ADMM TO STEP UP JOINT EFFORTS AGAINST TERRORISM

Against the rising threat of terrorism, the ASEAN countries agreed on the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Joint Declaration on 25 May, which affirmed the group's commitment to tackle this international security threat together; and across nations.

The declaration was signed by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and the defence ministers from ASEAN member countries who had gathered in Vientiane, Laos, for the annual ADMM. Besides discussing terrorism and violent extremism, the defence ministers also applauded the good development in practical cooperation under the ADMM and ADMM-Plus groupings.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Ng said the defence ministers recognised that terrorism "can potentially disrupt the region if we allow either the ideology of terror groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or if the networks are formed and training camps are embedded within our region". Said Dr Ng: "ASEAN could do more in terms of information sharing, intelligence, and resources, as well as conducting joint operations where we can."

Dr Ng added in a Facebook post later in the day: "If the ideology of terrorist groups like ISIS is allowed to take root among our people or worse still, if training camps proliferate in any one of the ASEAN countries, then the whole region will be thrown into turmoil for decades. Our economies, our peaceful way of life will be seriously threatened."

Besides terrorism, the countries also signalled their intent to abide by international protocols like the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), which will help in peacefully resolving matters and building mutual trust among ASEAN countries at sea. In addition, Dr Ng noted that the countries "reiterated the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security as well as upholding freedom of navigation in, and over-flight above, the South China Sea as provided for by universally recognised principles of international law".

Established in 2006, the ADMM is a critical platform in the regional security architecture which allows open and constructive dialogue, and practical cooperation among ASEAN armed forces. Among other initiatives, it is establishing a direct communications link among the countries for rapid response in times of emergencies, and strengthened areas like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

Dr Ng said: "There was some satisfaction (from the 10th ADMM) that it had become an influential meeting and platform, and that there was good progress in dealing with the security challenges, considering we are only 10 years old Not only had we consolidated as an ASEAN grouping, but also extended to our Plus partners -- the eight partners we had also gone beyond just having dialogues, we had been involved in multilateral exercises on a large scale."

As an active member of the ADMM which supports its measures to enhance the regional security architecture, Singapore co-organised the inaugural ASEAN Militaries' HADR Exercise with Indonesia in July 2011, and the second one in June 2013. Singapore also participated strongly in the ADMM-Plus HADR / Military Medicine Exercise in June 2013, and the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise in May this year.

While in Vientiane, Dr Ng and the other ASEAN defence ministers met the Chinese Minister of National Defence General Chang Wanquan. On the informal meeting, Dr Ng noted: "A stable ASEAN-China relationship is vital for stability in this region as we face security challenges that threaten our collective well-being."

On diffusing tensions in the South China Sea, Dr Ng touched on the importance of coming up with protocols and norms to deescalate tensions and lower the risks of miscalculation within the region, such as through the extension of CUES to non-military vessels, coming up with a code of conduct for submarine safety, and a protocol for unplanned air encounters between military aircraft.

The ASEAN defence ministers also jointly called on Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and commemorated the 10th anniversary of the ADMM grouping with a tree-planting ceremony and the opening of the ADMM Photo Gallery which showcases the highlights of ADMM in the past 10 years.

On the sidelines of the ADMM meeting, Dr Ng also had bilateral meetings with Malaysian Minister for Defence Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Philippine Secretary of National Defence Voltaire Gazmin.