Defence & foreign affairs

• The debate focused on assessing Singapore-US relations under the Biden administration and the potential impact of the Trump administration on these ties.
• Singapore and the US have a long-standing, bipartisan partnership, with significant achievements in areas like technology, trade, and defense during both administrations.
• The US is Singapore's largest foreign investor and trading partner, with substantial bilateral trade generating numerous jobs in both countries.
• The Minister for Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of US engagement in the Asia Pacific for regional stability and prosperity, amidst a changing global landscape.
• Concerns were raised about the potential indirect impacts of US tariffs on other countries, emphasizing the need for Singapore to remain vigilant and adaptable in its economic strategies.

• Singapore is actively providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, having contributed over S$19 million since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with plans for further assistance during Ramadan.
• The Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of a multi-phase ceasefire and the need for all parties to work towards a permanent resolution and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
• Singapore aims to support capacity building in Gaza, particularly in education and public administration, to help the Palestinian Authority prepare for future governance and reconstruction.
• The government acknowledges the complexities of the conflict and the limitations of Singapore's role, advocating for a negotiated two-state solution as the path to lasting peace.
• There is a recognition of the urgent infrastructural needs in Gaza, but sustainable peace is deemed essential before significant reconstruction efforts can be effectively implemented.

Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant raised questions regarding the response rates of operationally-ready NSmen during silent and open mobilisation exercises, their usefulness in scenario planning related to the Middle East and Europe, and the level of realism in these exercises. Ng Eng Hen responded that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) routinely conducts mobilisation exercises, achieving high attendance rates of 95% or more for both types. These exercises improve NS forces' operational readiness, ensure systems remain effective, and enhance preparedness for national security situations by employing various scenarios for realism and function validation.

• The Malaysian Parliament's debate on the Royal Commission of Inquiry report regarding Pedra Branca raises questions about its potential impact on the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) previous ruling.
• Singapore's Foreign Minister stated that the inquiry is an internal Malaysian matter and should not affect bilateral relations, emphasizing that both countries accept the ICJ's 2008 decision awarding sovereignty over Pedra Branca to Singapore.
• The ICJ's ruling is final and cannot be revised after ten years, which means no further legal challenges can be made regarding the decision.
• A Joint Technical Committee has been established to address outstanding bilateral matters related to the ICJ judgment, including maritime boundary delimitation.
• Recent discussions between the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia indicate a commitment to continue addressing these issues constructively.

• Gerald Giam raised concerns about the need for dedicated workspaces in camps for NSmen during In-Camp Training (ICT) to manage urgent work without disrupting their training.
• The Minister for Defence, Ng Eng Hen, explained that NSmen are notified of their ICT call-ups in advance to allow for work arrangements and can apply for deferment if they have critical commitments.
• NSmen are permitted to address urgent work matters in designated non-sensitive areas of camps, and efforts are being made to improve connectivity with Wireless@SG installations.
• Employers are legally required to grant leave for NSmen during ICT, and while there have been few issues, they are typically resolved through communication facilitated by the Ministry of Defence.
• The Ministry actively encourages employer support for NSmen through engagements and recognition programs like the NS Mark accreditation.

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about the Ministry of Home Affairs' criteria for blocking websites associated with misinformation campaigns, questioning the effectiveness of these blocks given the availability of VPNs and the process for appealing blocks on mistakenly affected sites. Sun Xueling clarified that no specific threshold is set for preventive action against hostile information campaigns, citing the blocking of 10 inauthentic websites despite their low exposure, due to their potential misuse by foreign actors. She emphasized the importance of public vigilance against misinformation, noting that the Government conducts campaigns to enhance critical thinking and raise awareness of foreign interference risks. Sun also acknowledged the challenge of users circumventing website blocks and highlighted the role of media in educating the public on these threats.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim raised concerns about Israel's ban on UNRWA and its impact on humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, asking how Singapore plans to ensure aid delivery, support UNRWA, and if another air drop to Gaza will be considered. Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore has collaborated with regional partners and humanitarian agencies to deliver aid to Gaza, including airlifting medical supplies and food directly into the region. Singapore has sent multiple tranches of humanitarian assistance and made significant financial contributions to UNRWA and UNICEF since the conflict began. The Singapore government expressed concern over Israeli legislation restricting UNRWA's operations and urged respect for humanitarian efforts in the Palestinian Territories.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the status and timeline for the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB), specifically whether it remains on track for completion by 2030. Ng Eng Hen confirmed that the relocation is still anticipated around 2030 or later, following expansions at Changi and Tengah Air Bases. He noted that while there have been delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they expect to meet the projected timeline, though it's premature to set a specific date for completion.

• Hazel Poa asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if it had received any representations from the United States concerning an American citizen imprisoned for nine weeks in October 2024 for National Service defaulting offences.
• The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, responded with a single word: "No," indicating no such representations had been received.
• The debate concluded without further discussion, as the answer provided was direct and did not elaborate on potential future actions or considerations.

• Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about the impact on Singapore's diplomatic language following the ICC's directive to use "State of Palestine" and the ICC Assembly's 2015 recognition of Palestine as a member state.
• Vivian Balakrishnan stated there is no impact, as the UN has used "State of Palestine" since 2012 following General Assembly Resolution 67/19 granting Palestine non-member observer State status.
• Singapore is prepared in-principle to recognize the State of Palestine but will do so at an appropriate time, contingent on progress toward a two-state solution and an effective Palestinian Government that accepts Israel's right to exist and rejects terrorism.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked if Singapore's civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the US restricts collaboration with other nations.
• The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, stated that the agreement does not preclude such cooperation.
• The exchange confirmed that Singapore can still engage in civil nuclear research with other countries despite the US deal.

• Both operational readiness and safety are core to the SAF's peacetime mission, with a mandatory requirement to achieve high standards in both without compromise, as emphasized by the Minister for Defence.
• A strong safety culture and robust management system are in place, involving leadership accountability, personal responsibility, and unit performance metrics, with zero training fatalities as a key deliverable and tools like incident reporting and safety briefs to reinforce safe practices.
• Realistic training in challenging exercises like Wallaby includes detailed risk assessments, progressive soldier training, and safety-focused designs for equipment, with commanders leading and lessons shared from incidents such as the Hunter vehicle collision.
• The SAF Inspector-General’s Office, with external experts, oversees safety through regular audits, incident reviews, and benchmarking to enhance safety culture and systems across all formations and units.

• Ms Hany Soh asked whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received any requests for assistance from Singaporean students facing Australia’s planned enrolment cap on international students from 2025.
• She also inquired how the Ministry can support these students, particularly those midway through their studies at Australian universities.
• Minister Vivian Balakrishnan responded that no requests for assistance have been received from Singaporeans.
• He added that the Australian government has indicated existing international students who have already begun their courses will not be affected by the proposed caps.

• Singapore's foreign policy prioritizes protecting sovereignty, securing essential supplies and trade routes, and expanding economic opportunities, guiding its cautious engagement with major power blocs like the Quad, AUKUS, and BRICS.
• The government maintains a principled stance of not taking sides to preserve strategic autonomy, relying on domestic cohesion and multilateralism to resist external pressure and uphold international law.
• ASEAN centrality remains critical, with Singapore advocating inclusive regional architecture through platforms like the East Asia Summit to avoid polarization and safeguard small-state interests.

Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked the Minister for Defence about the safety audits conducted by the SAF Inspector-General’s Office, common safety lapses, and preventive measures in training camps. The Senior Minister of State for Defence, Heng Chee How, stated that the SAF conducts 40 to 50 safety audits annually to assess safety standards and practices. While no systemic weaknesses have been found, efforts continue to enhance safety culture, particularly in reducing vehicular incidents through improved training and technology. Additionally, the SAF is focusing on preventing heat-related injuries by enhancing awareness and installing heat monitoring systems, resulting in a decrease in heat-related incidents from 2021 to 2023.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Minister for Defence about the cause of a collision between two Hunter armoured fighting vehicles during Exercise Wallaby, which resulted in 12 servicemen being injured. Ng Eng Hen reported that the accident occurred due to one vehicle rear-ending another in low visibility conditions caused by dust clouds, but all injured servicemen were assessed with mild injuries and returned to training the next day. A safety pause was initiated, and drivers were reminded to maintain safe distances under poor visibility, with protocols reiterated to troops. A formal investigation is underway to determine lessons learned and implement safety recommendations.

Leong Mun Wai questioned the Foreign Affairs Minister about Singapore's stance following its vote in favor of a UN resolution regarding Israeli settlements, specifically regarding potential bans on Israeli products, arms sales to Israel, and sanctions on individuals supporting such settlements. Vivian Balakrishnan explained that Singapore’s vote reflected a commitment to international law and the importance of a two-state solution, while noting reservations about the resolution's scope and implications. He stated that Singapore does not currently import products from Israeli settlements, complies with international arms sales obligations, and supports UNSC sanctions, but emphasized a cautious approach to unilateral sanctions based on national interests.

Ang Wei Neng inquired about the number of Singaporeans residing in Israel and Lebanon, and the assistance provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to those near conflict zones. Vivian Balakrishnan reported that as of October 15, 2024, there are 45 Singaporeans in Israel and three in Lebanon, with MFA in contact and providing updates on safety. The MFA emphasizes the safety of Singaporeans overseas, monitoring the situation closely and offering consular assistance through Overseas Missions. Singaporeans in the Middle East are urged to remain vigilant, heed Travel Advisories, take safety precautions, and register with MFA, given the lack of resident diplomatic missions in some countries.

• Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether additional consular support is being provided to Singapore citizens in the Middle East, particularly in countries near the ongoing regional conflicts.
• The Minister for Foreign Affairs affirmed that the safety of Singaporeans overseas is the utmost priority and that the Ministry is closely monitoring the volatile situation in the Middle East.
• Singapore’s overseas missions in the region are in contact with local Singaporean communities and ready to offer consular assistance as needed.
• The Ministry is collaborating with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and its student liaison officers in Cairo and Jeddah to maintain contact with Singapore students abroad and ensure quick consular support in emergencies.

• Leong Mun Wai asked for more details about the death of a full-time National Serviceman at Pasir Laba Camp on 27 September 2024.
• Ng Eng Hen referred to the MINDEF statement released on the same day, citing the ongoing police investigation and the need to respect the family's privacy.
• He stated that MINDEF and the SAF would not provide further details at this stage.
• He extended deepest condolences to the serviceman's family.
• He confirmed that MINDEF and the SAF are providing assistance to the family during this time of grief.