Social Studies Notes (Sec 3 textbook)
Ch 6: Managing Peace and Security:
Deterrence and Diplomacy
Why do conflicts occur among countries?
*to protect national interest
*fight over territory, compete over scarce resources, do not share the same ideological beliefs
Competing Territory
Due to its importance in terms of defence and national pride
To extend control by taking over territories which do not belong to the country that attacks
Conflict over Border
China was unhappy that India had inherited the border areas, Aksai Chin Plateau and the North-East-Frontier Agency when India gained independence from the British
Problem: Difficult to have a clear border between India and China because much of their frontier lies in the inaccessible Himalayas
1958: China announced that it had built a road on the Aksai Chin plateau
Indian government was angry as it felt that the road built had violated its territorial rights
1959: fighting broke out in the Aksai Chin Plateau and the North-East-Frontier Agency
Result: China occupied territories
Indian government demanded return of territories
1962: War broke out between India and China
Outcome: Territorial conflict not resolved but India and China signed an agreement in
2005 to deal with the matter in a reasonable manner
Conflict over scarce resources
when resources are necessary for survival and economic growth, those with less resources may use force to gain more
1970: Britain and Iceland: conflict over fishing grounds
Iceland depended on fishing industry for its survival
Iceland felt that its national interest was threatened
Conflict over ideological differences
Conflict arises because of: difference in values and beliefs
North Korea (Communism) fought South Korea (Democracy) due to different
ideological beliefs
Other parties involved were: USA, Soviet Union, China and UN
How do countries manage conflicts?
*Criticise each other openly
*Reduce trade with the conflicting country as a form of protest
*Resolve conflicts through peaceful negotiations
*Seek help from regional (ASEAN) and international (UN) organizations to resolve conflict
*Start a war
*Display the strength of their military force through military exercises as a warning to
other countries
* Cut diplomatic ties with each other
*Protest to the other country through their representatives
How does Singapore manage conflict and ensure national security?
Deterrence: measures taken by countries to prevent and protect themselves from
Threats
Measures to deter aggressors:
*Carrying out military exercises
*Sharing information among countries
*Installing CCTV cameras at train stations
*Maintaining military installations
Why is deterrence necessary?
*to provide security for the people
* to give investors the confidence that it is worth to invest in the country
*when British withdrew its military force from Singapore in 1966, the Singapore
government decided to build its own army
How is deterrence practiced?
A Citizen Armed Forces
*the government built a citizen armed force in order to ensure that there would be a peaceful environment to develop the economy
*1967: NS introduced
*NS: bonded men, developing in them a sense of loyalty, patriotism and a shared
destiny for Singapore
3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces
*SAF: keeps up with advances in info-communication technology
*3rd Generation Armed Forces: ^maximizes defensive capabilities through modern
technology
^equip soldiers to fight decisively in war and respond
flexibly in peacetime
Aim: to create an intelligent defence force – to help
destroy the enemy quickly
Singapore’s Defence Industry
*SAF: self-reliant in essential defence weapons and equipment
*Defence Science and Technology Agency:
a. provide cost-effective and modern technology to SAF and Ministry of Defence
b. buys and upgrades weapons
c. develops new weapon systems for the SAF’s use
d. conducts defence-related R&D
*defence industry improves the capability and effectiveness of the SAF
RESULT: Singapore has overcome its constraints through its own innovations
Total Defence
*Total Defence preparedness deters potential aggressors as they will have to face
the entire nation and not just the armed forces
Civil Defence: civil emergencies, role of SCDF
Economic Defence: role of Singapore Workforce Development Agency
Social Defence: Community Development Council, Inter-Racial Confidence Circel
Psychological Defence: having the will and mental strength to overcome challenges
Multi-agency coordination on security
*National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCC): meets regularly to plan national
security strategies and policies
*NSCC: works together with commercial and private parties to effectively combat any
form of major terror threats
Result: prevents, protects and effectively responds to any security
Military co-operation with other countries
*Singapore actively fosters friendly ties with the armed forces of other countries
Bilateral military agreements and exercises
*allowing Signapore to train in the countries the agreement was signed with
*Singapore conducts regular military training with neighbouring countries
Multi-lateral military agreements and exercises
*Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA):
^conducts exercises each year ot enhance their cooperation and coordination
^members could consult one another on the appropriate measures to be taken to
deter aggressor
What is diplomacy?
*the way countries manage or conduct relations with one another
Aim: a. promote common interests
b. resolve conflicting interests in a peaceful manner
c. help each other in times of need
Why is diplomacy necessary?
*sense of inter-connectedness among countries
*provides countries opportunity to pursue mutual interest
*helps countries resolve conflicts, differences, disagreements peacefully
How is diplomacy practiced?
*through, bilateral, regional and international relations
Bilateral Relations
*one country establishes relationship with another country
*promote political, economic, cultural ties with Maysia and Indonesia
*Singapore provides medical aid
*Trading relationship with: Japan, USA, Germany
RESULT: allowed Singapore to acquire advanced technological skills from these
developed countries
ASEAN
Aims:
Promote economic, social and cultural development of the region
Protect peace and stability of the region
Provide opportunities for member countries to discuss and resolve the differences peacefully
ASEAN’s INITIATIVE
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
It aims to remove import taxes among Southeast Asian countries.
AFTA’s long-term aim is to
integrate Asian economies into a single production base
create a regional market of 500 million people
remove all import taxes among member countries by 2015
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
Through ARF, ASEAN aims to provide an avenue for countries in the region to discuss security issues and resolve conflicts peacefully
Singapore and ASEAN
ASEAN provides Singapore with an avenue to discuss their differences with neighbouring countries peacefully
Through ASEAN, Singapore provides:
Education and Professional Exchange
Economic Cooperation and Assistance
Environmental Collaboration
UNITED NATIONS
It is an international organisation to preserve world peace and prevent another major war.
Singapore and the UN
Membership allowed
Singapore to be recognized as a sovereign state
Singapore to gain the help of experts in its industrial planning and development from the period of its independence to the late 1970s
UN Peacekeeping Operations
UN peacekeepers are soldiers and military officers, civilian police officers and civilian personnel, deployed from many countries
