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China plugged into global system and containing it is undesirable: Ng Eng Hen

CALIFORNIA — Describing China as an “integral leader” of global systems of trade, finance and security, Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told an audience on Sunday (Dec 4) that included United States Congress members and national security officials that it was “neither possible nor strategically necessary” to contain the Asian giant’s rise.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen speaks at Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum 2015, on Aug 20, 2015. TODAY File Photo

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen speaks at Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum 2015, on Aug 20, 2015. TODAY File Photo

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CALIFORNIA — Describing China as an “integral leader” of global systems of trade, finance and security, Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told an audience on Sunday (Dec 4) that included United States Congress members and national security officials that it was “neither possible nor strategically necessary” to contain the Asian giant’s rise.

Speaking at the fourth Reagan National Defence Forum held in Simi Valley, California, Dr Ng also said that US presence in the Asia-Pacific region cannot be for the sole purpose of checking China’s ascent. He said: “It is clear that China needs the world as much as the world needs China, and I think this interdependence will grow, not diminish.”

Established in 2013, the forum brings together the international defence community to address national security issues. This year’s three-day forum — which is scheduled to end on Monday — is also attended by US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter, foreign defence ministers, policy experts and military leaders, among others.

As part of a panel, Dr Ng spoke on the topic, “A View of US National Defence from Friends and Allies”. During his speech, he also talked about the importance of the US’ continued engagement of the Asia-Pacific region.

He said: “One should see the rise of China, India and Asean (Association of South-East Asian Nations) … as a virtuous outcome of the US foreign and defence policies over the last 70 years … That very fact alone validates the US foreign and defence policies in Asia over the last few decades. But I think this success brings a suite of new challenges as we contemplate US foreign policy moving forward.”

On Saturday, US President-elect Donald Trump reversed four decades of American policy towards China by accepting a congratulatory call from his Taiwanese counterpart Tsai Ing-wen. The US does not officially recognise Taiwan’s sovereignty, and Beijing lodged a formal complaint over the call, the first such communication with a Taiwanese leader since 1979.

At the forum, Dr Ng said he wanted to “be careful and wise and say that it is not Singapore’s place to second-guess” what was the reason for Mr Trump to have the phone conversation. Nevertheless, he sought to make a “larger point” that countries ought to have a larger strategic interest in mind.

He reiterated that Singapore is “very careful and in fact, constructive” in adhering to the “One China” policy. Noting that Taiwan is “a core interest of China”, Dr Ng cited instances where Singapore “advanced” the One China policy including the 1993 Wang-Koo talks and last year’s meeting in Singapore between Chinese President Xi Jinping and then-Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.

In 1993, Singapore played host to the so-called Wang-Koo meeting between the heads of Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to further cross-strait economic, cultural and technical exchanges.

Dr Ng said there are a lot of benefits of a strong China, in terms of providing opportunities for US and other countries. “There are many areas that (US) can focus on that are productive,” he said.

Following Mr Trump’s victory in the election, there have been concerns that the US would reduce its presence in the Asia-Pacific.

However, Dr Ng said he “(does) not believe for a moment, even with any new administration” that this would be the case. Still, he stressed that a US presence in the Asia-Pacific “based predominantly on security is uni-dimensional and structurally brittle”.

US’ security policies must be complemented by the expansion of its trade and commerce links “to ensure that it remains a dominant economic power as it has historically been”, Dr Ng said. He noted that in the past 50 years, the US was instrumental in establishing the international monetary and financial order post-World War II.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership — which Mr Trump has declared he would withdraw his country from — would have been a concrete, tangible commitment, Dr Ng said. To continue to be a dominant force, the US needs a multifaceted relationship with countries in Asia — which China itself is pursuing through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the One Belt One Road initiative, among others, Dr Ng noted.

On the sidelines of the forum, Dr Ng met with Mr Carter as well as US Congress members, including chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mac Thornberry, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said.

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