Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

Regional Security Environment

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon): Sir, I beg to move,

"That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100."

In the beginning of this century, the events of 911, with the shocking collapse of the twin towers repeatedly shown on TV screens world-wide and the resultant heavy loss of lives, heralded the arrival of the global threat of terrorism and non-traditional security threats. That threat was brought closer home here when similar plans in Singapore were uncovered. Fortunately, our intelligence was able to piece together reports and arrested the would-be perpetrators in December 2001. Failure to do so would have had dire consequences for Singapore and the region. This incident underscored the need for Singapore to play our part in multinational efforts to counter the threat of global terrorism. The security threat that we are facing now is very different from the past. How has MINDEF transformed in light of the changing security threats? Are our current 3-G armed forces capable of handling the new non-traditional security threats?

Page: 1975

The security landscape is changing rapidly in the region in tandem with international security rearrangements and realignment due to the rise of Asia and the Western powers' preoccupation with domestic economic woes. The defence spending of the western powers will be reduced under domestic pressure and the forward projection of forces and influence will be similarly reduced. On the other hand, the rise of Asia on the economic front will provide Asian powers with the necessary resources to expand defence expenditure and extend their influence in our region. This is evident by a report in The Straits Times' headlines today about China's defence budget. It is also evident that China has been incrementally increasing its budget as well as steadily modernising defence-industrial complex, which has been enabled by comprehensive military modernisation and integration of innovative operational concepts. The net effect is expanded and extended capabilities of China's strategic missile forces. Against this interesting backdrop, what is MINDEF's assessment of our regional security environment and what are the key challenges ahead?

US has also in recent years accelerated and reinforced American presence in the Asia Pacific with the proposed forward deployment of forces in Australia and also deployment of ships in Singapore. What has prompted US to do this? Is this a reaction to China's increasing military presence in our region? Will this lead to a further increase in Chinese presence or a race for dominance in our region? How has the evolving US-China relationship impacted our regional security arrangement? What are the likely security flash points in the near future? What is MINDEF's assessment on the Korean Peninsula, Middle East, Afghanistan and South China Sea?

What is the status of our bilateral defence relationships with our neighbours, the major powers and our key regional partners? In particular, what is our defence relationship with our immediate neighbours – Malaysia and Indonesia? I understand we do engage our neighbours in bilateral or multilateral military exercises. How many exercises do we have annually and what is the value of such exercises? Has the tempo of such exercises increased or decreased over the years, and why?

Singapore is a small country with limited resources. Despite our long-term investment in defence, we remain vulnerable. We need to engage ASEAN as a grouping to strengthen our defences collectively, similar to other regional groupings, such as those in NATO. What regional defence arrangements do we have within ASEAN before the establishment of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)? What are the challenges of the regional defence arrangements? What is MINDEF's strategy on leveraging on regional defence arrangements to enhance Singapore's security?

The ADMM-Plus is the highest ministerial level mechanism of defence cooperation in the region, which has the ability to direct and guide the cooperation programmes in response to common security threats, especially emerging non-traditional security threats. At the same time, the ADMM-Plus provides a beneficial and an equal playground for all the participants, harmonising relationships and building capacity. Can MINDEF provide an update on the progress of the ADMM-Plus since its establishment in 2010?

MINDEF has played an active role towards building the regional security architecture. MINDEF has hosted the Shangri-La Dialogue and also the Five-Power Defence Arrangement. Can MINDEF provide an update on the hosting of the 10th Shangri-La Dialogue and the Five-Power Defence Arrangement's 40th anniversary celebrations? Over the years, what are the achievements of these forums?

Page: 1976

I would like to ask: is the Five-Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) still relevant in today's context? The Five-Power Defence Arrangement is a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression or threat of attack against Peninsular Malaysia or Singapore.

The FPDA was set up following the termination of the United Kingdom's defence guarantees of Malaysia and Singapore as a result of Britain's decision in 1967 to withdraw its armed forces from east of Suez. The FPDA provides for defence cooperation and an Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) for Malaysia and Singapore based in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Butterworth, with rotating detachments of aircraft and personnel from all five countries. What is the size of our contribution in terms of aircraft and personnel?

The regional security situation has changed drastically since 1971. The security threats are completely different now. We are facing increasingly non-traditional security threats from terrorism and piracy. Is FPDA still relevant and effective? Can other forums replace the FPDA? What is the next phase of development for our regional security arrangement? Will we see a combined ASEAN military force similar to NATO forces deployed for UN peacekeeping forces in the near future?

Ms Ellen Lee (Sembawang): Sir, the role of MINDEF has changed exponentially and is visible to all. Singapore has a strong network of allies around the world. The SAF is participating in international security and peacekeeping operations in many parts of the world, notably in Afghanistan since 2007, combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and providing disaster relief to countries affected by the tsunami and earthquakes. It is hard to believe that all these efforts, directly or indirectly, impact Singapore's safety. As the Deputy Prime Minister and then Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean once said: "In today's interconnected world, threats, such as terrorism, piracy and pandemics, can easily spread from one country to another. Concerted multi-national cooperation is therefore vital to tackle these threats before they are transmitted across national borders."

One new development in the region is the entry of US and Russia at last November's 6th East Asia Summit and the 19th ASEAN Summit. The Chinese viewed this as America's strategy to contain China's growing influence. For ASEAN, whose chief concern is peaceful, political and economic cooperation, the presence of US and Russia contributed to the ideal of ASEAN centrality, that is, every Member equal in status in discussions relating to common interests and conscious of the importance of international laws, especially maritime matters.

Another new development is the rising tensions in South China Sea. Shortly after the East Asia Summit, the Philippines protested the Chinese intrusion into its territorial waters. Then, early in 2012, India announced its intention to drill for oil in Vietnamese territorial waters disputed by China. This was followed by China announcing its intention to search for oil in South China Sea. Other parties involved in disputes over the oil-rich South China Sea passage way include Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. Against this backdrop of superpower struggles and South China Sea disputes, is there a shift in MINDEF's role in contributing towards the building of the regional security architecture? My second cut, Sir.

Page: 1977

The Chairman: Ms Ellen Lee, you can take your second cut later. Dr Lim Wee Kiak, you can take your two cuts together.

US Littoral Combat Ships Deployment

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Thank you, Mr Chairman. Sir, the United States Ambassador to Singapore, Mr David Adelman has said that his country may "deploy" three more littoral combat ships after the first one. The first littoral combat ship from the United States, a new type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in littoral zone, is expected to arrive in Singapore by the end of this year.

The US' plan to permanently station littoral combat ships was first announced by the former Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Shangri-La Dialogue. The US Ambassador also said that the US would be actually deploying the new type of ships to Singapore, as the word "station" or "base" would be inaccurate. There will be no sailors permanently stationed in Singapore but there will be facilities for the combat ships, as he was quoted saying to the press. Can MINDEF now provide an update on this deployment? How many ships will be stationed, deployed, or based in Singapore? Do we expect an increase in US military personnel in Singapore with this deployment?

Managing MINDEF's Budget

Sir, MINDEF's budget constitutes a large proportion of the total Government's spending. The total estimated expenditure for MINDEF for FY 2012 is $12.28 billion, and that is about 10% of China's total defence spending. This also constitutes about 20% of the total expenditures by all Ministries and Organs of State. There are calls from various sectors in the public and from Opposition parties, even from a Member of Parliament from the ruling party, to review the defence expenditure with a view to re-channel resources to other social needs of the country.

Since we already have one of the most advanced military hardware in the region, do we really need to continue spending at this level? What is MINDEF's approach to managing the budget? What does MINDEF do to ensure we get value for money spent in defence? Can we afford to be more prudent with finance yet maintaining our edge on the military front?

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang): Sir, I am a firm believer that security for Singapore is of paramount importance. Without a safe and peaceful country, confident of repelling external threats that are, by definition, unknown unknowns, all that we do for economic development and our efforts towards a more inclusive society will be for nothing if woe befalls us. The Ministry of Defence has been ever so vigilant, enhancing our peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy and building the SAF into one of the most technologically advanced fighting forces in the region.

While the absolute expenditure on defence has been steadily increasing from $9.62 billion in 2006 to a projected $12.2 billion in 2012, as a percentage of GDP, it has actually decreased from 4% to 3.5%. This is a function of our strong GDP growth through the years and is a credit to this Government. However, our defence spending is the largest in Southeast Asia and the 7th largest in Asia. It is perceived in some quarters as being on the high side and that this money could be put to use in other developmental areas. Can the Ministry provide some insights to assure us that this expenditure is absolutely necessary? Also, 96% of the defence budget is for upgrading expenditure and the balance of 4% is for developmental expenditure. Can the Ministry provide some insights as to the nature of operating expenditure and if this amount will increase if we were to pay our soldiers more competitive salaries to attract talent from other parts of the economy?

Page: 1978

7.00 pm

Strategic Outlook for the Medium Term

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Sir, in view of our ageing population and additional pressure to spend on social security in the years to come, there is a growing perception that the defence budget would require some moderation in future. The security architecture in the region, in particular ASEAN, and the relationship between militaries in the region gives reason to be relatively positive about the low probability of outright military conflict breaking out in the region. This is especially in view of the national resources expended towards defence diplomacy in particular. Most recently, the establishment of the ADMM, the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus 8 in 2010, gives ASEAN an additional dialogue mechanism with the key players in our region – the US, China, India, Russia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Closer to home, the relationship with Malaysia has taken on a completely new dimension over the last few years in particular, especially with the Iskandar region in Johore promoting greater interconnectedness between the two countries, so much so that a train line and even passport-less travel between the two jurisdictions have been proposed. This is a far cry from the atmospherics in the 1990s when the security of PUB water resources in Johore prospectively necessitated the action by the SAF to secure these assets in the event access to them was cut by Malaysia.

Sir, the paradigm of the defence strategic environment, especially between our immediate neighbours, appears to be entering a new phase of stability. This will inevitably increase the pressure on the Government to reduce the defence budget for uses such as health and education. I refer to a chart that appeared in the recent edition of the Jane's Defence Weekly on the 18 January 2012, which forecast our defence budget increasing actually from US$9.3 billion in FY 2011 to US$12 billion in FY 2015. Can the Minister please share MINDEF's strategic outlook for the region, with particular reference to the size of an SAF Singapore needs to protect our national interests in the years to come.

Afghanistan/Gulf of Aden

Mr Alvin Yeo (Chua Chu Kang): Sir, amidst the peace and security that Singapore enjoys, we must continue to be alert and mindful of parts of the world which face upheaval and security threats. One such area is Afghanistan which continues to endure insurgency and violence. Another problem area is the Gulf of Aden which is plagued by piracy that threatens vital shipping routes. As a responsible member of the global community, Singapore must do and be seen as doing its part. I would like to ask the Minister what contributions we are making in these areas, and how our efforts are being perceived.

Page: 1979

Humanitarian and Peace-keeping Missions

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Sir, US President Obama had ordered the US military to withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, and to pull out another 23,000 by summer this year. By 2014, the process of transition will be completed, and the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security. In light of the US action, how does MINDEF evaluate the SAF's role in Afghanistan? Has Singapore's strategic objectives been achieved through the deployment and what are the budgetary needs necessary to sustain Singapore's commitment in that conflict zone? What is MINDEF's plan for our deployment in Afghanistan after 2014? Is the SAF withdrawing our deployment there following the US forces' withdrawal?

Can MINDEF provide an update on our contributions to humanitarian and peacekeeping missions? How much resource is required for such missions and will that distract MINDEF from the primary role of defending Singapore?

SAF's Role in Homeland Security

Mr Alvin Yeo: Sir, in the Committee of Supply debate on Ministry of Home Affairs, several Members spoke on the continuing threat of terrorism in the region. The Home Team clearly plays a frontline role in the fight against terrorism, but our SAF also has a pivotal role in the battle, as it seeks to protect Singapore from threats external to Singapore as well as from within. In particular regard, our long coastline is a potential point of vulnerability, temptation for would-be insurgents to enter into Singapore to commit acts which threaten the security of our nation. I would like to ask the Minister as to how he sees the SAF's role in homeland security and, in particular, on the protection of our maritime waters and long coastline.

3G SAF: Professional Development

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Sir, the 3G SAF is supposed to be more lean and potent, utilising new operating concepts and systems. It encompasses areas, such as peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, administration, resource management, training, advanced networks and also unmanned systems. The transformation has been ongoing. These are all necessary for the SAF to evolve and keep up with the trends and times. Tri-service coordination and integration is also very important. The SAF has older as well as younger new generation staff, covering a whole range of different areas and activities from strategic duties, operations, logistics and even intelligentsia. There will certainly be a range of learning and pedagogy to be applied. How does the SAF plan the training programmes? Are there online learning and courses available besides the more practical hands-on approach? Does it utilise simulation-based learning which is a very powerful and current learning mode?

With recruitment of the younger generation, that is, Generation Y, and subsequently Generation Z, they may have a different attitude towards learning with different learning strategies and preferences. How does the SAF ensure that their professional engagement and learning go on? How does it assess continuous learning and professional development in every soldier we have? Finally, Sir, what proportion of MINDEF's budget goes into training, continuous learning and professional development?

Page: 1980