Australia’s nuclear subs will be welcome in Singapore: PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (centre) attending a bilateral meeting with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (not pictured) at the bilateral meeting during the 50th Asean-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. - AFP

MELBOURNE: Australia’s future fleet of nuclear submarines will be welcome to dock in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, as differences over how to handle China’s burgeoning military footprint dominated the early stages of a special Asean summit in Melbourne.

Lee, at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday (March 5), said South-East Asian nations have different positions on Beijing’s assertive stance in the South China Sea due to individual security perspectives. He added that a code of conduct on the potential flashpoint - the negotiations for which have dragged on for two decades - is still in the works.