Australia, Singapore Say China Should Not Worry About Defense Treaty

In an effort to allay China’s concerns on increased military cooperation between Singapore and Australia, the prime ministers of the two countries said on Thursday that their defense pact is not an attempt to contain China. The two countries agreed on a deal that would dramatically expand northern Australian training facilities.

Singaporean and Australian officials signed a treaty in which Singapore will spend up to 2.25 billion Australian dollars to double the capacity of its facilities in military training areas in Queensland state.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that China was the largest trading partner of both Australia and Singapore. He doesn’t think that the Chinese would see the two countries as a bloc against them.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he agreed with Lee and his opinion that the US military presence in the region had strengthened its prosperity and stability for the past 40 years.

The prime ministers of both countries also wished the US Congress would decide to join the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Both presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have come out against the accord however.

The Singapore military will triple their yearly admission to the Australian training grounds to 18 weeks. Hence, rrom 6,600, the Singapore troop numbers will increase to 14,000.

The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has been unfavorable of a similar agreement between Australia and the United States. The two countries plan on developing the northern Australian city of Darwin into a developing training center for US Marines.

Same deal with the U.S.

The United States and Australia reached a cost-sharing deal last week to pay for at least AU$2 billion in infrastructure. This amount would build-up the training center to have the capacity for up to 2,500 Marines.

Since the first delegation of 200 Marines visited in 2012, the number of Marines alternating through Darwin has increased. The recent rotation of 1,100 Marines left Darwin on Thursday after six months.

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Cat-astrophe averted as terrified kitten rescued with Singapore Sling

This is the dramatic moment a terrified kitten was rescued from a tiny 12th storey ledge in a high-rise apartment building.

The four-month-old kitten found it easy to climb out onto the narrow ledge but was too frightened to attempt climbing back in.

Animal charity SPCA received a call that the Persian cross kitten was trapped on a high rise apartment block in Singapore and sent rescue officer Yao Huang to help.

A resident from an apartment block opposite had seen the trapped cat and raised the alarm.

Mr Huang used a long pole with a sling attached to the end in this most delicate of rescue operations.

One wrong move could have led to disaster and two police officers were waiting below with a blanket to try and catch the cat if things went wrong.

At first, it did not look good, because as Mr Huang attempted to position the sling around the kitten’s neck it panicked and began moving away.

Eventually it was backed up into a corner but it took a couple more attempts before the sling was safely in position and the kitten could be gently lifted to safety.

The rescue was captured on video and posted on the SPCA Facebook page where it proved a huge hit.

The SPCA said: “Our rescue officer swiftly brought the kitten to safety. The kitten was then reunited with its owner who was advised to mesh up the windows and gate, to prevent the kitten from slipping out of the unit or falling out of the windows.

“Cats and kittens are curious animals and they risk falling out of an open window by simple acts such as chasing a bird that was flying past.

“We thank the caller who alerted us to this case and the two police officers from Ang Mo Kio North neighborhood police center, for their assistance in our rescue mission.”

Picture credits: SPCA/Facebook

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Singapore Defense Chief Warns of Threats From Extremist Groups

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday that violent extremist groups represents a grave threat to Southeast Asia. Moreover, he believed that these groups are growing each year, becoming more organized and focusing on their objectives.

Ng gave his statement during the meeting of Southeast Asian defense ministers in Hawaii. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter was also present in the meeting. Ministers dedicated a lot of time discussing threats from Islamic State and similar groups.

According to Ng, over 1,000 Southeast Asians assembled to join the Islamic State’s self-declared “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. He also said, “Every year we meet, the situation and threat from extremist terrorism rises. Ng added, “Compared to, say, a year or even two years ago, they’re more organized…they’re more networked, they’re more clear in their articulation of what they want to achieve.”

A statement from security officials in June said Southeast Asian militants claimed to fight for Islamic State. These militants have chosen an individual from within the region to lead the group. The Philippines considers this regional faction head as one of their most wanted terrorists.

Jakarta bombing

Since the bombing last January in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, regional authorities reinforced heightened security. The Islamic State claimed the attack which killed eight people including for attackers.

Ng mentioned of a foiled plan concocted by an Indonesian faction to strike at hotels in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. The Indonesian militants maintained coordination with an Islamic State member in Syria. However, It was averted with the help of Indonesian authorities. Ng said, “They have gone beyond networks to push the flow of funds, weapons. They are already plotting”.

Dreaded homecoming

Hundreds of citizens from Southeast Asia joined the Islamic State in their battles in Iraq and Syria. US Defense officials believed they have returned home, raising concerns to launch a rash of attacks.

The US is currently conducting an air campaign to displace the Islamic State from Iraq and Syria. Ng believed destroying its base would lead to a short term increase of regional attacks. Subsequently, seasoned Islamic State fighters would likely return home.

Ng said, “They would decide to come back, some re-energized, some trained and the networks would still be existing”.

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Singapore Cries Foul Over China Newspaper’s Fabricated South China Sea Story

Singapore’s Ambassador blamed one of China’s primary state run newspapers of inventing reports regarding Singapore’s stand on South China Sea territorial dispute. However, the newspaper publication shrugged off the accusations and stood firm on its story.

The Global Times reported on September 21, that Singapore raised the South China Sea issue during the summit of Non-Aligned Movement in Venezuela. Singapore included an International Tribunal’s ruling in the Philippine’s favor in a case it filed to counter China’s claims

The tabloid, run by China’s Communist Party, reported that opposition from “many” countries blocked Singapore’s effort.

The Times referred to an anonymous “person in the know”.

Stanley Loh, Singapore’s Ambassador to Beijing, sent a direct letter to The Global Times editor in chief Hu Xijin. Loh said the articles written were “false and unfounded”. He added “Contrary to the claim fabricated by the Global Times, the Singapore delegation did not raise the South China Sea or the tribunal ruling at the NAM Summit,”

Singapore declared their frustration with the publication for falsely reporting details. Loh said, “We are disappointed that an established newspaper published this irresponsible report replete with fabrications and unfounded allegations with no regard for the facts.”

The paper nevertheless, stood by their source. Hu, the editor in chief, responded to the accusation in the paper’s official micro blog. He determinedly vouched for the story and insisted that their source was “serious and reliable”. Therefore, he said he cannot accept the allegations of the Singaporean Ambassador.

U.S. jets aimed at China

Hu also stated that although Singapore did not have any claim to any of the disputed territories of the South China Sea, it sided with the Philippines and Vietnam. It even allowed U.S. combat aircraft to operate from its soil. He further said that it was no secret that the warplanes’ target was China.

A spokesman from China’s Foreign Ministry said they noted the reports. Both countries must also mutually appreciate and respect each other’s basic interests.

 

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