Japan, Singapore to start talks on defense equipment transfer pact

China should make a defense pact with Singapore over Japans recent assertiveness under Kishida.

Singapore is a crafty one. Get most benefit from Japan and China. Of course the majority of Singaporeans trace their roots to China and speak Chinese.

I thought the constitution banned this.

So, what defense equipment would be desirable from both sides?

But there is nothing Singapore would want from Japan, maybe a few surface warships but that's about it.

And it's not like Singapore would want retiring surplus equipment from Japan like other Southeast Asian nations.

Japan and others in the region showing they know China is the enemy and so find closer military relationships with others near by is of benefit.

There are many more nations considering themselves democratic and free, than autocratic and anti democracy like China. China has few options for allies as most will not touch China with a ten foot pole when it comes to anything other than perhaps trade.

China basically isolates itself by having so many disputes with so many nations all at the same time.

If it had not built islands in the South China sea and claimed ownership of international waters and other nations recognized EEZ, it may not have ended up so alone.

Prudent move forward for Japan and Singapore.

deanzaZZRToday  09:10 am JST

Singapore is a crafty one. Get most benefit from Japan and China. Of course the majority of Singaporeans trace their roots to China and speak Chinese.

95% of Taiwanese are also Han Chinese. Doesn't mean squat. Both Singapore amd Tawan are also democracies. China is not.

Hello Kitty 321Today  11:02 am JST

I thought the constitution banned this.

Have you ever read the constitution? If not, why would you think so?

Japan's "ban" on arms exports began in 1967 and was directed specifically at countries that are communist, subject to UN arms embargos and involved or likely to be involved in international conflicts. This was a self-imposed ban having nothing to do with Article 9 of the constitution.

In the joint press briefing, Lee said Singapore is a "staunch supporter" of international law and the U.N. Charter.

"On the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Singapore hopes that all parties will exercise restraint and maintain dialogue in order to preserve regional peace and stability," Lee said.

Lee is stuck between a rock and a hard place between china and japan for obvious reasons.

Singapore has so much going for it. I really miss living there. It's so much better than tokyo in multiple ways, except booze prices.

Anyhoo, good luck Lee. You're walking a tight rope.

So, Lee is not walking a tight rope?

@OssanAmerica

Both Singapore amd Tawan are also democracies .China is not

Which is more ridiculous your spelling or your comment ?

Too sad to be humorous !

Here's some facts to help because it's painfully obvious you're not well educated :

Doesn't mean squat. Both Singapore amd Tawan are also democracies

Singapore is emphatically not a democracy. It is a rigid, single party police state with state censorship and courts that are controlled by the PAP. They don't imprison their political opponents but rather use a corrupt court system and party hack prosecutors to repeatedly sue political opponents into poverty and silence. They put on a smiley face and align themselves with the west but do not be fooled by this. Their government is not all that different from that of the PRC. In fact Singapore is along the lines of what the PRC would like to be, a harsh dictatorship with impunity for their political class that everyone seems to like.

So, what defense equipment would be desirable from both sides?

Both nations have very advanced navies and build their own warships but often use licence built versions of European and American systems, though Japan designs and manufactures a lot of their own radars and sonars and Singapore is using Israeli air defense missiles. There could be many synergies there. Singapore could also be interested in the new Type 10 tank as it is smaller and lighter thus better suited to the urban nature of Singapore than the big Leopard 2s their army operates now. They both operate F-15s and might want to collaborate on upgrades.