MULTILATERAL CO-OPERATION KEY TO COUNTER MARITIME THREATS

Multilateral co-operation and inter-agency participation remain key factors to deal with maritime security threats. And in the past year, regional armed forces and their extra-regional counterparts have collectively come together to achieve this.

Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, made this observation at the opening of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Confidence Building Measure meeting on 2 Mar.

Mr Teo cited examples like the inaugural maritime security exercise serial conducted last September by the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) countries, and the professional exchanges in maritime security issues during the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS).

"These are all very positive developments that build confidence, enhance capabilities, and also create a framework of inter-operability that can be useful for future contingencies," he said.

The FPDA, which brings together Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, has expanded its focus to deal with non-conventional threats, with particular emphasis on the maritime domain, since June last year.

Meanwhile, the 22 navies of the WPNS will be conducting a maritime security exercise in May.

Mr Teo also encouraged ARF member countries to "move beyond dialogue on maritime security and work towards conducting an ARF maritime security exercise in the near future".

"The ARF's outward-looking and inclusive nature makes it particularly relevant for addressing the pressing security challenges of our day, for these are not only trans-national in nature, but often global in their impact," he said.

With clear agreement that international co-operation is required to deal with maritime threats, Mr Teo said a regional consensus has been developing around three principles:

1. Littoral states have the primary responsibility for the safety and security of key waterways like the Malacca Straits.

2. Stakeholders, including interested countries, international organisations like the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the shipping community, and multinational corporations, all play a role.

3. In this new area of co-operation, action should proceed on the basis of consultation and in accordance with international law.

"The fact that these principles have emerged with such clarity bespeaks the positive momentum in the dynamic of regional co-operation. We should do our best to tap on this energy and channel it to concrete co-operative initiatives," he told the delegates.

About 170 maritime security experts from the military, enforcement, port and shipping, and policy agencies of ARF member countries are in Singapore for the meeting, which will conclude on 4 Mar.

Speakers at the meeting will include the Secretary-General of IMO, and naval commanders from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the United States.