CHINA-SINGAPORE: UPGRADING OF DEFENCE TIES
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Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe arrived in Singapore earlier this week combining attendance at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue with meetings with Singapore Government officials. After meetings with Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen along with other top officials including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Singapore and China officially disclosed on May 29, that they would move forward on stepping up defense ties through steps that would be formalized through a revised bilateral agreement by the end of this year. Specifics are still being worked out by both sides, but on the defense side, while Wei Fenghe and Ng Eng Hen discussed a range of issues – including upcoming engagements as well as issues such as confidence-building – the most significant outcome that was publicly announced following the meeting was that both countries would be deepening defense ties.
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