S'PORE TAKES PART IN SEA INTERDICTION EXERCISE

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is taking part in a multinational counter-proliferation maritime interdiction exercise from 13 to 15 Oct.

Japan is hosting the exercise, held under the ambit of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), in the eastern sea off Izu Oshima, and at the ports of Yokosuka and Yokohama.

Other exercise participants include Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, Britain and the United States.

Observing the exercise are Brunei, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The PSI is an international effort to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and WMD-related materials. It is consistent with national legal authorities and international law and frameworks.

Singapore fully supports the PSI and has been participating actively in the PSI's counter-proliferation efforts since 2003.

As a professional and operationally ready force that is able to take on a wide spectrum of missions, the SAF partners other security agencies in dealing with such threats.

The SAF's participation helps to validate and refine its operational capabilities against the proliferation of WMD.