HOSTING OF US MILITARY FACILITIES (Details of agreement)

Dr Lee Siew-Choh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give the House details of the agreement between Singapore and the United States government under which the United States will be granted military facilities in Singapore.

The Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (BG George Yong-Boon Yeo) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

When we offered to host some US facilities last year, we had two objectives in mind. First, by bearing a share of the burden of hosting US facilities we hoped to make it easier for the Philippine Government to assure its people that the Philippines is not alone and that there are others who are prepared to share the political burden of hosting US presence in this region. Singapore has publicly supported the presence of US bases in the Philippines. Second, we wished to encourage the US to continue to maintain its military presence in this region. We believe that a sustained US presence will maintain the balance of power in the wider region, reinforce the stable and peaceful regional environment and enable the countries in Southeast Asia to concentrate their resources on economic development.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the US Vice-President Dan Quayle on 13th November 1990 gave effect to this offer. As the two leaders said after the signing of the agreement, it is "concrete evidence of the determination of the US to retain a military presence in Southeast Asia for the foreseeable future."

The facilities we are offering to the US are located at Paya Lebar Airport and Sembawang Wharves as well as space for a small office at Clifford Pier. These are not new. The US have been using them in the past and their usage will now be enhanced under the MOU. The US Air Force will send aircraft to Singapore several times each year on training deployments of several weeks and the US Navy will increase the duration and number of its ship visits to Singapore. The first US deployment under the MOU is expected to take place in March next year. To support these visits and deployments, the US will increase the number of its Naval and Air Force personnel assigned to Singapore to about 95 from the present 20 or so on a year-round basis. Some additional 75 Air Force men and women will come to Singapore on temporary duty in connection with each training deployment.

The following principles are written and enshrined into the MOU, namely: recognition and respect for the sovereignty of Singapore; respect for the laws, including the Constitution of Singapore; the judicial process must not be impaired.

The MOU states clearly that we have jurisdiction over all offenders. As in all cases involving foreigners, the Attorney-General will have the responsibility to determine whether to take legal proceedings after studying investigation reports by the Police. This is the normal process which applies to offenders irrespective of their nationality.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the House may wish to note that the US and the Five Power Defence Arrangement countries have been using Singapore's facilities such as Sembawang Wharves and Paya Lebar Airport in the past. We have not had any problems with either the US or the FPDA countries in the past. The MOU with the US merely formalises the arrangement for the US to continue using our facilities. We do not expect to encounter any problems with the US over this.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Is the Minister aware that while making it easier for the Philippines, the agreement has drawn forth strong criticisms from other countries around South East Asia and that some of these criticisms have been directed at the prolonging or inability to realise ZOPFAN in the not too distant future? Would the Minister comment on this, please?

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, not at all. Our neighbours have not reacted adversely to the MOU - not Malaysia, not Indonesia.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: I do not think that is true, Sir.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is a matter of fact, not opinion.