Singapore and China have agreed to deepen collaboration between their armed forces after their defence ministers met yesterday.
China's Defence Minister, General Chang Wanquan, proposed to deepen army and navy cooperation with Singapore through joint exercises, port calls and other exchanges, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said yesterday.
He met Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen yesterday morning at Mindef and again for dinner in the evening.
Gen Chang, who arrived in Singapore on Sunday for an official introductory visit, is among several high-ranking defence officials here for meetings with their regional counterparts as well as to attend the Singapore Airshow.
The United States Air Force Chief of Staff, General David Goldfein, called on Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung yesterday, and they discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.
Mindef said that during the morning meeting with Gen Chang, Dr Ng accepted his Chinese counterpart's invitation to attend the Xiangshan Forum, a high-level regional security forum in China.
Gen Chang also invited Mindef and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) leaders to visit China, and Dr Ng welcomed high-level visits by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to Singapore. "Both ministers also discussed regional security issues, and agreed on the need to have open and inclusive security architectures," said Mindef.
Gen Chang expressed China's support for Singapore's chairmanship of Asean this year, adding that Beijing would work with Singapore to deepen relations between China and the regional grouping. Gen Chang also said he appreciated Singapore's work as Asean-China country coordinator from 2015 to 2018, and how this has helped improve defence ties between both sides.
Mindef said Gen Chang's visit "underscores the warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and China".
In a Facebook post, Dr Ng said he was "happy and honoured to host my good friend" on his visit to Singapore, noting that this was their seventh meeting. "I was very touched when (Gen Chang) said to me during this visit, 'Coming to Singapore, is not like going away, but visiting good friends in the same town'," he wrote.
Dr Ng added that he and Gen Chang agreed to further enhance interactions between the PLA and the SAF. In 2014, both countries pledged to deepen defence relations based on a four-point consensus, which would see the relationship develop based on mutual respect and accommodating each other's security concerns for mutual trust.
The Chinese defence minister is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tomorrow.
Gen Chang and Dr Ng will also co-chair the Asean-China Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting today, which is taking place after the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting Retreat.
Gen Chang was also hosted to lunch by Mr Ong yesterday. Mr Ong, in a Facebook post, said they discussed initiatives to advance Asean-China relations such as the inaugural Asean-China Maritime Exercise which is being planned.
In a separate statement, Mindef said Mr Ong also discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation with Gen Goldfein yesterday.
"Both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, and reaffirmed the importance of the US' continued engagement of the Asia-Pacific for regional peace and security," it said.
Gen Goldfein also met Singapore's air force chief Mervyn Tan, and will call on Chief of Defence Perry Lim. His visit underscores the excellent and long-standing defence ties between Singapore and the US, Mindef added.
