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Who are Singapore's enemies? Posted: 24 Mar 2013 11:16 AM PDT Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was emphatic about the threat posed by Singapore's immediate neighbours, saying they will 'knock us about' and 'harass us' if the republic does not have a defence capability. And for that reasons, Singapore needs a defence premium - not only to ensure that it would have the military wherewithal to repel an aggressor, but also to enable it to remain free from coercion. So, that explains why its defense budget, targeted at US$12.3 billion this year is the highest in Southeast Asia. Compared to its size and limited air space and waters, Singapore is becoming another Israel in the region. But who is or are the enemies that prompted Singapore to modernise and expand its armed forces? Could it be Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines? One could argue that Singapore's current environment is more benign. After all, the Cold War has been consigned to history, and Vietnam, once feared by many South-east Asian countries, is now a key member of ASEAN. Globalisation ties all regional countries, including China, in a complex web of interdependence. But the Asia-Pacific remains a dangerous place, with many potential flashpoints, such as the standoff between China and Japan over the Diaoyu or Senkaku islands, North Korea's nuclear programme and the South China Sea territorial spats. Closer to home, Singapore's relations with Malaysia and Indonesia have improved markedly in recent years. But this cannot be taken for granted. Dr Tim Huxley, author of Defending the Lion City, puts it across nicely. Relations with these two countries, he notes, have often been "characterised by rivalry and tension". History bears this out. In 1991, Malaysia and Indonesia conducted a joint military exercise. Codenamed Malindo Darsasa 3AB, it involved an airborne assault by paratroopers in southern Johor. This raised concerns among Singaporeans, with some reading the scheduling of the airdrop on Aug 9, Singapore's 26th National Day, as being unnecessarily provocative. In 1998, the Malaysian Armed Forces was put on alert, Mr David Boey, formerly this newspaper's defence correspondent, had written. Then, politicians on both sides of the Causeway had argued over the status of the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint at Malaysia's railway station in Tanjong Pagar. In light of the Suluk intrusion of Lahad Datu, some defense analysts are of the opinion that Singapore is looking at its neighbors with askance. While Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines are spending quite heavily on new jet fighters and weapons, the republic feels it has to follow the trend in order to face any unwanted circumstances like the ones in Sabah. A worse scenario is the potential of Southeast Asian nations entering an 'arm race'! Continue reading...

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