SINGAPORE — While the Republic has made considerable progress in defence and security since its early years, it must keep at the forefront of developments, especially when faced with new threats in a volatile region, said President Tony Tan on Wednesday (March 2) afternoon during a visit to the Changi Naval Base.

“The point is, we cannot be complacent. We cannot rest on our laurels...The SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) always has to strike new ground and with new capabilities,” said Dr Tan, who was visiting a navy unit for the first time since he became president in September 2011.

Faced with changing threats in a “complicated” environment — such as terrorism and tension in areas that see increasing nationalism — the SAF, including the navy, must respond by developing a wider and more integrated suite of capabilities, said Dr Tan.

“(The) SAF will have to work towards developing a suite of capabilities able to conduct not only military operations, but also, as you call it, operations other than war that also play a part in the defence of Singapore,” he said.

The navy, for instance, started out with no more than “two wooden ships operating only in (local) waters”, and has since progressed into a full-fledged force with frigates, submarines, and other vessels able to operate not only on the water, but also below and above it. With better capabilities, the navy has also been able to participate in overseas deployment and multilateral operations, said Dr Tan.

As a maritime nation which sees some 1,000 vessels passing through its waters each day, maritime security is of vital concern to Singapore, he stressed. “Our navy today is a sophisticated and highly networked maritime force, and I am confident in its ability to defend Singapore’s territorial waters whenever called upon.”

Nevertheless, all Singaporeans have a part to play in keeping the nation safe, he said. “We have enjoyed peace and security since independence, but this is not the natural order of things. We have to continue to work hard at it, train our people,” he said.

During his one-and-a-half hours visit, Dr Tan visited the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Formidable-class Frigate, RSS Steadfast, and Archer-class Submarine, RSS Swordsman, and was briefed on their capabilities.

He was also briefed on the Frigates’ sea-air interaction with the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s 70B Seahawk Naval Helicopters, among other projects he initiated during his tenure as Defence Minister.

Dr Tan, who was hosted by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han and accompanied by Senior Minister of State for Defence Maliki Osman and Chief of Defence Force Major-General Perry Lim, also interacted with servicemen from the RSN’s submarine and frigate squadrons.