ADMM-PLUS GEARS UP FOR GREATER PRACTICAL COOPERATION

Defence ministers from the member countries of ASEAN and its eight "Plus" partners - Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States - came together for the 3rd ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 4 Nov.

At the meeting, the ministers noted the important role the ADMM-Plus plays in promoting stable relations among the regional powers, and the value in strengthening practical cooperation among the region's militaries in an inclusive manner.

Speaking to the media after the ADMM-Plus meeting, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said: "When you exercise together, more things happen than just sailing your ships, learning how each other operates. You get to know each other, and that relationship at the ground level can make a difference between precipitating a conflict and avoiding it."

Citing the ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine exercise in 2013, as well as the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise which Singapore will co-host with Brunei, Australia and New Zealand in 2016 as examples, Dr Ng noted that there has been increased momentum for such practical cooperation. However, he stressed that for the ADMM-Plus to become more effective, there is a need to abide by a common set of principles and norms, and to foster mutual trust.

Issues discussed included terrorism and religious extremism, natural disasters, combating trans-boundary haze, and the situation in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

On the issue of the South China Sea, Dr Ng highlighted the importance of establishing effective and practical measures to de-escalate tensions and prevent conflicts in the disputed waters of the region. He said: "Once you have a mishap, your position gets entrenched, emotions flare up... and that's why we are meeting to ensure that if we can't agree on principles and norms, then processes and protocols in place which can reduce these mishaps."

To build confidence, trust and cooperation in addressing emergencies at sea and prevent misunderstandings, Brunei will launch the Direct Communication Link among the ADMM countries next year. The ASEAN defence ministers witnessed a signing ceremony for this initiative, which will provide a permanent, rapid, reliable and confidential means of communication in crisis situations.

Dr Ng also pointed out that there was unanimity among the 18 countries, with "all (the) leaders (having) said so, including (China's) President Xi (Jinping), on his recent visit to the United States, that we should diligently implement the Declaration of Conduct and expeditiously try to conclude the Code of Conduct."

This was echoed during the ADMM Retreat, held on 3 Nov, where the ASEAN defence ministers emphasised that the ADMM could do more to enhance regional security, addressing issues such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria threat and the South China Sea disputes.

On a more positive note, Dr Ng said he was glad that issues like these were being raised, even if a consensus could not be reached, as doing so allowed "individual countries to, at very least, take note of the different views, to go back and reflect on our own positions vis- -vis what has been articulated by other countries, and then to find whether there are common grounds where we can agree".

The third ADMM-Plus concluded with the handover of Malaysia's ADMM Chairmanship to Laos, which will assume the chairmanship of the 10th ADMM next year.

While in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Ng and the other ASEAN and "Plus" ministers called on Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak.

On the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus, Dr Ng also met Indian Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar, Indonesian Minister of Defence General (Rtd) Ryamizard Ryacudu, Laos Minister of National Defense Lieutenant General Sengnouane Sayalat, Malaysian Minister of Defence Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, New Zealand Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee, and United States Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter.