“Strategic confidence” and “sincere cooperation” are foundation for peace, stability, and development

Vietnamese Minister of National Defense, General Ngo Xuan Lich, member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, led a Vietnamese high-ranking military delegation to attend the meeting and delivered an important speech.

After the opening remarks delivered by Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana, the delegates were briefed on the results of the meetings of the ADMM and ADMM Plus experts working groups.

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh’s report on the ASEAN’s recent developments showed that mechanisms that the ASEAN holds key role, such as the ASEAN+1, the ASEAN+3, the ARF, the ADMM, and the ADMM Plus, continue to be useful and are important factors to maintain a peaceful environment in the region. Especially, the ADMM Plus is a practical cooperation forum in Asia-Pacific, contributing to maintaining regional stability.

The ASEAN Secretary General said that the East Sea (South China Sea) issues have been of high priority in the agenda of the ASEAN meetings over the years. This can be seen through the adoption of the framework of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) in order to finalize discussion mechanisms on COC building and other mechanisms to build confidence among relevant countries to address urgent issues in the East Sea. Additionally, transnational crimes, counter-terrorism, drug-trafficking and cyber-security are paid due attention to by the ASEAN.

According to Minh, based  on the conclusion of the 11th ADMM, which took place on October 23, Phase 1 of the ASEAN Direct Communications Link (ADL) was put into operation from October 24, 2017.

Chiefs of delegations to the fourth ADMM Plus stressed on the ASEAN’s centrality and highly valued outcomes of practical cooperation within the framework of the ADMM Plus, which proves its increasingly significant role in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

The meeting also focused on regional and international security issues. The chiefs of delegations discussed the increase in terrorism and extreme violence and expressed concerns over recent development on the Korean peninsula. Other issues related to non-traditional security challenges such as cyber-security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, transnational crimes, and drug-trafficking were also mentioned at the meeting.

Importantly, maritime security was thoroughly discussed at this fourth ADMM Plus. The meeting recognized efforts made by the ADMM Plus members on promoting practical cooperation on maritime security. Many countries stressed on the compliance of international law in settling disputes at sea and showed support to settling the disputes by peaceful means while upholding international law.

As for the East Sea issues, the meeting affirmed the significance of the effective implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC) and an early agreement on the COC after the COC framework was reached to build confidence and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich highly valued the meeting’s theme. He said that “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” is the desire of not only ASEAN member states, but also the bloc’s partners, especially the eight ASEAN’s partners that participated at this meeting.

According to the Vietnamese General, to make that desire come true, it is crucial to have a favorable environment which is truly peaceful and stable. “Peace, cooperation, and development are main trends, but we are facing challenges, even unprecedented ones in the human civilization and development,” he stressed.

He said that those challenges include security instability, risks of conflicts, terrorism, climate change, the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, sovereignty disputes at sea, and non-traditional security threats. Moreover, if issues related to fishermen are settled smoothly, bilateral relations can be influenced, he stressed.

Therefore, the Vietnamese Defense Minister suggested that while relevant countries are seeking for a long-term and legal solutions, education, not violent treatments or threats to use force, should be applied to handle the issues in the spirit of traditional friendship neighborhood.

Under that circumstance, the Vietnamese General held that in order to have a truly peaceful environment, countries should join hands to settle challenges with the same awareness and “strategic confidence”, basing themselves on a common legal framework, not for their own interests while ignoring that of their neighbors and partners. “Common awareness” and “strategic confidence” will only be obtained and stiffened if cooperation is accelerated and become practical, he added.

According to Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, one of the goals of the ADMM and the ADMM Plus is to contribute to maintaining an environment of peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia in particular and in the Asia-Pacific in general. Therefore, countries should participate sincerely and responsibly in these mechanisms while maintaining ASEAN’s solidarity, unity, and centrality.

As some other ASEAN’s partners expressed their expectation to participate in the ADMM Plus mechanism, General Lich said that this expectation proves the importance of the ASEAN in the regional security structure. He suggested considering this expectation by working out a concept paper and selection criteria to admit these countries, possibly in the short-term, as observers or in experts working groups.

Vietnam will chair the ASEAN in 2020 and, according to General Lich, is preparing for military - defense related meetings, including the 14th ADMM, the seventh ADMM Plus, and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the ADMM Plus. Therefore, Vietnam expects to get support, assistance, and experience sharing from all ASEAN members and the bloc’s partners to fulfill this important task, he said.

Concluding the meeting, Philippines Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana informed that the ADMM Plus would be organized annually, starting from 2018. He also handed over the position of Chair of the ADMM and ADMM Plus to Mr. Ng Eng Heng, Singaporean Defense Minister as Singapore will be the ASEAN Chair next year.

At the hand-over ceremony, the Singaporean Chief of Delegation informed a specific plan for the upcoming ADMM and ADMM Plus in Singapore. Vietnam and other participating countries strongly support Singapore in chairing the ADMM and ADMM Plus.

Translated by Nam Long