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Washington affirms commitment to Asia-Pacific region

SINGAPORE — Following his meeting with United States Secretary of Defence James Mattis, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday he has been reassured of the US’ commitment to Asia-Pacific, and this “bodes well” from a security standpoint.

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and the Defence Minister of Singapore Ng Eng Hen stand for the playing of the U.S. National Anthem during a honor cordon to welcome Hen to the Pentagon for meetings, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Photo: AP

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and the Defence Minister of Singapore Ng Eng Hen stand for the playing of the U.S. National Anthem during a honor cordon to welcome Hen to the Pentagon for meetings, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Photo: AP

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SINGAPORE — Following his meeting with United States Secretary of Defence James Mattis, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday he has been reassured of the US’ commitment to Asia-Pacific, and this “bodes well” from a security standpoint.

In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Dr Ng said: “He (Mr Mattis) understands the nuances in terms of the tensions, or problems that can arise. There is much reassurance and confidence that Secretary Mattis is there.”

He added that Mr Mattis “affirmed the continuing importance that the US gives to the Asia-Pacific region”, and the former US four-star General understood well the “pivotal and critical US place in Asia-Pacific stability”.

Quipping that Mr Mattis called himself the “Secretary of Reassurance”, Dr Ng said: “I was very reassured after speaking with Secretary Mattis. He had strategies, he had plans and vast experience in the US military.”

Among other things, Dr Ng and Mr Mattis also discussed the terrorism threat in the Middle East and “potentially South-east Asia”, as well as areas of cooperation between the two countries. In transcripts of the interview provided by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), Dr Ng also addressed questions on agreements that Singapore had signed with previous US administrations.

He said there was “no equivocation” on these agreements — namely the Memorandum of Understanding inked in 1990 — allowing wider use of Singapore’s facilities by the US military — and the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2005. This agreement extended the 1990 MOU and increased the areas of defence collaboration, especially in global terrorism.

Dr Ng said: “We’re still committed to facilitating the use of Changi Naval Base, as well as our air bases for US ships and planes. We’re very far away from any doubt on this. The question is, what would the US’ approach be in the Asia-Pacific region, and we understand that they are still committed.”

In fact, because of the structures that are already operational, Dr Ng said that the “recurring theme” from his discussions with the Trump administration, including Mr Mattis, as well as Senators and Congressmen was that there would be least disruption to US security policy.

“For example, the United States Pacific Command, you have ships that will continue to have a particular tempo, missions that will continue to be conducted,” Dr Ng said.

In a press statement, Mindef said Dr Ng and Mr Mattis “expressed support for multilateral platforms” to promote dialogue and practical cooperation among regional countries such as Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus — to be held in Manila — and the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which Mr Mattis said he was looking forward to attending in June.

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