COOPERATION KEY IN MAINTAINING MARITIME SECURITY

Sitting at the centre of maritime trade routes, ASEAN provides the link that connects Asia, Europe and the Americas. Therefore, securing sea routes in the region is vital not only to ASEAN but to the international community as well.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen made this point during his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 9th International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia 2013 held at Changi Exhibition Centre on 14 May.

In his speech, Dr Ng highlighted that ASEAN, much like Singapore, has been profoundly impacted by maritime trade, and "secure sea routes remain critical to continuing stability and economic growth" in the region.

However, with the emergence of new threats, such as sporadic piracy, maritime terrorism, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, new security challenges arise as well, noted Dr Ng.

"(These) are examples of transnational challenges at sea that threaten the stability and security of our maritime commons. These challenges cannot be solved by any one nation, no matter how well resourced. Instead, countries need to take a more collaborative approach that is anchored on three key principles."

"First, platforms for dialogue and cooperation need to be open and inclusive to all states to promote sharing of information and exchange of views so that we can understand each other's concerns better," he said.

To this end, IMDEX Asia 2013, Asia-Pacific's largest maritime defence exhibition, serves as a key platform for defence professionals to exchange views and enhance cooperation in the maritime domain.

The second principle is the need to settle peacefully any disagreements between states, in accordance with international law. Dr Ng said: "Commitment to internationally accepted norms and legal frameworks provide the only viable and peaceful way to build trust and to prevent conflicts when differences of views arise. In disputes, all sides should exercise maximum restraint and avoid escalating tensions or precipitating confrontations."

And third, countries must strengthen practical cooperation in areas of shared interest to combat maritime security threats, said Dr Ng. He cited, as a good example of military-to-military cooperation, the 18-nation ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine exercise to be held in Brunei in June.

After the opening ceremony, Dr Ng visited some of the foreign warships taking part in the IMDEX Asia 2013 Warships Display, hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). There are 15 warships on display at Changi Naval Base, including the United States' Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom.

Held from 14 to 16 May, this year's IMDEX Asia involves 61 delegations from the navies, air forces and enforcement agencies of 48 countries, and a record 194 exhibitors from around the world.

On the sidelines of the biennial defence show, the RSN is hosting the Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise (MARISX) 2013 and the 4th Western Pacific Naval Symposium Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX) at the Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre in Changi Naval Base.

Chief of Defence Force Major-General Ng Chee Meng, who officiated at the opening ceremony of the exercises, noted that the exercises would strengthen interoperability and mutual understanding, as well as allow participating navies and enforcement agencies to familiarise themselves with a common set of information-sharing procedures, thus facilitating the sharing of best practices.

Held at the Multinational Operations and Exercises Centre in the Changi C2 Centre, MARISX 2013 is a scenario-driven and shore-based exercise which aims to validate linkages among participating operation centres and practise the information-sharing processes among regional navies.

A total of 72 International Liaison Officers and 38 Operation Centres from 30 countries are taking part in this exercise.

The WMSX is a series of maritime exercises in which participating nations will jointly plan a Shore Boarding Exercise, a Naval Tactical Trainer Exercise and a Sea Phase Exercise, focusing on maritime security operations.

15 May 13 UPDATE: Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng signed the Submarine Rescue Agreement with Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs on board the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) submarine rescue and support vessel, MV Swift Rescue. Under this new framework, the RSN will make its submarine rescue system and other resources available in the event of a RAN submarine incident.