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China, S'pore vow to boost military exchanges in latest sign of improved relations

SINGAPORE — China and Singapore have pledged to step up military exchanges, including joint anti-terrorism and naval drills, in the latest sign of improved ties between the two countries.

Singapore and China flags seen in Beijing. TODAY file photo

Singapore and China flags seen in Beijing. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — China and Singapore have pledged to step up military exchanges, including joint anti-terrorism and naval drills, in the latest sign of improved ties between the two countries.

Rear Admiral (RAdm) Jiang Guoping, an assistant to the People's Liberation Army's chief of the Joint Staff Department, said on Monday (Dec 11) that China was willing to further strengthen co-operation with Singapore on areas such as joint anti-terrorism and naval exercises, and personnel training, according to a statement on the defence ministry website.

RAdm Jiang said the two countries' military ties had "developed smoothly" in recent years, adding that China looked forward to taking relations to "a new level". China also supported Singapore in its role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year, he said.

RAdm Jiang's remarks were made in Singapore as he co-hosted the sixth dialogue on defence policy being held between the defence ministries of the two countries, along with Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Yeng Kit.

Mr Chan was quoted in the statement as saying that Singapore looked forward to high-level exchanges and joint exercises with the Chinese military to improve defence co-operation between the two countries.

He also said Singapore welcomed and supported China to continue its development and play a bigger role in regional affairs, according to the statement.

The goodwill gestures were the latest sign that relations between the nations could be getting back to normal, following Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's three-day China visit in September.

Their relations have been tested over the past year, with Beijing accusing the Lion City of siding with the United States over the South China Sea disputes — in which Singapore is not a claimant — and honouring an international tribunal ruling from July 2016 that dismissed most of Beijing's claims to the waters.

Tensions escalated when Hong Kong customs impounded nine Singaporean armoured troop carriers being shipped back to the city-state en route from training grounds in Taiwan in November last year. Hong Kong released the military vehicles after a two-month stand-off.

Singapore has conducted regular military exercises with Taiwan since 1974 under the Starlight Project, which has long been a thorn in China's side.

In May, ties between the two countries came under scrutiny when Mr Lee was absent from a major summit in Beijing on China's "Belt and Road Initiative" — a plan to boost infrastructure and trade links from Asia to Africa. But observers said Mr Lee's visit to China in September suggested relations were back on track. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

 

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