Strategic Issues and Security Concerns in Singapore-India Relations

Security Concerns for Singapore

-Post independence phase when Malaysia and Indonesia actually tries to
conquer SG
-Perceptions of communist threats and Cold War theatrics(China, Vietnam)
-Shift of situation in post Cold war phase from bipolarity to multi polarity
Security Concern for India
-Raising China both economic and military
-Military power of Pakistan
Changing geopolitical scenario in the post-cold war Phase
-Structural area demarcations(separate by boundaries) to strategic and
economic interdependency( ASEAN, regionalization)
-Competition to cooperative security(US, China basically)
-Rise of economic power and their economic assertiveness
Singapore response to the changing scenario
-restructuring and strengthening the political economic social resilience of
the republic (linking up with ASEAN and even distribution between India and
China)
-Continue emphasis on the importance of ASEAN (regionalization, special
structure to work)
-Emphasizing the policy of sustainable growth for Singapore(Project itself as a
healthy and successful state)
-Attempts to differentiate from others in the region Global hub/successful
city-state
-Engaging in regional balance of powers between US China and India
Singapore limitations
-Cannot escape from what is happening in ASEAN region(negative image
media has given ASEAN, weaken position of individual members)
-limitations of geographical extent and natural resources(straits of Malacca
can be good/bad)

-Ramifications of international happening easily resonated in a globalized

setting such as economic turn down and 9-11, Chinese an majority
Security considerations in South East Asia
-Growing Chinese presence and assertiveness in SE Asia, Chinas increasing
military strength and naval capabilities
-US presence in Asia-Pacific region(SG stuck in the middle)
-Differences and challenges in internal policies of different nationstates(political disagreement)
-ASEAN political-Security community
Strategic importance of the Straits of Malacca
-Archipelagic nature of Southeast Asia-Shipping extremely important
-Major Sea lanes connections between India and China
-link between Indian and Pacific Oceans
-Narrow 805km stretch of water, more than 200 ships pass daily
Strategic concerns and initiatives in the Straits
-Singapore major transshipment hub top container port in the world for oil
and raw material
-Malacca straits Security Initiative, Singapore,Malaysia and Indonesia
Malacca Strait Sea Patrol, Eyes in the Sky
-India committed to contribute US 1.87 to establish systems to enhance
navigational safety in the Straits, also offer to provide training at the Naval
Hydrographic School in Goa
Indias regional diplomacy
-India shares ASEAN visions and principles of harmonious and good neighbor
relationship
-Proposal for Asian Federation did not materialized in the post-colonial phase
-Non-Alightment movement not functioning
-Change in trajectory since the 1990s with economic liberalization and look
east
Indias LEP strategic dimension

-Enjoy harmonious relation with ASEAN(political economic diaspora ties),

gaining momentum
-Legacy or religious, cultural, trade and commerce linkage
-97% of Indias trade by bolume 75% by Sea, 50 through straits of malacca
-Common issues of concerns transnational crimes
-Active participant in the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacfici
-Dialogues between India and Asean exhibited synergy , annual Delhi
Dialogue
-India supportive of multilateral secutiry arrangement, ready ro provide
security in Staits
-Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, Asean Regional forum
Indias role in security in Southeast Asia
-Joint military and naval exercises(promote maritime cooperation with ASEAN)
-Countering piracy ( offer assistance to Strait littorals)
- Milan Joint naval exercise at the Andaman and Nicobar island since 1995
-India decision to sign the SEANWFZ
-Non-traditional security issues(Tsunami)
-Climate Change and Environmental Issue
India and Singapore- Security Cooperation
-Singapores significant role in ASEAn and her desire for India to play active
role in ASEAN and world playform, always pushing India to a higher ground
-INS Viraat Indian Aircraft Carrier arrived at the ports of Singapore, Jakarta
and Klang(2005)
-Large scale naval exercise with Singapore, Australia, Japan and US in the Bay
of Bengal
-Training of Singapore military personnel since 2003 when bilateral defence
cooperation signed
-Headquarters of ReCAAP loaced in Singapore and India
-High level of visit between both Country

-bilateral agreement has been signed for the Conduct of Joint Military Training
and Exercises in India between Republic of Singapore Air Force and Indian Air
force
-joint anti-piracy helpful in protecting the commercial sea lanes
-India and Singapore signed fresh agreement extend use of training and
exercise facilies for further five years in 2013
Future
-Proposed Transnational Highway Project to increase connectivity across the
borders to combat security issues
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