Aug. 9, 2012 - Updated 21:01 UTC (06:01 JST) | NHK News
Singapore celebrated its 47th anniversary of independence from Malaysia
on Thursday with a military parade.
Singapore has sharply increased its defense expenditures amid China's buildup
of its naval forces.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sSHtywyKQe0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Singapore's defense spending is at nearly 10 billion dollars this year. That's 50
percent higher than a decade ago, and consumes about a quarter of the
nation's budget.
Singapore has strengthened defense cooperation with the United States, which
is shifting its military focus to the Asia-Pacific region. The island-state has
agreed to allow US naval vessels to be based in the country.
Singapore is not alone in boosting defense outlays. Other Southeast Asian
nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand have rapidly increased
defense spending to compete with China's military buildup.
Singapore celebrated its 47th anniversary of independence from Malaysia
on Thursday with a military parade.
Singapore has sharply increased its defense expenditures amid China's buildup
of its naval forces.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sSHtywyKQe0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Singapore's defense spending is at nearly 10 billion dollars this year. That's 50
percent higher than a decade ago, and consumes about a quarter of the
nation's budget.
Singapore has strengthened defense cooperation with the United States, which
is shifting its military focus to the Asia-Pacific region. The island-state has
agreed to allow US naval vessels to be based in the country.
Singapore is not alone in boosting defense outlays. Other Southeast Asian
nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand have rapidly increased
defense spending to compete with China's military buildup.