US SITE SURVEY TEAM

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Foreign Minister, I would like to keep Parliament informed of the ongoing discussions between the US Government and Singapore on the future of the US military presence in the region, and of the visit of a US site survey team to Singapore in June.

Singapore endorses the ASEAN consensus to establish a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) over the long term. However, it also recognizes that until this is achieved, a continued US presence in South East Asia is desirable. This is why it has always expressed its support for a continued US presence in the region.

The impressive economic growth and prosperity enjoyed by ASEAN countries, including Singapore, over the last two decades have been made possible in large part by the stabilizing influence of the US presence in Asia, including the US bases in the Philippines and the periodic visits of warships from the US Seventh Fleet and aircraft from the US Air Force. At a time of considerable fluidity in the international environment, a sustained US presence will maintain the balance of power in the wider region, reinforce the stable and peaceful regional environment, and enable the non-Communist countries in South East Asia to concentrate their resources on economic development.

The Philippines Government has publicly stated its desire for other ASEAN countries to share in hosting US military facilities in the region. Philippines Foreign Affairs officials have said that if other ASEAN countries are prepared to host some US facilities, they would be able to assure the Filipino people that they are not alone and that there are others who are prepared to share what they call "the political burden" of hosting US bases. Singapore has publicly supported the presence of US bases in the Philippines. Singapore is prepared to host some US facilities to make it easier for the Philippines to continue to host the US bases there.

Both the Singapore and US Governments agree that Singapore's facilities could not possibly replace the large US facilities at Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base. Singapore lacks both the size and the strategic location to do this.

The US and Singapore have discussed the possibility of greater US military use of some facilities in Singapore. This would not be unprecedented: the US Navy currently calls at Singapore for bunkering and repairs, US fighter aircraft have been deployed to Singapore for exercises with the RSAF and US transport aircraft use Singapore as a transit point.

The US Government sent a site survey team in June to Singapore to study our naval and air facilities, and determine what US forces might use. The survey team comprised technical personnel, headed by a Rear Admiral from the Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC).

Singapore and the US agreed that the survey team's visit would be strictly exploratory and fact-finding, and would imply no commitment by either side to the deployment of US forces in Singapore. Its findings would not be binding, and would only form the basis for further discussions.

Singapore's hosting of the site survey team in no way lessens Singapore's commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), nor should it weaken the FPDA, which will continue to contribute to regional stability. It is also consistent with the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, to which Singapore belongs, as any increased US military presence in Singapore would be to strengthen regional stability, and not for the advancement of great power rivalries.

Singapore advised all the other ASEAN and FPDA governments of the site survey before the team's visit.

Mr Chandra Das: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have a number of questions for the Minister of State. Firstly, Sir, in agreeing to host the US facilities in Singapore, has the Government taken into account possible reactions from our neighbours, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia? Secondly, Sir, I would like to know from the Minister how the US presence in Singapore will affect our Five Power Defence Arrangements although he made some references to it. Lastly, Sir, will the Minister keep this House informed of further developments on this subject?

Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to seek certain clarifications from the Minister of State. While agreeing with the general thrust of his statement that we should consider hosting certain facilities of the US, I am concerned as to the extent which we will host US facilities here. I would like to ask the Minister whether the ASEAN governments have been made aware of the present position of the Government and whether the Government has taken into account the sensitivities of some of the ASEAN governments concerning foreign military bases or facilities in our territory. I would like to ask the Minister of State whether this is the beginning of a formalized agreement with the US, ultimately leading to some kind of bilateral security arrangement.

Dr Ong Chit Chung (Bukit Batok): Sir, the Minister is aware of course that last year at the height of the Hendrickson affair we were all told to be wary and to beware of American intentions and actions. Now, as he announced, we are considering extending our base facilities to them. Of course, we remember what the British statesman said that we have no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests. But how are we going to explain to the people on the ground that it is in the long-term interest of a nation to extend further facilities to the Americans? Sir, if the Americans have base facilities here, would they defend Singapore if we were under attack by regional powers? With the extension of the base facilities to the Americans, Singapore would, I believe, become a prime target for conventional and nuclear attack in a global conflict. Is it worth the risk involved? What about the social costs? Would the presence of the American servicemen lead to a higher incidence of VD and Aids, more girlie bars in Orchard Road?

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, can I answer as the questions are fielded, otherwise there might be too many and I may not be able to recall all of them?

Mr Speaker: All right.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: First, let me emphasize, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the discussions are still at a very preliminary stage and no commitment has been made on either side. With respect to our neighbours, we have kept them informed even before the site survey team came and we will continue to keep them informed. Of course, we will have to take into account their sensitivities but the final decision is ours.

As to speculations on our future relationship with US, our objective is principally to maintain and preserve the status quo. If by hosting some facilities here, we make it easier for the Filipino government to continue to host US forces in Clark and Subic, then we would have achieved our objective of helping to maintain the status quo. Therefore, the question of a military pact or treaty with the US really does not arise because that is not what is envisaged.

As to the question of American interference in our domestic politics as a result of their military presence here, they know our position. Domestic politics in Singapore are solely the preserve for Singaporeans. They are aware of our position. They know our position. They respect our position. They accept our position.

Social problems like VD, Aids and such like, if the Americans do come, we will have to insist that they be on their best behaviour, as indeed they have always been. We have to be mindful of the social aspects. They are aware of our concerns and this will be taken into account. I think I have answered most of the questions.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, I would be interested to know the extent to which these facilities would be given to the Americans. Are we just giving garage facilities or up to nuclear facilities?

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: They have come down to take a look at our air and naval facilities. They have visited Paya Lebar Air Base and Sembawang Naval Base and they have not yet reverted to us. So concrete discussions have not taken place yet. We are not quite aware of what they are interested in nor have we told them what we are prepared to offer. One thing is certain. That whatever we can offer here can never replace the massive and extensive facilities that they have at Clark and Subic.

The question raised earlier by Dr Ong Chit Chung on the nuclear targetting of Singapore as a result of any deployment of US forces here, I think that question is really not the point. If we are going to be targetted, I think we are going to be targetted anyway because of our geo-strategic location. We have warships from the big powers sailing by Singapore all the time and I would be very surprised if all of them are non-nuclear.