By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The US plays a "dominant role" in keeping the peace in the Pacific, and that's a good thing, said Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen -- but the US still needs to cooperate with China, not confront or contain it. That's the word to the wise from one of America's closest military partners in the Pacific.
"The US, as a 'resident power,' should continue to play its dominant role in maintaining peace... within the regional security architecture," Dr. Ng said carefully, using a diplomatic term of art -- "resident power" -- that emphasizes America's long-standing presence in East Asia. A Scottish-trained surgeon turned politicianwho took over the Defense Ministry last year, Ng spoke to a packed hotel ballroom this morning before heading to the Pentagon to meet with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta this afternoon. The two countries have grown even closer in recent years: US ships (pictured above) and planes frequently visit the island city-state; Ng recently reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to its tiny but symbolic deployment to Afghanistan; and Singapore will serve as home base for some of the U.S. Navy's new Littoral Combat Ships. Nevertheless, Singaporean officials still emphasize they are simply America's "partner," not a formal ally, and that they have no desire to take sides in any kind of Sino-American Cold War.
Read the full story at AOL Defense