TOKYO, JAPAN, Friday 6 March 2014 – The 19th Tokyo Defense Forum concluded today in Chinzanso Hotel, Tokyo, with attendance from representatives of the 24 member nations of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Secretariat, European Union (EU), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Brunei Darussalam was represented by Abu Sufian bin Haji Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam.
The Tokyo Defense Forum has been held annually since its inception in 1996, aimed at contributing to the confidence-building among participating nations and organizations through informal discussions and information sharing. This year, the two-day programme was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Akira Kono, Director General of International Affairs, Japan Ministry of Defense.
The Forum looked into two areas of interest, i.e. ‘Enhancing Maritime Security’ and ‘Synergy among Regional Frameworks for Multinational Cooperation’. Abu Sufian bin Haji Ali presented during the first session, whereby he highlighted the initiatives and measures undertaken by the ADMM and ADMM-Plus to reduce tensions at sea, including the 2016 ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise, the Establishing of Direct Communications Link in the ADMM Process, and the Future Leaders’ Programme.
During the second session, ‘Synergy among Regional Frameworks for Multinational Cooperation’, the forum discussed the similarities and differences of the ADMM-Plus and ARF, as well as their overlapping initiatives.
The Forum was followed by the 4th Tokyo Defense Seminar, which saw a panel of defence experts discuss on ASEAN and Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region, highlighting ASEAN’s roles for regional security issues in Asia-Pacific region, and the significance and challenges of multilateral cooperation led by ASEAN. The panel experts also discussed the role of superpowers, i.e. USA and China, and their effect on the existing multilateral frameworks in the Asia Pacific region. The Seminar was attended by the participants of the Tokyo Defense Forum, as well as members of the public.
Prior to the forum, Abu Sufian also had bilateral meetings with Japan and New Zealand, discussing on regional defence cooperation, as well as potential bilateral defence cooperation opportunities.