 |
| Click to enlarge (Hosted by Flickr) |
<< ASEAN navy chiefs and representatives launching the AIP at the opening ceremony of the inaugural information-sharing exercise co-hosted by the RSN and the TNI-AL.
Report by Tan Guan Wei
Photo by Chai Sian Liang
ASEAN navies came together to work on responding more swiftly and effectively to maritime security threats such as piracy, sea robbery and maritime terrorism through the inaugural ASEAN Maritime Security Information-Sharing Exercise (AMSISX) held from 8 Jul to 10 Jul.
Co-hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), the exercise was officially opened by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Ng Chee Peng and Chief of Naval Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral (ADM) Soeparno at the Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre on 9 Jul. The ceremony, which was attended by navy chiefs from Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, also saw the ASEAN Information-Sharing Portal (AIP), a Web-based platform which allows ASEAN navies to share maritime security-related information in the region.
In his opening speech, RADM Ng emphasised the importance of ensuring that the region's sea lines of communication remain open and undisrupted, as they are "crucial lifelines for South-east Asia, whose economic survival and success depend on uninterrupted flow of seaborne trade".
He also highlighted that the AMSISX is a significant milestone as it marks a "clear sign of practical cooperation among the ASEAN navies". He noted that the exercise will also help to strengthen the professional ties and promote a common understanding among the navies.
Read the full story at CyberPioneer