A shooting instructor observes recruit Garrett Glasson, 21, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in August 2020. (Nelvin C. Cepeda, The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)
(Tribune News Service) — Singapore Armed Forces will spend nearly two weeks conducting exercises with Marines at Camp Pendleton to sharpen their ability to work together in the Indo-Pacific, where there is growing tension over China’s threat to invade Taiwan.
The training, which will include simulated warfare, will be part of Valiant Mark, an annual exercise held between the two countries. Drills begin Saturday.
The U.S. and Singapore are not formal military allies. Earlier this year, the Singapore Navy conducted exercises with Chinese warships in the South China Sea.
But the U.S. has a long partnership with Singapore, which is home to an American logistics facility that the Navy uses for resupplies and ship repairs. The center regularly serves warships from San Diego.
Singapore is a strategically important country for the U.S. due to its proximity to China. The Biden administration has said that it will defend Taiwan if it is invaded by China. The U.S. also has said that it will not allow China to control international trade routes in the South China Sea.
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