Minister gives reasons for Singapore force

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 4

Minister gives reasons for Singapore force

PA Wellington New Zealand troops are in Singapore to support and assist Malaysia and Singapore to develop their armed forces, says the Minister of Defence (Mr McCready). Under the five-Power arrangements. Malaysia and, Singapore assumed primary responsibility for their own security but still looked to Britain, Australia, and New Zealand for support and assistance in developing their armed forces, he said at a Rotary luncheon "That is the mam reason for our presence, and the Australians’ in South-East Asia — to assist our partners in developing their armed forces whether through courses of instruction or by training and exercising with them,” Mr MrCreadv said. The develonnient of effec tive and efficient armed forces contributed to stability in the area and the growth of self-reliance had also contributed to the development This was readily acknowledged by people in Singapore, he said. The New Zealand contingent added to the credi-

bility of deterring rash

adventurism thus contribut

ing to the regional stability and the climate of confidence. “The fact, that New Zealand is prepared to lend continuity to this association speaks well of Wellington’s recognition of its future as .an Asian-Pacific small! ! power,” Mr McCready said. A national force in Singa-j pore had also provided the; services with valuable experi-j ence in setting up and run-! ning a unified headquarters to administer an integrated national force in all its aspects — administration, log-, istics, accommodation, and! educational. medical, and! dental facilities. “We have opportunities for training in a tropical environment and exercising with the armed forces of Singapore and Malaysia,” he said. Most Pacific countries.! however, had very small, forces or none at all — "And, vou can’t hold joint exerciser j by yourself." The stationing of the New! Zealand forces in Singapore! also offered the opportunity,' to train and exercise in Bat talion strength. “To exercise at battaliori strength in South-East Asiej

or the south-west Pacific with forces based in New Zealand would be beyond our present capacity and would require a substantial increase in our air and sealift capability,” Mr McCready said. "We did not accept the Labour Government’s decision to bring back the force and in our election manifesto we undertook to maintain it in Singapore so long as its presence was welcome. "It is still welcome. Both (he Prime Minister of Singapore and the Minister of Defence left me in no doubt about this. From my talks, in fact, it seems that what puzzled Singapore was not our wish to leave the force there but why the Labour! Government had wanted to withdraw it in the first place and in such a hurrv.”