Concerns have arisen about the deactivation of “guardrails” to keep both superpowers from conflict, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on the third and final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
SINGAPORE: Singapore and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states are not “disinterested bystanders” in ongoing tensions between the United States and China, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday (Jun 4).
Speaking to reporters on the third and final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Dr Ng added that Singapore and ASEAN have “a vested interest” in making sure that communication lines between the two superpowers are good.
Reiterating comments he had made to the media on Saturday after a ministerial lunch, Dr Ng said that lines of communication are especially vital between potential adversaries.
“I think it’s like Formula 1 drivers on the same circuit, driving blindfolded. You better be careful – and bystanders, too,” he cautioned.
Dr Ng described US-China relations as being the “elephant in the room” at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue – Asia’s top defence summit which is in its 20th edition this year.
The relationship between the US and China is at its lowest point in years, as they remain deeply divided over issues like Taiwan to espionage and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Earlier this week, China declined an invitation to meet the US at the summit due to the Americans’ refusal to lift sanctions imposed on Chinese Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu for purchasing Russian weapons.
Both sides did not hold substantial meetings despite repeated demands by the US for military exchanges. General Li and US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin shook hands at an opening dinner on Friday, and sat across from each other at a ministerial roundtable and lunch hosted by Dr Ng on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Austin had rebuked China in a speech at the summit on Saturday morning for refusing to hold military talks.
On Sunday morning, General Li also gave a speech where he took thinly veiled digs at the US, accusing “some countries” of intensifying an arms race and wilfully interfering in the internal affairs of others.
He also warned against establishing “NATO-like” military alliances in the Asia-Pacific, saying they would plunge the region into a “whirlpool” of conflict.
On Sunday, Dr Ng said that Singapore’s bilateral meetings were “very warm” but there were concerns about where the US-China relationship was headed, as well as the Ukraine conflict.
“So there is no shortage of insight or will that some problems are just too big – even for many countries to come together, without the US and China coming together,” Dr Ng pointed out.
“They’re the first and second largest economies. You can’t solve any problem without both of them coming into solution-making or finding a path forward.”
He noted that Singapore’s neighbours – including Malaysia and Indonesia – have found ways to deconflict with Singapore. But all countries, as well as American and Chinese leaders, are concerned about the deactivation of “guardrails” to keep the US and China from conflict, he added.
“And when you talk about the two largest economic and military powers, that’s not a good position,” Dr Ng said.