Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has announced plans to deploy combat ships to Singapore for joint exercises, which he says shows US commitment to the strategically vital Asia-Pacific region.
The announcement came a day after Panetta met Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen at the Pentagon, and while the first of 2500 US Marines sent to Australia were starting work - to the irritation of regional superpower China.
"The Defence Department's move to deploy US combat ships to Singapore and raise the level of joint exercises will deepen the bilateral military relationship," said a joint statement from the defence chiefs. Full story
Related:
American combat ships for Singapore exercises - Dawn.com
Ng: No plan to host US troops - Malaysia Star
