BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thursday 4 April 2013 – Proceeding the conclusion of the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting on Tuesday, the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials reconvened today with counterparts from dialogue countries, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and USA, as well as the ASEAN Secretariat at the ASEAN Defence Senior Officals’ Meeting-Plus (ADSOM-Plus) held at the Rizqun International Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
The Meeting began with an opening remarks by Brunei Darussalam’s Chairman, Colonel (Retired) Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham Pengiran Haji Mohammad, Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam and followed by reciprocal remarks by all ADSOM-Plus leaders.
At the start of the meeting agenda, the senior officials were briefed by the ASEAN Secretariat, His Excellency Nyan Lynn, Deputy Secretary-General of Asean on recent developments in ASEAN. This was followed by reports on the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting- Plus Working Group (ADSOM Plus WG) that was held in Brunei Darussalam on 7 February 2013 and 2 April 2013 presented by the ADSOM Plus WG Chairman, Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Acting Director Defence Policy, Ministry of Defence.
The Meeting had a very constructive, frank and positive exchange of views on regional and international security and defence issues. Amongst others, member states highlighted the various security challenges, which are traditional and non-traditional in nature.
Member States expressed concern on non-traditional security challenges the region continued to face including natural disasters, terrorism, maritime security issues such as piracy, and other transboundary issues. Thus the promotion of defence and military interactions, through strategic dialogues and practical cooperation would help strengthen each other’s capacity and capabilities in facing these challenges collectively.
The ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups (EWG) Co-Chairs also briefed the Meeting with the progress of each EWG, focusing on the five areas of practical cooperation namely, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (presented by Vietnam and China), Maritime Security (presented by Malaysia and Australia), Military Medicine (presented by Singapore and Japan), Counter-Terrorism (presented by Indonesia and USA), and Peacekeeping Operations (presented by Philippines and New Zealand). In this regard, the Meeting is pleased with the remarkable progress in the five areas of practical cooperation. This is illustrated with the three field exercises to be conducted within 2013 namely in the areas of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine, Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism. Member states also reiterated their commitment towards advancing work done in all of the EWGs.
The EWG is deemed as a very useful platform in bringing expertise, perspectives and resources from Plus countries to bear on shared security challenges.
During the meeting, the senior officials were also updated on ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise (ADMM-Plus HADR and MM Ex) by the Brunei Darussalam’s Chair for the Exercise, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Joint Force Commander, Royal Brunei Armed Forces; discussed a concept paper on the Transition of ADMM-Plus EWG Co-Chairmanship; considered proposal by Vietnam on Establishment of ADMM-Plus EWG on Humanitarian Mine Action to be recommended to the ADMM-Plus for adoption; and preparation for the Second ADMM-Plus.