Singapore doesn’t side with us. It’s pretty neutral. It’s just Philippines that stands out.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Global South strategic cooperation
- Thread starter Strangelove
- Start date
Is hosting a foreign military base constitute neutrality?
lcloo
Captain
Singapore has stated that they are willing to host Chinese navy ships in their ports. It is just that PLAN didn't take up the offer. However, they do have navy exercises together, and have navy ship visits to each other.
It is an open secret that Singapore's military procurement are directed to possible (but unlikely) attack from its neighbour from Malaysia and Indonesia. They are using US and China (if possible) to back up their security.
antiterror13
Brigadier
There is no permanent US base in Singapore, only for supply, maintenance and some facilities
lcloo
Captain
SIngapore is never a neutral country since its independence, they have defense treaty with UK, Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand
In the case of choosing side between US and China, Singapore stand firm with other ASEAN nations (except Philippines) on being neutral in regard to US-China conflict.
And Singapore's most important military contingency is a war with Malaysia - which it has a defence treaty with?
No one else has the capacity to easily invade.
In Djibouti, both China and the US have foreign military bases.
Yet there's no doubt Djibouti is neutral.
If you listen to retired Singapore government officials (who can now speak publicly) - they are very clear that Singapore will be neutral and that the US has to learn to live with a powerful China.
Lee Kuan Yew went even further, saying that one day, China would likely dominate the region (n both economic and military terms) and that Singapore would have to adapt to such a change.
lcloo
Captain
Yes, after the end of Vietnam war in 1970s, 5 Commonwealth countries - Singapore, Malaysia, UK, Australia and New Zealand formed a military allies by signing a "Five Power Defense Arrangement" treaty. The aim was to to defend Singapore and Malaysia if Vietnam and its communist bloc allies decided to go south attacking Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Time has changed and Vietnam is no longer considered a threat, and UK has lost much of its military power. So the biggest threat to SIngapore is ironically from one of its allies because the Malay chauvinist dreaming of uniting Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, into an Islamic Malay Nusantara nation.
However, this view is shared among very small number of people thus it is unlikely to happen now and in near future.