sgdiehard, don't rush to the conclusion that I disrespect
Singapore. I have never denied the fact that Thailand is also a US
and also Singaporean military outposts in this region.
You said: Why do you think we need the US to "protect the
island state from neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia"?
Well, geographically Singapore is a resourceless island,
surrounded by bigger countries like Malaysia and Indonesia who do
not share common ethnicity and culture with Singapore. Singapore
even depends on fresh water supply from Malaysia although your
government has attempted to implement some sort of water
reclamation technology. Let alone food supplies. Put it differently
Singapore needs to seek security.
You said: and why do you assume that "it could probably go
far beyond that to encircling and holding back China"?
Well, wasn't Singapore the first SE Asian nation to support 'War
on Terror' campaign? I still remember broadly Donald Rumsfeld
visiting Singapore and giving speech in a security conference. He
cited indirectly about the need for the US to station in the region
as part of 'War on Terror' and to counterweight some sort of
'growing threat'. That growing threat couldn't be anybody else but
China. And if you look at the map of East Asia, you would find a
big picture that the US has built either military bases or allies
that it sells arms to around China. Bases in Japan and South Korea.
Constant arm sales to Taiwan. Attempt to court Vietnam to open a
port. Attempt to bring independent-minded India away from Russia.
Then there are non-NATO allies like the Philippines, Thailand,
Singapore and Australia.
sgdiehard, don't rush to the conclusion that I
disrespect Singapore. I have never denied the fact that Thailand is
also a US and also Singaporean military outposts in this
region.
What is your definition of "military outpost" ? Singapore's
military camp in Thailand is primary a training camp, SAF does not
operate from there for any other operations. So that is not a
"military outpost". Neither is the US naval facilities in
Singapore.
Well, geographically Singapore is a resourceless island,
surrounded by bigger countries like Malaysia and Indonesia who do
not share common ethnicity and culture with Singapore. Singapore
even depends on fresh water supply from Malaysia although your
government has attempted to implement some sort of water
reclamation technology. Let alone food supplies. Put it differently
Singapore needs to seek security.
Yes, Singapore wants peace and security, but that does not mean
we need the US to give us that security. You Thai may need to count
on the US to protect you from the Burmese or the vietnamese, but
Singapore is quite capable of protecting ourselves against invading
forces for a period of time. We have still have defence pact
with other 4 nations, our friendly foreign relationships with
neighbours and friends far and wide serve us well. We don't need
the US as our "protector", not until there is a WW3. So keep your
assumption to yourselves.
Well, wasn't Singapore the first SE Asian nation to
support 'War on Terror' campaign? I still remember broadly Donald
Rumsfeld visiting Singapore and giving speech in a security
conference. He cited indirectly about the need for the US to
station in the region as part of 'War on Terror' and to
counterweight some sort of 'growing threat'. That growing threat
couldn't be anybody else but China. And if you look at the map of
East Asia, you would find a big picture that the US has built
either military bases or allies that it sells arms to around China.
Bases in Japan and South Korea. Constant arm sales to Taiwan.
Attempt to court Vietnam to open a port. Attempt to bring
independent-minded India away from Russia. Then there are non-NATO
allies like the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and
Australia.
Is War on Terror a war against China? Why do you say that
That growing threat couldn't be anybody else but
China. Now that is your assumption if you feel that China
is threatening Thailand. American can feel the threat of China,
they ought to. But to Singapore, China is not a threat, but a
balancing power among the rising power in the whole region, besides
the traditional regional power such as the US, Australia, Japan,
and north korea, there are India, Vietnam and China. We do not
consider any of these a threat to Singapore.
Philippines and Thailand are the US allies, HOW? you are out of
date.
Go do your study on regional issues. As a Thai here, you are
rather pathetic.
