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Punching Above Its Weight: Singapore’s Armed Forces and Its Contribution to Foreign Policy

2011; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 11; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/14702436.2011.642196

1743-9698

Andrew T. H. Tan,

Maritime Security and History

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes 1 This Southeast Asia sub-regional complex was postulated by Alagappa. See Muthiah Alagappa, ‘Dynamics of International Security in Southeast Asia: Change and Continuity’, Australian Journal of International Affairs 45/ 1 (May 1991) pp.17–22. 2 Singapore was ranked 8th in GDP per capita (Purchasing Power Parity) in the world, at US$50,300 in 2009 by the CIA World Fact Book 2010, as cited in . 3 See Tim Huxley, Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore (St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin 2000) pp.229–47 and ‘Singapore Armed Forces’ Never-Ending Search for Top Talent’, Straits Times, 7 Aug. 2008, . 4 Ernest Z. Bower and Charles Freeman, ‘Singapore’s Tightrope Walk on Taiwan’, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 17 Aug. 2010, . 5 Census of Population 2010, Singapore Department of Statistics, . 6 ‘World’s Top 5 Ports,’ 27 Aug. 2010, Supply Chain Digital, . 7 ‘Chilly Response to US Plan to Deploy Forces in the Strait of Malacca’, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, 24 May 2004, http://www.iags.org/n0524042.htm 8 Defence White Paper: Delivering Security in a Changing World, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom, 2003, p.4 . 9 Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review, Cabinet Office, 2010, p.9, . 10 The National Security Strategy of the United Kingdom: Security in an Interdependent World, Cabinet Office, March 2008, p.38, . 11 Sam Bateman, ‘Navies and the Maintenance of Good Order in Peacetime’, in Andrew T H Tan (ed.), The Politics of Maritime Power (London: Routledge 2007) pp. 95–6 12 Sam Bateman, ‘Navies and the Maintenance of Good Order in Peacetime’, pp.99–104. 13 ‘UK’s World Role: Punching Above Our Weight’, BBC News, accessed 11 Nov. 2010. 14 ‘Supporting Essay 4: Defence Diplomacy,’ Strategic Defence Review 1998, United Kingdom, . 15 ‘Defence Diplomacy’, Policy Paper No. 1, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom, p.4, . 16 Graham Evans and Jeffrey Newnham, Dictionary of International Relations (London: Penguin 1998) p.323. 17 Peter T. Haydon, ‘Naval Diplomacy: Is it Relevant in the 21st Century?’ in Tan, The Politics of Maritime Power (note 11) p.72. 18 See Martin Wight’s chapter in Hedley Bull and Carsten Holbraad (eds.), Power Politics (Leicester U P 1978). 19 Andrew T.H. Tan, ‘Singapore’s Defence: Capabilities, Trends and Implications’, Contemporary Southeast Asia, Dec. 1999, . 20 Huxley, Defending the Lion City (note 3) Introduction. 21 Haydon, ‘Naval Diplomacy’ (note 17) pp.72–3. 22 ‘About the Third Generation SAF,’ Ministry of Defence, Singapore, , accessed 12 November 2010. 23 Antulio Echevarria II, Fourth Generation War and Other Myths (Carlisle, CA: US Army War College, 2005), Summary. See also William S. Lind et al., ‘The Changing Face of War: Into the Fourth Generation’, Marine Corps Gazette, Oct. 1989, . 24 See note 22. 25 Jacqueline Lee et al., Realising Integrated Knowledge-Based Command and Control: Transforming the SAF, Pointer Monograph No. 2, Pointer / Joint Communications and Information Systems Department, Ministry of Defence, 2003, (Singapore), . 26 John Keegan, World Armies, London: Macmillan 1983) p.520. 27 Donald Weatherbee, ‘ASEAN Defence Programs: Patterns of National and Regional Resilience’, in Young Whan Khil and Laurence E. Ginter (eds.), Security, Strategy and Policy Responses in the Pacific Rim (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner 1989) p.200 28 Tim Huxley, ‘Singapore and Malaysia: A Precarious Balance?’ Pacific Review 4/3, (1991) pp.208–9. 29 Defence Studies: Singapore’s Blue-Water Aspirations, 18 June 2009, . 30 2004: Changi Naval Base, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, , accessed 14 Nov. 2010. 31 Singapore Changi Naval Base, Global Security.org, , accessed 28 Oct. 2009. 32 Formidable-Class Multi-Mission Frigates, Singapore, . 33 Republic of Singapore Navy, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, p.13, 34 Ibid. p.14. 35 Endurance- Class Landing Platform Dock Ship, , accessed 16 Nov. 2010. 36 Republic of Singapore Navy, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, p.16. 37 ‘Singapore Navy Launches Second Archer-Class Submarine’, Defence-Aerospace.com, 20 Oct. 2010, . 38 ‘RSN in Rescue Exercise with 4 Nations’, Today, 19 Aug. 2010, . 39 ‘Swedish A26 Submarine Moves Ahead’, Forecast International, 24 Nov. 2009, . 40 Kockums A26 Brochure, Kockums, . 41 Submarine Proliferation: Sweden, Current Capabilities, Nuclear Threat Initiative, . 42 Republic of Singapore Navy, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, p. 15. 43 ‘RSAF Introduces Enforcer Mk2, Signals’, Jane’s Navy International, 1 Oct. 2005, www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Navy-International-95/RSAF-INTRODUCES-ENFORCER-MK-2.html>. 44 The Military Balance 2010 (London: International Institutefor Strategic Studies 2010) p. 426 45 ‘Singapore’s F-15 Fleet Grows; Silent Eagle Preps for Flight Test’, Aviation International News, 31 Jan. 2010, . 46 ‘AH-64D Apache’, Deagel.com, 14 Nov. 2010, . 47 ‘Singapore 2010: RSAF Displays G550 Platform for the First Time’, Flight International, 31 Jan. 2010, . 48 The Military Balance 2010(note 44) p. 426. 49 Ibid. 50 Ibid. 51 ‘Singapore Airlines: Facts and Figures’, Star Alliance, . 52 The Military Balance 2010 (note 44) p. 425. 53 Ian Kemp, ‘Tracked Warhorses’, Asian Military Review, Dec. 2007, p.30, . 54 The Military Balance 2010 (note 44) p. 425. 55 ‘Singapore Armed Forces Acquire Infantry Carrier Vehicle’, Janes.com, 11 Sept. 2009, . 56 ‘Singapore to Field 135 Terrex Infantry Combat Vehicles,’ Defense Update, Sept. 2009, . 57 ‘Warthog Vehicle Arrives in UK for Afghan Modifications’, Defence Talk, 24 Nov. 2009, . 58 ‘From Bronco to Warthog,’ Defense Update, , accessed 14 Nov. 2010. 59 The Military Balance 2010(note 44) p. 425. 60 Ibid. 61 HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, USA, Army-Technology.com, , accessed 6 Oct. 2009. 62 C. Cheok, C.W, Chong, G.W. Hoe and C.- S. Jack, ‘The Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps’, Medical Corps International, Vol. 1 (2008) pp. 26–7, . 63 Combat Engineers, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, . 64 Christopher F. Foss, ‘Combat Engineering Developments in Asia’. Asian Military Review, December 2009 – January 2010, pp.28–9. 65 See note 4. 66 Michael Leifer, Singapore’s Foreign Policy: Coping with Vulnerability (London: Routledge 2000) p.105. 67 Ibid. 68 ‘Background Note: Singapore’, US Department of State, , accessed 3 Nov. 2009. 69 ‘Singapore Joins Joint Strike Fighter Programme’, 16 March 2004, Mindef News, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, . 70 The Military Balance 2010 (note 44), pp.426–7. 71 ‘DPM Teo Visits Ex Forging Sabre in US’, News Release, 18 Nov. 2009, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, . 72 See ‘Multinational Exercise Cope Tiger 2009 Kicks Off’, US Air Force, 3 Oct. 2009, , accessed 12 Nov. 2009; ‘United States and Singapore in Naval Exercise CARAT 2006’, News Release, 30 May 2006, Ministry of Defence (Singapore), , and ‘Cobra Gold Officially Comes to a Close’, Cobra Gold 2005, , 13 May 2005. 73 ‘Singapore Navy’s Inaugural Participation in Rim of the Pacific Exercise’, News Release, 27 July 2008, Ministry of Defence (Singapore), . 74 Partnering to Rebuild: Operation Blue Orchid - The Singapore Armed Forces Experience in Iraq, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, p.11, . 75 Ong Weichong, ‘Singapore’s Citizen Army: Bridging the Civil-Military Praxis’, Eurasia Review: News and Analysis, 15 Nov. 2010, . 76 ‘Singapore to Join New Zealand in Afghanistan’, Press Release, New Zealand Government, 6 March 2007, . 77 ‘Recognising SAF Servicemen’s Contribution in Afghanistan’, Cyberpioneer, 4 June 2009, . 78 ‘Intelligence From Afghanistan Breaks Singapore Plot,’ CNN.com, 11 Jan. 2002, . 79 ‘Singapore FTA,’ Office of the United States Trade Representative, , accessed 12 Nov. 2009. 80 The Military Balance 2010 (note 44) p. 426. See also The Oakley Agreement: 6th Report to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, March 1997, . 81 ‘Forces to Boost Business’, The Bulletin, 23 Sept. 2010, . 82 ‘The Singapore Connection’, Defence Update Newsletter, March 2004, New Zealand Defence Force, . 83 For a recent study of the FPDA, see Andrew T.H. Tan, ‘The Five Power Defence Arrangements: The Continuing Relevance’, Contemporary Security Policy, Aug. 2008, pp.285–302. 84 ‘Second FPDA Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting’, News Release, 7 June 2004, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, . 85 Tunku Ya’acob Tunku Abdullah, ‘FPDA Remains Relevant with Broadened Role to Reflect New Security Threats,’ Asian Defence Journal, July-Aug. 2006, pp. 4–6. See also Ministry of Defence News Release, Singapore, 7 Sept. 2006, . 86 Defence Talk.com, , accessed 17 Dec. 2007. 87 ‘Exercise Suman Protector’, New Zealand Defence Force News, 24 Aug. 2007, . 88 ‘Warthog Vehicle Arrives in UK for Afghan Modifications’, Defence Talk, 24 Nov. 2009, . 89 ‘FPDA Plays Important Role in Regional Security’, Channel News Asia, 14 Oct. 2010, . 90 ‘RSN in Rescue Exercise with 4 Nations’, Today, 19 Aug. 2010, . 91 Fayen Wong, ‘Singapore’s Military Juggles Ties With Taiwan, China’, Reuters, 27 Aug. 2006, . 92 Jing-Dong Yuan, China-ASEAN Relations: Perspectives, Prospects and Implications for US Interests (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College 2006) p. 36. 93 ‘China: Lee’s Taiwan Visit Damages Relations’, China Daily, 14 July 2004, . 94 ‘Deputy PM Stands Up to China Over Taiwan Trip’, AFP, 16 July 2004, . 95 ‘Fighter Crash Kills Crew, Singaporeans,’ Taipei Times, 12 May 2007, . 96 The Military Balance 2010 (note 44) p.425. See also ‘Fighter Crash Kills Crew, Singaporeans,’ Taipei Times, 12 May 2007. 97 ‘Choosing R-Day Chief Guest: The Indian Express’, Zeenews.com, 25 Jan. 2010, . 98 ‘India to Train Singapore Armed Forces’, The Times of India, 9 Oct. 2007, . 99 ‘Singapore and India in Joint Naval Exercises’, Cyberpioneer, 16 April 2010, ; Singapore Air Force Takes Part in Exercise Garuda in France’, GovMonitor, 23 June 2010, ; and ‘Singapore and India Conduct Fourth Armour Exercise’, Ministry of Defence News, 2 May 2008, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, . 100 ‘ST’s Aerospace Arm to Procure RSAF’s Advanced Jet Trainers’, Aerospace and Defence News, 28 Sept. 2010, . 101 ‘Singapore Air Force Takes Part in Exercise Garuda in France’, GovMonitor, 23 June 2010, . 102 ‘Royal Thai Air Force - RTAF,’ F16.Net, accessed 17 Nov. 2010. 103 See ‘Multinational Exercise Cope Tiger 2009 Kicks Off’, US Air Force, 3 Oct. 2009, and ‘Cobra Gold Officially Comes to a Close’, Cobra Gold 2005, , 13 May 2005. 104 ‘Thailand Plans US$191.3m Arms Purchase,’ Defence News, 12 Sept. 2010, . 105 ‘Indonesian Air Force Chief Calls on Dr Tony Tan’, Ministry of Defence News, 11 June 1996, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, . 106 ‘Indonesia’s Lawmakers Say Jakarta Gave Away Too Much on Defence to Get its Prized Extradition Treaty-’, Asia Sentinel, 27 June 2007, . 107 ‘Singapore-Indonesia Defence Talks at Stalemate’, Jakarta Post, 3 Nov. 2009, . 108 ‘Singapore, Indonesia Mark 20-Years of Bilateral Army Exercise’, Ministry of Defence News, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, 20 Oct. 2008, . See also, ‘Singapore, Indonesia Conclude Joint Military Exercise,’ Army-Technology.com, 27 Nov. 2009, . 109 Case Study: Singapore Armed Forces, Tsunami: Magnitude of Terror, accessed 17 Nov. 2010. 110 See Andrew T. H. Tan, Security Perspectives of the Malay Archipelago: Security Linkages in the Second Front in the War on Terrorism (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar 2004), pp. 102–103. 111 ‘Ministry of State for Defence Visits South Africa’, Ministry of Defence News, 27 June 2007, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, 112 Background Note: Singapore, US State Department, accessed 17 Nov. 2010. 113 ‘Leading the Fight Against Piracy’, 19 May 2010, Cyberpioneer, . 114 ‘SAF Medical Corps Spearheads ICEM’s Military Medicine Track’, Ministry of Defence News, Ministry of Defence, Singapore, 18 June 2010, . 115 ‘Managing Security Challenges Through Dialogue and Cooperation’, Cyberpioneer, 5 Aug. 2010, . 116 29–31 May 2009 – 8th Shangri-la Dialogue, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), <www.iiss.org/events-calendar/forthcoming-events/8th-shangri-la-dialogue/?locale=en accessed 17 Nov. 2010. 117 ‘Managing Security Challenges Through Dialogue and Cooperation’, Cyberpioneer, 5 Aug. 2010, .