Defence Not Just About Capabilities, Intention Also Matters: Chan Chun Sing

Countries must clearly communicate their intentions when developing defense capabilities to avoid fostering suspicion among other nations, according to Singapore's Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing. Speaking on CNA’s Deep Dive podcast, Chan explained that a lack of capabilities can lead to being ignored, but possessing capabilities without transparent intentions can breed significant mistrust.

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If you have no capabilities, nobody's going to talk to you, and nobody's going to talk to you nicely. But if you have capabilities and you don't talk to people, it causes a lot of suspicions.

"If you have capabilities and you don't talk to people, it causes a lot of suspicions," Chan stated. He elaborated that when nations become suspicious of each other, actions taken to enhance one's own security can inadvertently decrease the security of others, potentially triggering a cycle of reactive measures.

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Then people might be wondering what you're up to, and if people are suspicious of each other, what you do to make yourself feel more secure will make the other guy feel less secure, and you start taking actions.

Chan underscored the critical role of defense diplomacy, exemplified by events like the Shangri-La Dialogue, in navigating these complex international dynamics. He stressed that understanding the underlying intentions of other nations is paramount, even more so than their military or technological capabilities. "What's the most important thing is to understand people deeply behind the scenes to ascertain the intentions, not just the capabilities… Because you can have capabilities, but it is your intention that matters," he said.

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What's the most important thing is to understand people deeply behind the scenes to ascertain the intentions, not just the capabilities … Because you can have capabilities, but it is your intention that matters.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted the value of international partnerships for comparing perspectives and identifying potential blind spots. He warned against the "echo chamber effect," where self-confinement in discussions can lead to a distorted view of reality. Engaging with friends and neighbors, he suggested, offers different viewpoints that are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of global affairs. Singapore actively engages in such exchanges by hosting and sending personnel overseas to cultivate deep understanding and detect subtle shifts in the geopolitical landscape, ensuring timely reactions to evolving situations.

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If we just talk among ourselves, then we might convince ourselves. This is what they call the echo chamber effect.