MANAGING SECURITY CHALLENGES THROUGH DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION

The sinking of the South Korean ship ROKS Cheonan, strained ties between the United States and China, rising maritime threats and global terrorism.

These examples of the recent security challenges faced by the Asia-Pacific region were cited by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean in his opening address at the 12th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO) on 5 Aug.

"These are complex problems that cannot be solved by a single country, or even a small group of countries," said Mr Teo. "Hence, we have a shared interest in working together to ensure that risks are managed and threats are neutralised early, and conflicts prevented."

He pointed out that threats to regional security present opportunities for greater cooperation between countries, as they engage in dialogue to manage these challenges.

Examples include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus.

"These forums provide opportunities for the exchange of views on regional security issues, helping to build greater trust and mutual confidence between states," said Mr Teo.

He also touched on the important role which the military plays in enhancing dialogue and cooperation among countries, and stressed the importance of military forces interacting in exercises and operational frameworks for security cooperation.

According to Mr Teo, doing so will help regional military forces to "build up comfort levels, develop friendly professional relationships between individual military officers, and improve mutual understanding of each others' viewpoints and constraints".

"This will reduce the risk of tensions escalating into untoward incidents or conflict," he added.

Organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, the annual APPSMO provides military officers an opportunity to exchange knowledge and foster closer working relationships through a series of lectures, informal discussions and social activities.

Held from 5 to 10 Aug, this year's APPSMO is attended by 52 delegates from 24 countries.

05 Aug 10 - Keynote Address by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence at the 12th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)