HOSTING OF US MILITARY FACILITIES

Dr Lee Siew-Choh asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence whether, under the proposed agreement to grant military facilities, the United States will be permitted to keep nuclear warheads and other nuclear weapons in Singapore, whether on land or aboard vessels or aircraft stationed in Singapore under the agreement.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Peter Sung) (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this question now is in the domain of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With your permission, I will reply on behalf of my Minister.

Since the visit of the US site survey team in June 1989, there have been no further developments. The US Government is presently studying the report of the site survey team. They have not yet decided what facilities they would like to have in Singapore.

The US has not raised the issue of nuclear weapons with Singapore. The question is therefore hypothetical.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Does the Government envisage having nuclear weapons stationed in Singapore?

Mr Peter Sung: The question is even more hypothetical.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: It is not hypothetical, Sir. I said "envisage".

Mr Peter Sung: The US has not asked us. If and when they do, the Government will consider the matter.

Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe (Marine Parade GRC): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister a clarification. Would the US be really wanting to build a base in Singapore?

Mr Peter Sung: The term "US site survey team" may have given rise to the impression that the US team which came to visit Singapore was to carry out topographic or hydrographic surveys to study a new site. This is a wrong impression. In fact, the US team was not going to construct any new base in Singapore. Instead it was looking at facilities that we already have in Singapore in order to decide what they want to use. If the US should decide on the basis of their site survey to use some of Singapore's facilities, then it will be nothing new. Other countries have used Singapore's facilities in the past. For example, the Australians used to deploy detachments of Mirage aircraft from their airbase in Butterworth in Malaysia to Singapore's Tengah Airbase.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Will the Government give an assurance that when a treaty or an agreement comes about, no nuclear weapons will be stationed in Singapore?

Mr Peter Sung: That is a very hypothetical question. We will deal with that question, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, when it arises.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: If they were here, surely they know what they are going to do?

Mr Peter Sung: When the question arises, as I have stated, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we will consider the matter.

Mr Chiam See Tong: The Minister mentioned that the US team has come here for site surveys. Under what terms and conditions were these surveys carried out?

Mr Peter Sung: The terms of the survey have been clearly stated by my colleague, BG George Yeo, in a statement on 4th August. I suggest Mr Chiam should read that again.