Hawaii

On Dec. 7, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen announced the first rotational deployment of a Poseidon 8 airplane to Singapore. The jet is the U.S. Navy's next-generation long-range maritime patrol, anti-submarine, anti-shipping, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset.

Some argue that this does not signify anything new and should be seen in the broader perspective of the evolution of defense ties between Singapore and the United States. The "deniers" also claim it is not "directed at China."