This month marks the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese Army which took place

approximately two months after the air attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese went on to massacre thousands of Singaporean residents and imprisoned many thousands more. The official surrender of the island took place on 15 Feb 1942 when the British colonial forces or authorities surrendered virtually unconditionally to the Jap commander. The surrender ushered in a long period (three and a half years) of living hell for Singapore, most especially for people or residents of Chinese descent. Today, Singapore's armed forces is one of the most well-armed or well-equipped force in the region and it has one of the highest per capita military spending in the world. Its air force has some of the most advanced fighters in the market and its warships are armed with the latest foreign-made missiles. Clearly, the Singaporean leadership has never forgotten those very painful lessons of seventy years ago. Also, in more recent times, the Singaporean leadership was reminded or made very well aware of the highly unpredictable nature of international politicians and /or political situations. In 1998, thousands of people filled with fright fled to Singapore bearing very harrowing tales of mass lootings, killings and rape. Even months after the initial wave of refugees had crossed over to the island, stragglers made their way over with tales of officials and uniformed personnel seizing everything and every banknote belonging to them on the reason that it was against the law to take their assets abroad. Those left behind were often murdered or harassed by mobs looking for human flesh to burn and kill. In addition, Singapore has been struggling with sovereignty issues concerning its territory. Some of them have been solved but there are still a number of outstanding ones that surely could only remind the Singaporean leadership of the importance of having a well-equipped armed forces. For example, the Pulau Batu Puteh issue has been settled but there are several 'pulaus' that are still being contested. Because of this, the memory of those days seventy years ago is still very alive in Singapore. This is why the island has been so overly enthusiastic in wanting to invite the US Pacifc Fleet to base its S E Asian 'littoral squadron' at Singapore. Seventy years ago the Jap invader rushed over or swam over to the northern beaches of the island and overran its defence. What's to prevent another repeat of that event in the future ? Nothing, except a well-equipped armed forces.