Aussie navy chief gets S'pore medal

Aussie navy chief gets S'pore medal

SINGAPORE (DPA): Singapore has awarded its Meritorious Service (Military) Medal to the chief of Australia's navy, Vice Admiral Rod Taylor, officials in the island republic said yesterday.

Taylor "has been instrumental in improving the scope and depth of interactions between the two navies" of Singapore and Australia, Singapore's Defense Ministry said in a news release.

Appointed Chief of the Navy in Australia in February this year, Taylor is the first Australian service chief to receive the medal, one of the most prestigious awarded by Singapore.

Singapore and Australia enjoy a close military relationship as members of the Five Power Defense Arrangement security grouping, which also includes Britain, Malaysia and New Zealand.