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Asean takes pragmatic approach to South China Sea issues: Ng Eng Hen

MUNICH, GERMANY – The Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) takes a "pragmatic" approach to the overlapping territorial claims in South China Sea, with all countries recognising the critical need for peace and stability in these waters, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Saturday (Feb 17).

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (second from left) speaking on the topic "Bridging Troubled Waters - The South China Sea Dispute" at the 54th Munich Security Conference on Saturday (Feb 17). Photo: Mindef

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (second from left) speaking on the topic "Bridging Troubled Waters - The South China Sea Dispute" at the 54th Munich Security Conference on Saturday (Feb 17). Photo: Mindef

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MUNICH, GERMANY – The Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) takes a "pragmatic" approach to the overlapping territorial claims in South China Sea, with all countries recognising the critical need for peace and stability in these waters, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Saturday (Feb 17).

Speaking at the 54th Munich Security Conference on the topic Bridging Troubled Waters – The South China Sea Dispute, Dr Ng reiterated that both Asean and China have "affirmed the hope to complete the Code of Conduct (COC)" on handling the disputes. Nevertheless, he pointed out that the five-year timeline which it took for Asean and China to sign the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea "frames our expectations for the COC".

Earlier this month, Asean foreign ministers gathered in Singapore agreed to work towards the conclusion of the COC based on a “mutually-agreed timeline”. 

Meanwhile, the Asean Defence Ministers have worked hard to "produce consensus on practical measures that prevent mishaps and miscalculations, or if there are, to de-escalate issues", Dr Ng said. Since 2013, there have been at least 38 reported small-scale incidents between claimant states’ vessels. "Many of these incidents have involved fishing vessels, reminiscent of the 'Cod Wars' and the 'Turbot War' in the North Atlantic, which were eventually resolved peacefully," he added. 

With Singapore chairing the regional bloc this year, Dr Ng reiterated that the Republic hopes to develop a set of guidelines for air encounters between regional military aircraft. Singapore also seeks to enhance practical cooperation and build confidence through the conduct of multilateral exercises, including the Asean-China Maritime Exercise this year. 

Following the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat held in Singapore earlier this month, Dr Ng had told reporters that there was "very strong support" within Asean for the joint military drills, with all 10 member states accepting the invitation to take part. 

China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, amid rival claims from several South-east Asian countries — including four Asean members: Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines.

In his speech, Dr Ng noted that the South China Sea has "long been core to the People’s Liberation Army in defending China against a repeat of the 'century of humiliation' by foreign powers from sea". This was the origin of China's "preoccupation" with these waters, he added. 

Dr Ng recalled that in the 1980s, the strategy had been articulated by the Commander of the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) Admiral Liu Huaqing, who "articulated the need to defend the waters between the coasts of mainland China and the ‘first island chain'".

Nevertheless, the concept of the "first island chain" did not originate from Adm Liu, said Dr Ng. "In fact, that concept I think was made more promulgated by prominent United States figures, including General Douglas MacArthur, including Secretaries of State John Foster Dulles, Dean Acheson, during the Cold War. But that concept of containing USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and China, actually pre-dated even the Cold War," he said. 

Still, "whatever the reasons and timing for China’s assertion and actions" in the South China Sea, it is clear that the People’s  Liberation Army holds a “deeply entrenched view that the island chains are a potential encirclement against China”, and it has developed and implemented plans to prevent encirclement as well as push forward its defence lines, Dr Ng said. 

Since 2013, China has expanded the Spratly and Paracel Islands to an estimated 3,200 acres or so. This has provided China the ability to monitor activities through the use of radar and communications arrays with reported ranges of up to 300km, and the ability to detect fighter aircraft and deploy anti-aircraft assets, Dr Ng noted. 

But to put things into perspective, the expanded islands are "unlikely to accord significant projection capabilities", he pointed out. In comparison, the US military facilities in Guam, for example, are 12 times China's current expanded features in the South China Sea. Likewise, US military facilities in Hawaii are about 70 times larger.

"Some commentators have proposed that China’s stance over the South China Sea is the parallel of US’ 'Monroe Doctrine'. There are similarities but one vast difference exist – of course that is the entrenched dominance of the US through its 7th fleet and military bases in Hawaii and Guam," Dr Ng said. The Monroe Doctrine is a US foreign policy principle articulated in 1823 under which the US would not allow European powers to colonise the Western Hemisphere.

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