Singaporean Defense Minister Ong Ye Kung welcomes joint naval exercises between China and the ASEAN. (Photo : Getty Images)
Senior Minister of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung reported that Singapore supports the military exercises between ASEAN and China and will act as the current country coordinator.
Ong said that there was a proposal from China and he thought that it was "very good."
"We have written to all the ASEAN member states; we will try to convene meetings within ASEAN at the senior officials' level to try to work out some modalities, and I think these are important steps for us to take," he added.
The defense minister also suggested that the Code of Unplanned Encounters in the Sea (CUES) should be expanded to lower tensions in the South China Sea.
"All these will reduce unpredictability and uncertainty, and manage the risks of any unintended incidents," Ong said. "So I think in this era, in this current situation, these are probably constructive steps to move ahead."
Joint naval exercises will also commence between Singapore and China. The Republic of Singapore Navy (R.S.N.) Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast will be joining the People's Liberation Army of China Jiangkai II-class frigate Jingzhou.
On the subject of bilateral relations between China and Singapore, Ong said that the talks have had "ups and downs" but he said, "Hopefully, it is a trajectory that goes upwards as a general trend."
Ong said that there are many areas on which the region can optimize for collaboration. He also suggested that differences should be put aside.
"We are not a claimant state. We, like all other countries, wish for peace and stability in the region so that we can go about doing our own business, promote investments, conduct training, raise and improve the lives of our people. And that has always been our approach--an honest broker, do not take sides, but always be a positive optimistic force," he said.
