SINGAPORE - As the country adjusts to a new era of more dangerous and troubled times, Singapore must ensure a strong and credible armed forces, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) must be one that can give weight to Singapore’s voice on the international stage, enable the nation to stand firm in defence of its interests, and keep the nation safe and secure, he added.
Globally, there is great change and uncertainty with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the tense US-China relationship as well as other threats such as terrorism, violent extremism and cyber attacks, said Mr Wong at an Officer Cadet Commissioning Parade at the Safti Military Institute in Jurong, where he was the reviewing officer.
“Here in Asia, flashpoints like Taiwan and the South China Sea have become more dangerous and the risks of an accident or miscalculation have increased significantly.”
He noted that Asia has enjoyed relative peace and stability for nearly 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, and it may be hard for us to imagine how things can be different.
“But as Europe’s experience shows, things can easily go wrong – conflict can break out, and war in Asia is a scenario that we cannot rule out,” said Mr Wong.
He noted: “We are entering a world where countries think less about mutual benefit and more about their own national security. We must, therefore, be prepared for more shocks that can severely disrupt the world and our region, and surely Singapore.”
He said Singapore will continue to build a network of friends to advance shared interests and strengthen its partnerships with all the major powers to keep them engaged in the region. “We will strive to preserve our sovereignty and the right to determine our own future, as we have done since our independence.”
The parade on Saturday marked the completion of 38 weeks of rigorous training at the Officer Cadet School (OCS).
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2023-06-10 12:30:00Z
CBMid2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vc2luZ2Fwb3JlL2FzLXNpbmdhcG9yZS1oZWFkcy1pbnRvLWRhbmdlcm91cy10aW1lcy1zYWYtbXVzdC1iZS1zdHJvbmctYW5kLWNyZWRpYmxlLWRwbS13b25n0gEA
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