BEIJING – Whichever candidate wins the United States presidential election in November, Singapore will have to work with the American leader to ensure peace in the region, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing on Sept 13, Dr Ng said that each country must take care of its own defence needs and work with other countries in the region to maintain peace, “whoever the leader of another country is”.
“I am sure it is productive to figure out what happens in the US... Our peace and prosperity cannot be solely dependent on the leader of another country,” he said, when asked about the possible implications of a second Donald Trump presidency. “Yes, leader of another country can precipitate events, but one have to prepare for both (candidates), and one have to work with whoever is the next president of the US.”
Dr Ng was giving an interview to Singapore and Chinese media on the sidelines of the 11th Xiangshan Forum, a high-level international security forum akin to Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue. His trip to Beijing from Sept 11 to 13 was his 10th visit to China as defence minister.