China's rise cannot be contained: Ng Eng Hen

MINISTER for Defence Ng Eng Hen said on Sunday that it is "neither possible nor strategically necessary" to contain China's rise. He said this while speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California.

According to a transcript supplied by the Ministry of Defence, Dr Ng said: "China is now an integral leader of global systems of trade, finance and security... It is clear that China needs the world as much as the world needs China, and I think this interdependence will grow, not diminish."

He also spoke about the importance of the US's continued engagement of the Asia-Pacific region.

"One should see the rise of China, India and Asean... as a virtuous outcome of the US foreign and defence policies over the last 70 years... That very fact alone validates the US foreign and defence policies in Asia over the last few decades. But I think this success brings a suite of new challenges as we contemplate US foreign policy moving forward," he said.