Shangri-La Dialogue's success comes from not skirting issues: Ng Eng Hen

Discussions were held frankly, robustly and at a high level, says minister

- Mike Yeo

The yardstick for measuring the success of security forums like the Shangri-La Dialogue should be whether real issues have been brought up and discussed, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

And in his eyes, the dialogue, which ran from May 31 to June 2, has been a success.

The thorny issues of territories contested in the South China Sea and Taiwan’s independence were brought up and discussions were held frankly and robustly, and at a high level, he pointed out.

He cited the examples of China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun making clear his country’s stance on Taiwan in his plenary on June 2, as well as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warning of repercussions in the event of Filipino deaths in the South China Sea during his keynote speech on the opening evening.