding our society from foreign interference, strengthening cyber defence, and ensuring Singapore can continue to act independently in our national interest.
💬 What are your views on the Government’s efforts in safeguarding Singapore from foreign interference and strengthening Singapore's defence? Which aspects of their speeches resonated most with you?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) COS speech
📌 Safeguarding Singapore’s independence and sovereignty
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan emphasised that Singapore will exercise its agency to articulate its position that aligns with its national interests. He emphasised that it is not about choosing sides, but upholding principles and Singapore's long-term national interests.
"With increased global contestation, foreign actors will want us to see and accept their views. They will try to seed their narratives. There may be attempts to create fake news or deepen internal division.” Singapore must be aware that geopolitical contestation has become a tussle for hearts and minds, and exercise caution as the diverse population here is vulnerable to becoming polarised and fractured, he added. He noted that domestic unity is a work constantly in progress, especially in the face of forces that seek to divide the nation. "As long as we can inoculate ourselves from foreign influence, as long as we can disagree maturely and ultimately, still forge a domestic consensus, we will continue to thrive," he said.
Singaporeans will have different views on foreign policy views, but we do not necessarily have to agree on all issues, but we must agree that these are matters for Singaporeans only to decide.
📌 Advancing global partnerships
MFA shared that Singapore strengthened its global ties in 2025 by upgrading partnerships with several countries, including Australia, India, France and South Korea, and signing the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement with the European Union. It is also working more closely with partners like Japan and European nations in areas such as the digital economy, green technology and emerging technologies, to support Singapore’s long-term security and growth.
Closer to home, Singapore is deepening cooperation with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei through initiatives like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the upcoming RTS Link, which will improve connectivity and create new opportunities. Singapore also continues to build strong international partnerships and enhance support systems to help Singaporeans stay safe overseas.
Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) COS speech
📌 Strengthening cyber and national defence
New initiatives by MINDEF will be introduced to enhance Singapore’s cyber defence capabilities, including organising NSmen with relevant cyber expertise into Sectoral Cyber Defence Teams (SCDT) to help protect tackle threats to Singapore's critical information infrastructure (CII) against advanced persistent threats (APT).
Mr Chan Chun Sing noted that cyber and digital tools are increasingly preferred by state and non-state actors to exert pressure just short of full-scale war. The SCDTs will shift the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) posture from “reactive incident response towards a coordinated and proactive strategy”. These efforts complement existing defence measures to ensure Singapore remains secure against evolving threats.
[3/3/2026 10:01 am] REACH Singapore: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) COS speech
📌 Mitigating foreign interference risk
Mr Edwin Tong announced measures requiring designated race-based clan and business associations to disclose foreign donations and affiliations, and meet leadership composition requirements. This new guard rail against race-based entities will allow the Government to take pre-emptive action against hostile information campaigns (HICs) by foreign actors. This new law under the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act (RHA) will take effect by the end of 2026.
📌 Guarding against evolving hostile tactics
A proposal will also be tabled to amend the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica) to guard against evolving hostile tactics. This will allow the Government to invoke Fica to issue directives against digital platforms such as websites and mobile apps if they believe the platforms are being used to run HICs against Singapore.
Mr Tong highlighted the importance of protecting Singapore’s harmony and resilience by ensuring that foreign actors cannot undermine public trust, social cohesion, or national unity.
🔗 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spore-cannot-let-foreign-actors-exploit-differences-public-must-be-vigilant-and-discerning-mfa
🔗 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spore-must-retain-ability-to-say-no-even-if-it-has-to-pay-a-price-for-position-on-issues-vivian
🔗 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/mindef-to-deploy-sectoral-cyber-teams-to-help-defend-critical-services
🔗 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/designated-race-based-clan-business-associations-must-disclose-donations-from-foreign-sources-mhabg
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[3/3/2026 10:17 am] 365: One issue on cyber, we need to have in-house team providing independent threat intelligence. Currently most of the intelligence available in the market are US-based companies. Yet, for decades, there's barely any reports on APTs and threats arising from the US. It would be naive to think they do not conduct in state-sponsored attacks, and all bad actors happen to be in direct geopolitical conflict against the US. Our base assumptions should be that all countries, ally or foe, will attempt to engage in cyber espionage. Whether that is true or not, or when does it happen, will have to rely on in-house intelligence and not external sources.
[3/3/2026 10:59 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 1. I am confident in Singapore’s ability to safeguard our national interests in today’s changing world. Share your views in the chat! ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
[3/3/2026 10:59 am] LCL (Danny 心): My comments:-
Prophecy has come true.
Unfortunately, the worst scenarios has happen.
Someone ask:-
Why this happen, how do you know beforehand?
My comments:-
Because collective karmas have ripen.
It is a tussle of heart and mind - to fulfill the ancestor's prophecy with might.
[01/03, 1:48 pm] ☸️ Danny 心: Whatever documented, Descendants will carry out - in a self fulfilling prophecy.
Hence what is written - good can write.
Bad better don't write.
Because consequences can be very serious.
Karma also very serious.
[01/03, 1:50 pm] ☸️ Danny 心: Can even trigger a WW3 starting from Middle East and Europe.
[3/3/2026 11:00 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 2. I am concerned about foreign actors influencing Singapore.
Share your views in the chat! ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
[3/3/2026 11:04 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,
Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference and your vote is anonymous.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!
💬 What are your views on the Government’s efforts in safeguarding Singapore from foreign interference and strengthening Singapore's defence? Which aspects of their speeches resonated most with you?
Thank you.
Megan 😊
[3/3/2026 11:06 am] LCL (Danny 心): [28/02, 12:11 am] ☸️ Danny 心: I met my neighbour 2 days ago while I go brisk walking.
She was lugging her luggage.
I casually say, go traveling?
She say she is on a business trip to Dubai for 1 week.
I say a war may break out soon in Iran and Dubai is just across it.
I didn't tell her there is a US military port base in Dubai in which Iran missiles will strike and an military airbase in Abdul Dhabi UAE - that Iran will retaliate.
But it is enough to frighten her, a peranakan, a nice lady, as her facial expressions turn green. She say "yah lor, just across the sea".
Before she step out of the lift , I say take care.
She doesn't know how to respond and look quite panicky.
But the moment she step out of the lift, many of her family members in the void deck greet and cheer her - as though she is going on her holiday.
Then she turn around to look at me, she looks worried before mounting into a big SUV white car - not sure is it her company car or Grabs because the car look quite luxurious.
[28/02, 7:23 pm] ☸️ Danny 心:
2 days later, the war really break out.
My only 遗憾 is that I can't pull my neighbour back from going Dubai - when she turn around to look at me with her worrying look.
It is like she is falling down a cliff - I try to reach out to her, but she still fell down.
[28/02, 7:24 pm] Someone say : 念阿弥陀佛 (Pray) for her.
[28/02, 7:25 pm] ☸️ Danny 心: Yes.
I will.
But just her worrying look still remain vivid in my mind - when I see CNA news war break out.
My neighbour stay probably sponsored by her company.
Tourists or those who go on their own - staying in Dubai in a hotel eg. $300 a say if extended to 1 month = $9,300 will burn a big hole in the pocket.
[3/3/2026 11:13 am] LCL (Danny 心): [01/03, 1:25 am] ☸️ Danny 心: Some more:-
1. Dubai very near to Iran, just across a narrow seaway. Very short range missiles can reach already. US sea base and air base - very vulnerable targets. Iran will just saturate UAE/Dubai with missiles and drones to maximise US damages. Then Dubai suffer big collateral damages. Some more many Singaporeans in Dubai doing business. Just now SM Lee say middle east war will hit our trade and business badly.
2. Iran has more than 10,000 missiles and 100 over thousands of drones - will easily overwhelm all the middle east air defence combined.
That's why I say if stay in Middle East - very dangerous.
1. Commercial flights won't fly for a very long time. Those Singaporeans stuck in middle east will stuck there for a long time because the war will drag very long as Iran got plenty of missiles and drones to fight as well as they have many mountains, underground tunnels to fight - all their weapons and soldiers can hide inside and difficult to destroy them.
2. Foreigners stuck there could run out of money very quickly if stay in a hotel. Hotel stay very expensive - can stay until bankrupt. Business people think can earn Dubai money but instead lose money.
3. Also Dubai unlikely to have bomb shelters because it is very modern, very dense, alot of people packed together. Even got bomb shelters, not enough to accommodate everyone.
4. Dubai alot of very tall buildings - if missiles struck, it will collapse and crumble like cards - casualties can be very high. The buildings are not hardened to withstand a missile strike.
That's why don't play play.
[02/03, 2:41 am] ☸️ Danny 心: ‘A full war’: S’poreans trapped in Dubai, Qatar recount shock over Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
The air smelt like burnt rubber and haze.
“A lot of people were heading down (the apartment block where he lived), saying ‘it is not safe to be in the building’, and many slept in the basements, corridors and cars just to feel safe.”
Overnight, the couple were constantly jolted awake by the boom of missiles being intercepted overhead.
The scale of the attacks was what surprised me as I definitely did not think landmarks in Dubai would be targeted.”
Dubai under intense attack by Iran missiles and drones.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporeans-in-the-middle-east-rocked-by-attacks-in-dubai-qatar
[02/03, 2:43 am] ☸️ Danny 心: Dubai don't have bomb shelters.
They rely on underground carpark double up as bomb shelters.
Dubai is most intensely attack as compared to other Arab states because it is the closest to Iran - easy target as I correctly guess.
[02/03, 2:51 am] ☸️ Danny 心: Falling debris remains the biggest risk at the moment, said the Singaporeans, with interceptions resulting in potentially deadly remnants falling from the sky.
[02/03, 5:52 pm] ☸️ Danny 心: On Saturday, Iran fired 137 missiles and 209 drones across the UAE, its Ministry of Defence said; the number of attacks on Sunday is not yet known. At least one person has been killed at Abu Dhabi’s airport, and other critical infrastructure sites have been hit.
[3/3/2026 11:36 am] LCL (Danny 心): [01/03, 12:41 pm] ☸️ Danny 心: When Israel strike, they always get the target because their intelligence and information very precise. That's why cannot leak or display personal information in the web.
They can be targeted for assassination when war break out.
[01/03, 12:54 pm] ☸️ Danny 心: That's why if APT trying to collect so many information about our CII, we better watch out.
Better don't reveal households ancestor trees.
Can 诸九族。
Because we don't know how they are going to use the information especially in war times.
Just look at what Israel did to Iran and all its proxies.
Very targeted strikes and all targeted figures eliminated in one go.
[3/3/2026 11:59 am] LCL (Danny 心): The only way to prevent a WW3, is to ensure that:-
1. Asia Pacific region must be an oasis of calm and peace.
2. All major powers, eg. China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Korean Peninsula, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand - must collaborate and not stoke tensions by fiddling with the fault lines.
3. For the sake of humanity, wisdom, cool head must prevail among the Asia Pacific States. And not let emotion overwhelm our region.
East Philosophy for peace, for humanity - must be the overriding consideration over faith - to prevent WW3.
4. Communication and Diplomacy must also be within reach, to cool down tensions if disagreement arises.
Must not resort to force.
5. Only then WW3 will not erupt, until the collective karmas in Middle East and Europe manifested, roll over because of their historical entanglement.
This is the only hope for humanity on Earth.
[3/3/2026 12:15 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 6. And UN must be hoisted, reinstated to resolve dispute in international affairs for Asia Pacific region (even if the others refuse by bypassing UN), Asia Pacific must lead by example and carry the torch in enforcing international law - until the mess fall over probably for another 3 years?
Because when there is a cause, there is always an effect.
If the cause arise from there, it must end there.
No one can stop it under the Universal Law of Karma. No one can act with impunity. Not even the divine.
Do good, reap good.
Do bad, reap bad.
What comes around goes around.
[3/3/2026 12:17 pm] LCL (Danny 心): After all the above international and geopolitical affairs are addressed, then we can then dwell into our national security and defence.
And look at how to ensure we are water tight to protect our Nation and our people.
[3/3/2026 12:34 pm] Jun Ming: I have seen a lot of tik tok videos talking about Singapore
[3/3/2026 12:35 pm] LCL (Danny 心): Hmm...
What message did they send?
[3/3/2026 12:42 pm] Jun Ming: Hai nan Feng guan
Lawrence Wong send a bad message
Nowadays I see lesser videos of such liao
[3/3/2026 12:44 pm] LCL (Danny 心): Be careful about disinformation against our PM and Singapore.
They are out to disrupt our peace, harmony and prosperity here.
Don't be fool by them - because in order to serve their self interest, foreign bad elements won't hesitate to use us as pawn by instigating and provoking our fault lines in Singapore.
And they also play with our bipartisan fault lines to drive a wedge between incumbent and opposition supporters.
Hence important to keep our internal politics within us and not let foreign elements exploit our internal politics.
[3/3/2026 12:45 pm] LCL (Danny 心): "Singapore and PM Lawrence Wong targeted in AI-driven disinformation campaign on YouTube.
A CNA investigation has found hundreds of videos spreading lies about Singapore’s foreign policy, economy and leadership. Multiple accounts involved in the operation, which has been going on for several months, appear to be centrally coordinated."
Chinese videos - centrally coordinated.
[3/3/2026 12:51 pm] LCL (Danny 心): It started from this:-
https://babe118.blogspot.com/2025/11/blog-post_27.html?m=0
https://babe118.blogspot.com/2025/11/taiwan-is-chinas-big-baggage-and-root.html?m=0
[3/3/2026 2:00 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢
[3/3/2026 2:02 pm] G: How does one identify foreign interference?
PAP politicians have cultivated close ties with World Economic Forum. WEF historically meddles in and is still meddling in countries' internal policies today
The founder even boasts about penetrating cabinets, using Canada as an example (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uOuLQDRCexs&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD)
Part of their modus operandi is using the young global leaders program, of which PAP politicians like Calvin cheng were involved in
How do Singaporeans and voters objectively ascertain if our ruling politicians themselves have not been compromised?
[3/3/2026 2:30 pm] LCL (Danny 心): LCL (Danny 心), [13/2/2026 1:42 pm]
I also feel that government should run an IT security audit to grade all the CII organization infrastructure security readiness.
Eg. The above CII organization with such perimeter defense can be graded as Grade A.
Those without are Grade B, C or D.
And each CII organizations must be given timeline to upgrade their IT security posture.
LCL (Danny 心), [13/2/2026 1:49 pm]
Government focusing more on individual CII organization security readiness will help to strengthen each CII organization cyber defence by ramping up good cyber hygiene and implementing good security practices.
While saving alot on cyber defence investment, remediation and recovery.
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CNA news 02 Mar 2026 04:58PM (Updated: 02 Mar 2026 05:56PM)
Singapore to equip critical information infrastructure owners with proprietary threat detection systems.
This will strengthen their abilities to detect malicious activities in their networks, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information.
This will strengthen their abilities to detect malicious activities in their networks, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How.
"We have decided to avail some of the government’s expertise to the private sector, to level the playing field between the defenders and the attackers."
[3/3/2026 2:32 pm] LCL (Danny 心): This particularly resonate with me.
Because the strongest cyber defence - is at its weakest link.
The weakest links will be at the CII private sectors that lack expertise and resources to ensure their cyber defence can withstand an APT cyberattack.
Actually to my knowledge, many private CII need to ramp up their cyber defence because they are pretty weak.
[3/3/2026 2:48 pm] LCL (Danny 心): Another thing that resonate with me is reaching out to secure partnerships with Middle Power multi blocs rather than rely on 1 unitary Superpower to ensure our security and economy will continue to survive and thrive.
[3/3/2026 2:51 pm] LCL (Danny 心): LCL (Danny 心), [5/2/2025 12:16 PM]
1. The only way to wriggle out of this mess - geopolitical tussling between US and China - is to promote multi-polar consumption superpowers, middle powers and middle power blocs instead of relying on 1 consumption superpower - US (through reconfigured global supply chain and trade blocs).
LCL (Danny 心), [5/2/2025 12:20 PM]
2. That means, China need to ramp up its economic activities through more innovation, create jobs, boost domestic consumption, develop less developed 2nd tier city, rural areas, boost its service sectors and put itself out as 2nd largest consumption country in the world like what US use to do.
And promote trade with its trading partners like Singapore.
And Singapore will benefit immensely if China succeeded to do so.
LCL (Danny 心), [5/2/2025 12:24 PM]
3. ASEAN with many young vibrant middle income population should also follow the same model through integrated trade and investment.
I feel that our economic integration with Malaysia Johor economic zone, Indonesia joint venture industrial park, Vietnam joint industrial park, energy grid integration etc - are very good to facilitate intra ASEAN trade.
As economic integration materialise within ASEAN, Singapore will benefit from growing trade within ASEAN as well as becoming a growing consumption middle power nations bloc.
4. India, will also be an up and coming middle power chasing behind China - and as long as India are willing to slowly open up their economy through investment, trade and business - our foot into India will also bear fruits for us as India middle income population consumption appetite is huge.
5. In Asia Pacific, there are other middle power nations on its own right eg. Japan, SKorea, Australia and to a lesser extent New Zealand.
We should see how to facilitate more trade and consumption among these countries - except the challenge is their declining population that stifle consumption and hence the margin for trade growth could be limited.
6. Looking afar, the biggest consumption economic bloc is the EU and UK.
I feel that if our EDB and IE enterprise work a bit harder, we can slowly grow our trade to compensate for losses in the US market by promoting Singapore as a trade hub to ASEAN and our neighbouring countries.
7. Next the more untapped market is South America eg. The larger middle power nations such as Brazil, Peru and Chile.
Less information on their income and consumption pattern as well as their appetite for more trade.
But a good untapped market that we can explore more.
8. Like South America, it also apply to Africa continent.
9. Middle East countries are rich and heavily dependent on oil - but increasingly stress by global countries will to go green.
Hence many rich Middle East countries are looking for ways to diversify their economies.
I think Singapore can tap this middle east market to help to bolster our trade.
10. Last but not least are the Central Asia Countries which are also least tapped like South America.
But their population income and consumption pattern also need more study.
LCL (Danny 心), [5/2/2025 1:05 PM]
To summarise, we need a deliberate process to map out a total "multi-polar middle power nations and middle power trade blocs and consumption nations" :-
1. We need to identify the Comparative advantage in trade, exchange of labour and resources of each trade blocs and middle powers (and ensure they have redundancy among them).
If one member within the bloc is disrupted, we can easily ramp up trade with its redundant member to ensure the trade supply chain are not impacted.
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Straits Times Published Feb 27, 2026, 03:00 PM
Updated Feb 27, 2026, 08:34 PM
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also work to strengthen a wider network of middle-power partnerships for greater stability – such as by upgrading partnerships and opening more diplomatic missions – and deepening regional integration for ASEAN to remain relevant.
[3/3/2026 3:22 pm] LCL (Danny 心): REACH 03 Mar 2025 Discussion Topic
MFA shared that Singapore strengthened its global ties in 2025 by upgrading partnerships with several countries, including Australia, India, France and South Korea, and signing the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement with the European Union. It is also working more closely with partners like Japan and European nations in areas such as the digital economy, green technology and emerging technologies, to support Singapore’s long-term security and growth.
Closer to home, Singapore is deepening cooperation with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei through initiatives like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the upcoming RTS Link, which will improve connectivity and create new opportunities. Singapore also continues to build strong international partnerships and enhance support systems to help Singaporeans stay safe overseas.
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