September 18, 2025
BEIJING – Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing met General Zhang Youxia, China’s top-ranking military official, in Beijing on Sept 17 to reaffirm defence ties and recommit to increasing military interactions.
During their meeting at the Bayi Building, where military diplomatic activities are held, both leaders reaffirmed the longstanding, warm and friendly defence relations between their countries, said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence in a statement.
Mr Chan and Gen Zhang also reiterated their commitment to continuing frequent military-to-military interactions, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and to strengthening people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on global and regional security developments.
This is Mr Chan’s first bilateral meeting with Gen Zhang, who is the first-ranked of two vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission, China’s top military decision-making body headed by President Xi Jinping.
Mr Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, is on a four-day introductory visit to China from Sept 15 to 18. This is his first visit to China since being appointed to his current roles in May.
In a Facebook post on his meeting with Gen Zhang, Mr Chan wrote: “Amidst an increasingly fragmented, uncertain and insecure global environment, it is important to keep communication channels open, seek opportunities for cooperation, and take practical measures to manage risks.
“Singapore will continue to consistently uphold our principles, remain a reliable and relevant partner, and work with China and others to maintain regional peace and stability,” he added.
Gen Zhang told Mr Chan that Mr Xi had noted that China-Singapore cooperation has contributed significantly to the modernisation of both countries, and set a benchmark for cooperation among regional countries. Mr Xi made the remarks when he met Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in June, during PM Wong’s official visit to China.
China is willing to work with Singapore to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, practise true multilateralism, and strengthen regional security cooperation, said Gen Zhang, according to a Chinese Ministry of Defence statement.
China is also willing to work with Singapore to support each nation’s core interests, maintain maritime security order, safeguard international fairness and justice, promote the positive growth of bilateral military ties, and inject more certainty and stability into regional security, he added.
Earlier on Sept 17, Mr Chan visited the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) National Defence University, and was called on by its president, General Xiao Tianliang. The university is China’s top military institution of higher learning.
At the university, Mr Chan delivered a presentation on the state of Singapore-China relations and the Republic’s perspectives on navigating a more fragmented, uncertain and insecure geopolitical environment, said Mindef.
He also engaged senior PLA and provincial officials in a dialogue on international and security developments.
On Sept 18, Mr Chan is scheduled to speak at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum , a three-day defence and security event that started on Sept 17, covering topics such as US-China relations and governance of new technologies.