SINGAPORE – The rest of the world will not deal with Singapore if it does not have a credible defence force, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing on July 1.
This credibility rests on the effort of every soldier – not just the defence minister or the military’s leadership, Chan said at an SAF Day rededication ceremony at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) building in Hill Street.
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Day falls on July 1.
Citing the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, a defence summit held in late May, Chan said people want to partner Singapore because they know the country is trustworthy and credible. “People listen to us; people talk to us.”
The dialogue brought together top defence officials from around the world and was held at the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore.
National servicemen have done well to build this credibility over the years, said Chan, who thanked them as well as SAF regulars for their service. But the minister cautioned against complacency.
“We need to get it right the first time, every time, all the time. But any adversary will just need to get it right one time, any time.”
The business community’s continued support for national service (NS) is also important, said Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services.
When investors come to Singapore and are curious about the strength of the country’s defence, all they need to do is to ask businessmen if Singapore’s companies support operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) and full-time national servicemen (NSFs), he added.
“They will know that we have NSFs and NSmen who are able to focus on their duties and are able to put up credible capabilities for the defence of Singapore,” he said, as he thanked the business community for its support as well.
Chan also expressed his appreciation for the families of those who serve in the SAF.
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