'Good support for Asean defence meet'

SINGAPOERE - Despite the ongoing crisis in Syria, defence leaders from the United States, China and Russia joined ASEAN nations in a biennial meeting in Brunei to discuss regional security issues.

This commitment shows that the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus is now “well entrenched as a critical node” in the region’s security framework, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday.

Dr Ng was speaking to reporters at a briefing at the Ministry of Defence upon his return from the meeting this week, the second such gathering of defence ministers from ASEAN states and their counterparts from the US, China, Russia, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

The ADMM-Plus meeting took place as the US, Britain and France were mulling over taking military action against Syria for alleged use of chemical weapons against its own citizens in an ongoing civil war.

Defence ministers from all countries were represented in Brunei, apart from Russia and India who sent senior defence officials.

The US was represented by Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel, while China sent its Defence Minister Chang Wanquan.

“The commitment by defence ministers is a good reflection of the importance of ADMM-Plus,” said Dr Ng. He added that Mr Hagel’s presence “underscored the US’ desire” to have a greater presence in the region.

US President Barack Obama’s administration had announced in November 2011 that the US would “pivot” strategically to Asia, redeploying 60 per cent of its navy to the region by 2020, up from 50 per cent currently.

On Wednesday, ministers discussed ongoing territorial spats in the South and East China seas, and supported establishing measures to de-escalate tensions and prevent conflicts. All 18 countries signed a joint declaration to reaffirm commitment to enhancing regional peace and security.

Dr Ng also noted “positive developments” in the direction in which the US and China wanted their regional military ties to head. He quoted Mr Hagel’s remarks in previous media reports when the US Defence Secretary was asked if his country’s strategic re-balancing towards Asia was to contain China.

Mr Hagel had said that the US’ intent was not to make countries choose between them and China, that “that’s not how the world works”.

“Singapore welcomes his comments.

Indeed we don’t see our relations with the US and China as a zero-sum game, or win-lose. In fact, we feel that it is important for us to maintain relations with both powers, and for (them) to have a very positive, constructive relationship,” said Dr Ng.

He added that he was also encouraged by comments from General Chang, who said that China was committed to building mutual trust, wanted “deeper practical cooperation”, and recognised that all the nations’ shared interests were intertwined.

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