Chapter 12: Lethal Friction (3)

  Three

  "Someone's been hit! Medic!"

  In the heart of Sumatra, under the scorching midday sun near the equator, Sergeant Leong Siew Thuen from the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade's Bukit Panjang Camp shouted with all his might to his comrades hiding behind a wall on the other side. However, his voice was soon drowned out by the chaotic gunfire on the battlefield.

  "Damn it!" Pressing tightly on the wound on the chest of his fallen comrade, Sayid, Liang Sicheng almost felt the life slipping away from his hands. Outside the window, the 82mm mortar used by the joint armed forces of Sulawesi Island tribes began to bombard this poor squad again.

  While far away 40 kilometers of Amoy

  The 20th Battalion, Singapore Artillery (20 SA) seemed indifferent to the situation here. "This is not our war at all, why send us here." Liang Siting clenched his SAR-21 assault rifle made in Singapore tightly in his hand.

  The RIS-type assault rifle cursed angrily and helplessly.

  The smooth landing of the ASEAN 5-country coalition in Hong Kong did not bring any good luck to this large-scale military operation, and the situation in the region seems to have been developing in a direction unfavorable to the ASEAN 5 countries. Although the ASEAN 5-country coalition quickly controlled most areas of Hong Kong and its neighboring Sumatra province, basically consolidating the landing site.

  However, as the Allies advanced inland, the terrible weather and road conditions of the tropical rainforest soon bogged down the main force of the Allied troops from New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

  Since October, countries have sent ground combat troops to Sumatra for the third time in an attempt to quickly stabilize the situation in the region. The Singapore government, which is particularly concerned about the situation in the Malacca Strait, has even issued a national mobilization order for Sumatra. Singapore's population is approximately 2.9 million, with 55,500 active military personnel (of which 38,400 are regular conscripts). This military scale is more than enough to complete the task of defending the homeland, but if it needs to take control of such a vast area as Sumatra, it would be like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water. The Singapore government had no choice but to urgently recruit 50,000 trained reserve soldiers.

  "At present, our country has already deployed 4 infantry regiments, 2 armored regiments, 2 artillery regiments and 1 combat engineering regiment in the eastern part of Sumatra, accounting for 1/5 of our country's active military strength."

  2 strong. But so far, our army in the main combat direction: Northern Front, still can not fully control the situation in the occupied province of Bac Giang." In a suit and tie, a middle-aged man sat intently listening to the introduction by several generals at the Singapore Army Headquarters in Sembawang, Singapore.

  "Our main opponents are not the remnants of the old Indonesian army and some tribal armed forces? I don't understand why our well-trained troops can't solve the problem for a long time." As the bright and handsome male lead on Singapore's political stage - "The Crown Prince"

  Li Chenglong was filled with discontent towards these soldiers he faced.

  Singapore's defence budget has been around five to six per cent of GDP over the past few years, and about 34 per cent of government expenditure. Yet an armed forces built with such a large sum of money performed so poorly in military operations that maintained Singapore's international interests.

  "In fact, the military mission our troops are undertaking in Sumatra is contrary to the long-standing principles of our country's military development! Our country has always strengthened its own military equipment, mainly based on enhancing its deterrent force, making itself a 'small shrimp with poisonous spines all over', rather than getting involved in such regional conflicts. It must be known that this kind of guerrilla warfare, similar to what the US encountered in Iraq, is not something our troops can withstand." Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said helplessly. Currently, hundreds of Singaporean soldiers have been injured or killed in Sumatra, and this number continues to rise. If he had a choice, Ng would rather hand over Sumatra to China like Java Island.

  "A new era has arrived, we can't just sit and wait anymore. The island of Java has given the Chinese the best springboard. If there isn't a force that can counterbalance this roaring giant, then it won't be long before the entire Malacca Strait is intimidated by China's mighty power. At that time, whether it's Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore, none will be able to maintain their current status and independence. The wealth and international standing we've accumulated over decades will vanish into thin air. Everyone, we can't remain silent anymore. Please join me in saving the strait, Malacca is ours, we don't need any big country's intervention."

  For Lee Hsien Loong, the era of his father has come to an end. Lee Kuan Yew had once proposed the famous "poisonous shrimp" theory, that Singapore should become a "small shrimp that can produce deadly poison", able to coexist with the "school of fish" and not be swallowed by the "big fish". This is actually emphasizing that Singapore's armed forces must maintain effective deterrence capabilities, so that big countries dare not take liberties with Singapore. However, as the ruler of a small country with a sparse population, Lee Hsien Loong also wants to expand his influence in Malacca.

  The collapse of Indonesia and the arrival of Chinese power gave him his best opportunity. Indonesia was originally just a geographical concept born out of "Dutch East Indies" colonialism. In the foreseeable future, the Chinese would not have the heart or strength to take control of Sumatra; they would focus on cultivating a pro-Chinese ethnic Chinese government in Java.

  Singapore can then take the opportunity to plan a new territory belonging to Singapore on the west coast of the Strait of Malacca. At that time, Singapore will become a medium-sized power across the Strait of Malacca, and Li Chenglong will also surpass his father's glory through this.

  Autumn in the strait, the temperature is still humid and sweltering. A scorching 155mm shell fired by FH88 howitzers equipped with the 20th Battalion Singapore Artillery

  The recoilless rifle shell burst out of the barrel and landed in the rainforest on Sumatra Island. In the twilight sky, two UH-60 "Black Hawk" utility helicopters of the Singapore Air Force were flying south at high speed. In the cockpit, Liang Si-tong's face was covered with blood, his eyes lifeless as he stared blankly at the trembling rainforest in front of him amidst the cannon fire.