ASEAN, US aim to enhance substantial defense cooperation

PANO – The ASEAN-US Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting was held on September 30 (local time) in Hawaii, with the attendance of ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, defense ministers of ASEAN countries and US Defense Secretary Aston Carter.

The meeting discussed security issues and measures to substantially and effectively develop defense cooperation between ASEAN and the US.

US Defense Secretary Aston Carter reconfirmed that the US “rebalancing” strategy will continue to be implemented in the new presidential term, and that US commitments towards the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be executed.

Senior officials in a joint photo

The US secretary highly appreciated ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining security in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing that the US advocates the central role of ASEAN and ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms in the region.

ASEAN defense ministers and US defense secretary reiterated the commitments made by ASEAN and the US at the Special ASEAN-US Leaders’ Summit held in Sunnylands, the USA in February 2016 and the ASEAN-US Summit in Laos last September.

They discussed an inclusive regional security network on the basis of international law so that countries can contribute to peace and prosperity. The ministers also exchanged notes on maritime security, counter-terrorism, and responses to non-traditional challenges.

US Defense Secretary Aston Carter believed that it is significant for ASEAN to coordinate together in carrying out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) as natural disasters cause huge losses to people in the region. He also suggested that ASEAN consider about the establishment of an HADR airlift like in Europe.

As for maritime security, the US proposed to increase cooperation between maritime law enforcement forces of the US and ASEAN countries. The US wish is to keep the vital sea routes that run through Southeast Asia free and safe.

In terms of counter-terrorism, the ministers agreed that regional countries should promote information sharing as terrorist activities have evidently risen in the region.

Sharing ministers' view at the meeting, General Ngo Xuan Lich, Vietnamese Defense Minister, stressed that peace, stability and prosperity in the region are suitable with the interests of ASEAN and the US. He said that responsible engagement of the US as well as other partners in the maintenance of peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region will help realize the goal of the ASEAN Community 2025 and beyond.

“ASEAN always strives for solidarity and the promotion of its central role in the cooperation with partners. We hope that cooperation with the US will contribute to strengthening solidarity and unity while improving the central role of ASEAN,” he said.

According to the Vietnamese minister, relations between ASEAN and the US and other partners play an important role in the maintenance of peace, security and development. Therefore, promoting ASEAN-US dialogues, especially informal meetings for consultancy and more understanding of each side’s policies and priorities, is important. Cooperation and dialogue mechanisms, such as EAS, ADMM+, Shangri-La dialogue, should be strengthened, he suggested.

He also stressed that ASEAN and the US should focus on building common capabilities in dealing with non-traditional security threats as the reality has shown that there should be more timely information sharing, training assistance, enhancement of cooperation capacity among ASEAN and its partners. General Lich proposed that the US increase sharing experience and support capacity building for ASEAN countries, especially in the search and rescue field in the region.

Speaking highly of the establishment of ASEAN maritime security information sharing, military medicine, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief coordinating centers, the general confirmed that Vietnam will continue to send its military officers to these centers.

The general also informed that during the visit to Vietnam of President Obama, Vietnam and the US signed the letter of intent on the Cooperative Humanitarian and Medical Storage Initiative (CHAMSI), which is really a civil humanitarian agreement.

The ASEAN-US Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting marked an important milestone in the development of ASEAN-US relations. Vietnam has also demonstrated its high responsibility and position when sending a high-ranking military delegation led by its defense minister to the meeting.

* On the sideline of the ASEAN-US Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting, General Ngo Xuan Lich held bilateral talks with defense ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, agreeing to boost substantial defense cooperation for the interests of each side and peace and stability in the region. The Vietnamese defense minister and his counterparts at bilateral meetings also agreed that more contact should be made among defense ministers of ASEAN countries for more effective cooperation and strengthened solidarity.

Reported by Bao Trung (from Hawaii, the US)