SINGAPORE: 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 (Jun 1).
Speaking to reporters during a sit-down interview at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence summit, Dr Ng said Asia’s geographical separation from Ukraine and the Middle East, where the situations are “unsettled”, provides a “mental space” for reflection.
He added that one of the prevailing moods for ministers and officials at this year’s dialogue compared to last year was that what happened in Europe and the Middle East “should not happen in Asia”.
“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,” said Dr Ng.
“I would say that there’s been strengthened resolve or preemption 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.”
Dr Ng also pointed out that “everything will have to be re-risked” if a physical conflict happens in the region, whether it is at the South China Sea or across the Taiwan Strait.
“All calculations will have to be redone. It will affect global trade. One-third of the global trade goes across the South China Sea,” said Dr Ng.
