India, Singapore join hands for enhanced maritime security

 New Delhi, Nov 29: Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Wednesday said he will “encourage” Indian val ships to visit Changi val Base in Singapore, close to the South Chi Sea, more often, as the two countries vowed to strengthen defence ties and signed an agreement on val cooperation. The Changi val base is located along the Singapore Strait, which through the Karimata Strait leads to the South Chi Sea, an area witnessing escalating tension with Chi claiming almost 80 per cent of the waters as its territory. Speaking at a joint press conference after holding the second Singapore-India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue here, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Singapore counterpart stressed on ensuring freedom of vigation, and maintaining intertiol rule of law. In response to a question on whether Singapore would allow operatiol turround to Indian val ships at their val base, Ng said: “I would respond categorically — I would not just be comfortable, I would encourage the Indian vy to visit Changi val Base more often.” (IANS)