Shangri-La Dialogue: Singapore’s defence minister says strengthened resolve prevents conflict in Asia

Lessons have been learnt on the “cost of aggression” elsewhere and resolve has strengthened across the board to ensure conflict does not break out in Asia, Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Saturday.

“That’s been a recurring theme. From their point of view, we’re learning important lessons vicariously and at a low cost because we are seeing that.

“I would say that there’s been strengthened resolve or pre-emption that conflict shouldn’t occur in Asia.

“One because it would really destabilise, having a third centre of confrontation. But also [because of] the lessons learnt on the cost of aggression and the consequences of aggression.”

“All calculations will have to be redone. It will affect global trade. One-third of the global trade goes across the South China Sea.”

This was the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries’ defence chiefs in 18 months.

In his speech at the summit on Saturday morning, Austin stressed that the Indo-Pacific region remained a “priority” for Washington and that the US was secure “only if Asia is”.

His remarks come amid increasing concern that Washington’s focus on helping Ukraine counter Russia’s invasion and support for Israel’s war in Gaza, while trying to ensure that that conflict does not spread, has taken away attention from the Indo-Pacific.

Austin also said that the US and China would resume military-to-military communications “in the coming months”, as Beijing hailed the “stabilising” security relations between both countries.

Responding to CNA’s question on Singapore’s role in the interactions between the US and China, Ng said the country is “realistic” and does not have outsized aspirations or strategic overstretch.

“The problems that China and US face, only