RAPPORT, UNDERSTANDING KEY TO REGIONAL SECURITY: DR NG

25oct18_news1 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/_migrated_english/25oct18_news1.jpg?sfvrsn=26b01d65_2 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/RAPPORT-UNDERSTANDING-KEY-TO-REGIONAL-SECURITY-DR-NG
https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/RAPPORT-UNDERSTANDING-KEY-TO-REGIONAL-SECURITY-DR-NG
RAPPORT, UNDERSTANDING KEY TO REGIONAL SECURITY: DR NG
25 Oct 2018 | Diplomacy

RAPPORT, UNDERSTANDING KEY TO REGIONAL SECURITY: DR NG

// REPORT & PHOTOS by Jill Tan from Beijing, China

"It is essential for our military leaders to build rapport, understanding and confidence through interactions at various levels...to build personal ties which can prove very useful (in) de-escalating tensions and preventing miscalculations."

Minster for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen made this point at the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on 25 Oct, where he spoke in the first plenary session titled International security governance: New ideas and approaches.

He was part of a panel that included Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Hanhui, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General (GEN) Ngo Xuan Lich, Serbian Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea's Vice-Minister of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces Colonel-General Kim Hyong-ryong.

Noting that the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus members have recently agreed to meet every year, Dr Ng highlighted the increase in engagements among militaries to conduct exercises. 

He added: "Since its inception in 2010, the ADMM-Plus has conducted seven field training exercises that brought together more than 12,000 military personnel." The 12th ADMM and 5th ADMM-Plus were recently held in Singapore on 19 and 20 Oct respectively.

"These positive developments should give us all encouragement to deal with the more difficult bilateral or multilateral issues, which we must not paper over, thinking that they will go away or solve themselves."

During his speech, Dr Ng also urged China to “continue and step up its engagement, as it does here at this forum, ADMM-Plus and the Shangri-La Dialogue”.

He noted that "as a rising power, China's development will benefit itself, the region and the world," but added that the wellbeing of China and the world are co-dependent. 

"Even as large and venerable as China is, it needs the world, as much as the world needs China… (China) cannot thrive in isolation."
 
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum is co-organised by the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies. Other topics discussed during the annual forum included the role of militaries in global governance, maritime security cooperation and international terrorist threats and countermeasures.

Dr Ng is on a five-day visit to China from 22 to 26 Oct. He visited the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise on 23 Oct, and called on Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense GEN Wei Fenghe at Bayi Building on 24 Oct.

Suggested Reading
Feature
SAF lingo – 2025 version
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

We lied. There is no 2025 version, there is just ONE version. The same one that your father used when he served in the SAF.

Feature
Down the line
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

It was built to train soldiers in tower and helicopter rappelling insertions as well as fast roping. Join us as we check out the Rappelling Training Facility!

Cover story
FIRST ENLISTEES OF 2025
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

Welcome to BMT: Join the new year’s first batch of enlistees as they begin their NS journey at Pulau Tekong!

Cover story
UNOFFICIAL LIST: WHAT TO PACK FOR ENLISTMENT
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

We all know the essentials to pack for BMT – NRIC, basic toiletries and extra underwear. But what other items help ease you into your confinement period? We’ve compiled an unofficial list here.

CREATING BONDS THROUGH MILITARY MEMORABILIA
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

Some collectors collect stamps, others, stickers. But ME2 (NS) Lim Geng Qi boasts a unique military memorabilia collection of over 1,200 items!

Lawyer by day, military artist by night
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

Photograph or painting? At this year’s Military Hobby Fest, we met 1SG (NS) Samuel Ling Ying Hong, a self-taught aviation oil painter who spends up to 50 hours on each realistic artwork.

Cover story
AIRBORNE!
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

Marking 10 years this December: The Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) one-of-a-kind training facility prepares trainees to become competent and confident airborne troopers.

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

The fourth child in Singapore’s first set of quintuplets, LTA Annabelle Chin Li En made a mid-career switch to follow in her parents’ footsteps and serve the country.

Flying High with Defence Innovation
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

A hybrid UAV with enhanced flight capabilities and software systems that analyse data from the Internet to detect online terrorism threats – these were some of the projects featured at this year’s Defence Technology Prize award ceremony. 

Cover story
NAVY RETIRES LAST OF ITS CHALLENGER-CLASS SUBMARINES
Diplomacy
25 Oct 2018

RSS Conqueror and RSS Chieftain were decommissioned today at Changi Naval Base, closing the chapter on more than two decades of service of Singapore’s first submarines.