People also quietly confident that Republic won't change its rules overnight, he says

The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) track record in keeping Singapore safe has enabled the Republic to keep bringing in business and investments, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing.

- Samuel Devaraj

This is because people know that when Singapore says their investments here will be protected, it is not just empty talk, Mr Chan said at an SAF Day rededication ceremony at Capital Tower on July 1.

Rather than a slogan, it is a promise "of continued hard work to say that we are able to manage the emerging geostrategic challenges, the security challenges".

"But more importantly, it is a commitment by Mindef and SAF to say that we will keep our eyes on the ball and make sure that we are not just dealing with today's challenges or yesterday's challenges, but we are constantly asking ourselves how to anticipate the new challenges... and how do we rise to the occasion," he said.

At a fireside chat alongside Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief executive officer Kok Ping Soon and Mr Ervin Yeo, CapitaLand Investment's group chief strategy officer and CEO of commercial management, Mr Chan said people have a quiet confidence in the city-state, not just in its security, but also that it will not change its rules overnight.

This is a credit to the generations of SAF servicemen and women who have constantly looked over the horizon to anticipate future threats, and to take the necessary steps even before the threats emerge, he added.

While the world is fragmenting and there are different forces pulling it in different directions, he said there are also opportunities for Singapore to work with new partners that continue to believe in the need for a global rules-based order.