EXERCISES IMPORTANT IN DEEPENING TRUST, ENHANCING COOPERATION: DR NG

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen highlighted the importance of deepening trust and enhancing practical cooperation between the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and its external partners, through exercises.

Dr Ng said this when he attended the 10th ADMM Retreat in Vientiane, Laos on 16 Nov with his counterparts, and they discussed regional security issues and the good progress of the ADMM, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

At the ADMM, Dr Ng expressed satisfaction at how much the ADMM had achieved in the past 10 years. He cited some initiatives that had been effective and impactful in enhancing regional peace and stability. These included the establishment of the ADMM-Plus and the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Groups, conduct of ADMM-Plus field training exercises that involved all 18 ADMM-Plus nations, implementation of the Direct Communications Link initiated by Brunei, and launch of the ASEAN Centre of Military Medicine in Thailand.

He noted that the ADMM had proven to be a necessary platform to enhance peace and stability for the region. Moving forward, he said, efforts should be re-doubled for the ADMM.

He added: "Singapore, as the incoming co-chair of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security with the Republic of Korea, looks forward to your (ADMM partners') support for our proposals on maritime protocols as well as explore the conduct of a second ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise." He added: "As ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations Coordinator, Singapore fully supports the conduct of the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise."

The ADMM Retreat concluded with the handover of Laos' ADMM Chairmanship to the Philippines, which would assume the chairmanship of the 11th ADMM next year. The ASEAN ministers also jointly called on the President of Lao Bounnhang Vorachith.

In addition, the ASEAN Defence Ministers held an informal meeting with Japanese Minister of Defence Tomomi Inada, where they reaffirmed the strong relations between ASEAN and Japan. Dr Ng welcomed Japan's continued engagement with the region, and noted Singapore's bilateral and defence relations with Japan.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan. On the defence front, both countries have high-level defence interactions and military-to-military exchanges. One such example is Japan's deployment of International Liaison Officers to the Information Fusion Centre at Changi Naval Base, where they work alongside officers from ASEAN and other countries to facilitate maritime information-sharing.

Singapore co-chaired the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Military Medicine with Japan from 2011 to 2014, and worked with Vietnam and China to co-organise the 2013 ADMM-Plus Military Medicine and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise in Brunei.