Asean Defense Ministers meet for regional peace and security

Asean Defense Ministers meeting in Hanoi have taken another step towards enhancing regional peace and security. In a joint declaration, they agreed on the establishment of the Asean Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

Speaking at a news conference, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Teo Chee Hean said the ADMM-Plus will be a key feature of the regional security architecture.

He said: "Over time, the ADMM-Plus could also provide a platform for practical co-operation between Asean and its partners on key security issues, especially on non-traditional and transnational challenges." In a statement, Singapore's Ministry of Defense (Mindef) said the fourth ADMM also agreed on the ADMM+8 format.

It welcomed eight countries - Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States - to join the inaugural ADMM-Plus meeting which will be held this October in Vietnam. The Asean Defense Ministers' agreement to establish the ADMM-Plus this year is in line with the objective of Asean leaders' for an early implementation.

Mindef said the Asean defense ministers also exchanged views on regional security issues. The ministers also commended the Asean military on the progress made in forging co-operation in areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

They noted that the inaugural Asean exercise on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, to be co-hosted by the Singapore Armed Forces and the Indonesian National Defense Forces next year, would build confidence among the Asean military and enhance the region's capacity to deal with natural disasters.