Abstract

Southeast Asian Affairs 2005 SINGAPORE IN 2004 Vigilance amid Growing Uncertainty Teo Kah Beng Singapore has thrivedfor 32 years since independence. Its traumatic birth spurred a hardworking and resilientpopulation, led by honest and competent political leaders ... Our challenge now is to sustain this performance beyond thefounding generation ... Our competition is becomingfiercer. So far, ourpolicies have succeeded beyond expectations. But they need creative rethinking... In a rapidly changing world, we either adapt or become irrelevant.1 Lee Hsien Loong, "Singapore of the Future", 1998. Introduction Vigilance has been the hallmark of the pragmatic, realist-oriented Singapore government since an unanticipated independence 40 years ago. It is likely to remain so. Singapore simply has no other option. Although Singapore has prospered to become one of the richest states in the world, and its defence capability has improved considerably, the basic mindset of Singapore's leaders has not changed. International politics is seen as being dictated by the law of the jungle. As a small state, Singapore is faced with unique constraints. Singapore has to be able to signal potential aggressors that it has the capability and the will to deter them and defend itself.2 The first generation of Singapore leaders, led