Yip Hon Weng, Chairperson of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said his committee will focus on helping Singapore navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
In an interview with Petir, Mr Yip, Member of Parliament for Yio Chu Kang SMC, highlighted the need to strengthen diplomatic relationships amid global challenges. These include US- China tensions, increased tariffs under the Trump administration, South China Sea disputes, conflicts in the Middle East, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“We must actively safeguard our interests. We need to strengthen relationships with our existing friends on the global stage and leverage regional architectures like ASEAN to build new connections,” he explained. “How do we strengthen our partnerships with like-minded countries to preserve stability, open trade routes, and uphold regional security?”
Mr Yip believes this strategic approach will enable Singapore to continue to thrive and maintain its exceptional position despite growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The GPC’s second priority, according to Mr Yip, is strengthening Singapore’s security and total defence to maintain safety and resilience amid evolving threats. These range from traditional military challenges to cyberattacks and foreign interference.
“We need to ensure the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and our national servicemen are well-equipped for future challenges,” said Mr Yip. “With technology advancing rapidly, especially in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and electronic warfare, how can we ensure the SAF effectively leverages these capabilities?”
Mr Yip also stressed the need to support national servicemen in their training. This means more flexibility in training, and more support from employers for employees’ reservist commitments.
Mr Yip noted building economic and supply chain resilience as the GPC’s third priority. He acknowledged that this thrust may potentially overlap with other GPCs.
“National security today goes beyond defence. It includes economic and technological resilience,” he said. “We need to strengthen our role in key regional trade frameworks like CPTPP and remain competitive, protecting critical infrastructure and supply chain from disruption.”
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a multilateral trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
Yip Hon Weng: Singapore must be a voice on the global stage
While Mr Yip may be new to the GPC, he is familiar with defence policy matters. He worked in the policy division at the Ministry of Defence from 2007 to 2011, focused on defence relations.
“Of course, the world is fundamentally very different from those days, but our core policy positions have not changed,” he reflected.
Mr Yip said that he would advocate for issues in line with the GPC’s agenda. They include enhancing Singapore’s cyber security and digital defence capacities, modernising the SAF with cutting-edge capabilities, and providing support to national servicemen.
On the challenges relating to foreign affairs, Mr Yip said that as a small country, Singapore must punch above its weight diplomatically and be a voice on the global stage.
“[It is important that] we engage deeper in regional security dialogues, multilateral frameworks and humanitarian disaster relief efforts. This will ensure that we remain a trusted, constructive player amidst global uncertainty.”
Looking ahead, Mr Yip urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant as defence has taken on a broader meaning beyond traditional warfare.
“The SAF no longer deals with hot war situations but rather asymmetric warfare, looking at the various conflicts around us. Where it is the use of new technology, dealing with cyber threats. So, we need to continue to [invest] efforts and more resources in these areas.”
It is also important to get support from Singaporeans, families, and employers to uphold the nation’s defence commitment, he added.
“Another area on foreign relations is how we [must] continue to make more friends and strengthen our relationships with our friends around the world. So that in an increasingly complex environment, we have friends we can work with, and we can provide value. In doing so, we ensure that we continue to remain exceptional, thrive, and have a place.”
| Yip Hon Weng will continue to advocate for issues relating to seniors As Deputy Chairperson of Health GPC, Mr Yip said that he will continue to speak up on the vaping problem, an issue he has been concerned about since the previous term of Parliament. “I’m glad that the government has taken a comprehensive look into the vaping problem, including stepping up enforcement,” he said. “As highlighted in my earlier parliamentary questions, the vape is a delivery device. Many kinds of poison like etomidate or even ketamine can be put into it. People can be taking poison, and it affects the society.” He would also continue to address issues concerning the elderly population, given Singapore’s shifting demographics towards an increasingly aged Asian society. “We need to evolve our policies, programmes, and support systems to ensure Singapore remains a conducive environment for our seniors to age in place. Hopefully, we can encourage others to look at how we transform Singapore into the best place to age in. |
