Singapore — At the opening of this year’s 12th International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia on Tuesday, May 14, Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen warned of “dark storm clouds” over the region that could threaten its well being. He urged for common rules to be adopted for the seas and their use, in order to prevent conflict and ensure continued prosperity.
IMDEX, which is attended by high-level officials from over 40 navies from different parts of the globe, is a biennial maritime defence show held at the Changi Exhibition Centre.
At Tuesday’s ceremony, there were 26 defence and navy chiefs, vice-chiefs of navy, and directors-general of coast guards. Over 230 companies are participating in the three-day expo, which will feature 25 warships from 15 different countries.