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[FULL] Chan Chun Sing on AI, defence spending, inclusivity, and strawberry generation | ST Forum

The Straits Times

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Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing fielded questions on national service (NS) from an audience of 25 ST Forum contributors. The topics covered include defence spending, the use of AI in the military, inclusivity, careers and if there should be NS for women. READ MORE: https://str.sg/rhhP

00:00 Introduction by ST Deputy Opinion Editor Mubin Saadat
01:23 Questions on AI and technology
03:55 ‘We must cut our coat according to our cloth’: Minister Chan
04:19 SAF leverages technology to complement manpower
09:39 Must have a ‘man in the loop’ when using AI in defence
11:15 Is Singapore’s birth rate an existential problem for national defence?
13:51 Conscription: Turning a constraint into an opportunity
15:34 Questions on defence spending
17:28 How Singapore ‘spends wisely’ on defence
22:12 Overseas training enhances SAF’s capabilities
26:06 How SAF manages supply chain disruptions
28:21 Questions on Total Defence strategy
30:03 Should women be enlisted?
33:51 Total Defence: All enlistees have an operational role
43:15 Questions on social cohesion
44:58 A country united by a common future
53:00 Questions on Singapore youth
54:00 Contributions, not achievements, define success
57:57 Questions on careers
59:43 Minister Chan: You must love what you do
1:03:47 Questions on inclusivity in NS
1:05:30 Camaraderie in the military
1:07:08 What role will Singapore play if war breaks out over Taiwan?
1:08:22 Be very clear about Singapore’s interests

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20 Comments

@tinazelasky5908 3 months ago

Have confidence in his leadership. He did well during COVID logistics. He has mature into a more down to earth minister.

@publicalways 3 months ago

Very thankful we have wise political leaders like him. It is a thankless job, because no matter how well you do, there will always be a certain group of people who will criticized and jeers without thinking.. and opposed just for the sake of opposing.

I am very appreciation for the minister spending time to explain to us, and to inspire us about the kind of work (with great foresight) that they're doing. So thank you 🙏

@WeWeeWeee 2 months ago

Probably the best man to be Def minister in the current team 🎉

@SingaporeGuy77 2 months ago

I had the opportunity to bump into Minister Chan at the Holland V hawker centre and we spoke abit. A humble and thoughtful man and leader.

@minxjap7878 3 months ago

3 comments from me after watching Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing's handling of the many questions from the audience:
1) I can't help but sense his mastery & deep passion towards the defense of our nation.
2) I know many Singaporeans can sleep soundly at night knowing that we have a highly competent & well respected SAF, led by an equally competent Minister.
3) Touch wood, but if PM Lawrence Wong is unable to lead Singapore due to some black swan event, Singaporeans know that there is a competent substitute in Minister Chan...

@mimigaga2426 3 months ago

We r blessed to hv e right person for e right job. 👍

@gorillaofjohn15 3 months ago

1hr+ of pure non stop Q&A.
candid answers that flow off his cuff.
and his answers are engaging and invites the listener to think.

@yiyanlin284 3 months ago (edited)

Have to say the best question was from the lady about how can we get the girls involved in National Service (not neccesarily military). The answer was given at a higher level whereby the ideal situation is to get those who want to contribute to do so in a more effective level. The ground level is quite different. Most of us didn’t like NS but had no choice. In the process of it, we found camaraderie much like what Min Chan mentioned - cannot be replaced by avatar.

Watching my sons and daughter transit into adulthood, their perspectives in life are diverged significantly possibly at NS age. Sons are brought down to earth while daughter continued high goals of academic and professional pursuit.

When we talk about NS, the boys and I have an understanding of the realities of working in a huge entity with high level of helplessness and perseverance because we need to do it. My wife and daughter’s understanding of NS is just not accurate. No matter how we explain.

If my daughter had to do national service, I imagine it would bridge the gap she may have with her future husband earlier. Who knows? Could even increase birth rate and lower divorce rate! 😂

@nickdaxx 3 months ago

Very good explanation from minister across all questions. Straight forward and clear. Bravos ! We are lucky to have a minister like him.

@fanoflogic23 3 months ago

That's why you need ministry of foreign affairs and ministry of defence to work together. you need both soft and hard powers to work together.

@maysanchan4107 3 months ago (edited)

Impressive and inspiring replies. So proud and greatful SG has good political leadership. May we continue to move forward as one united front!

@JJ-iu6sr 3 months ago

Totally agree with CCS about voluntary vs mandatory. During NS, I really hate running/jogging as I was forced to do so. Now, I jog almost daily without anyone telling me to do so. :=)

@jerrynonis2965 3 months ago

Very well delivered session and kudos to the minister on his well accepted replies.

@sqt28k 3 months ago

l am an advocate for female NS. Not in the conventional sense of carrying guns and “chiong sua”. On the surface there are roles such as paramedics, nurses, caregivers, administrative roles to name a few. Most of these skills translates to real world advantages.

But when I think of Total Defence I feel that we are only mobilising half of our talents. If we're serious about a "total" defence posture, females deserve to play ownership roles - cybersecurity, civil defence emergency response, critical infrastructure protection, psychological and community resilience ops. The talent is here. The framework isn't.

When only one half of society bears national duty, it creates an uneven psychological contract.
Protection becomes something that happens to you, not something you're part of. Structured and demanding service built what NS builds in men: accountability, grit, and a felt stake in the country's survival. That's not manufactured patriotism. That's our earned identity.

The question isn't whether women can serve. It's if the Government has given serious thought to female NS and what would the framework look like if we designed it around contribution, not convenience or for the sake of equality?