S'pore-KL talk on joint air patrol

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S'pore-KL talk on joint air patrol; it is hoped Indonesia will joint too
Tweet Topic Started: Jul 30 2005, 10:12 AM (366 Views)
spiderweb6969	Jul 30 2005, 10:12 AM Post #1
Posts: 2,700 Group: Elite Member #427 Joined: April 11, 2005



spiderweb6969	Jul 30 2005, 11:31 PM Post #2
Posts: 2,700 Group: Elite Member #427 Joined: April 11, 2005	Singapore calls on ASEAN members to strengthen maritime security By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia Combating terrorism and broadening the architecture to strengthen maritime security - these were some of the issues discussed at the ASEAN Regional Forum, or ARF, in Vientiane. One initiative being explored between the navies of Malaysia and Singapore is "eyes in the sky" to boost maritime air surveillance. Singapore hopes Indonesia and eventually other states too can be involved in the discussion. All this was revealed at the final day of the ministerial meeting during the ARF at the Laotian capital. Multilateral cooperation, shipping and port security and applying technology to enhance maritime security - these were some of the areas the ARF countries listed to help keep the world's sea lanes of communications safe for ships. For Southeast Asia, the safety of the Straits of Malacca and the Strait of Singapore was of critical importance. George Yeo, Singapore Foreign Minister, said: "It was important to emphasise the importance of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore not just to the littoral states but to the world. A third of global commerce passes through these straits and if something cataclysmic happens in the straits, then the consequences are huge. Most worrying is that the joint war committee of Lloyds has included the Straits of Malacca as a war risk and this had an immediate impact on premiums and some underwriters have pulled out." So Mr Yeo has given his full support to a recent proposal by Malaysian Deputy Premier Najib Razak for countries to move from principles to action. In fact there's going to be meeting of the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore on Monday and Tuesday on the Indonesian island of Batam to discuss maritime security. And ASEAN is not alone in its battle to guard the sea lanes. Robert Zoellick, US Deputy Secretary of State, said: "The United States has strong interests in the Asia Pacific region. The ASEAN countries together, you have 500 million people. The United States has trade of about US$136 billion, about US$88 billion of foreign direct investment. The issues of maritime security are vitally important not only for the region but for the world". Meanwhile the ARF, which is into its twelfth year, has moved from its status of confidence building measures. Dr Kantathi Suphamongkhon, Thai Foreign Minister, said: "This is the year that we see a transition from just meeting and building confidence with one another. Now we are exchanging strategies moving the ARF to preventive diplomacy and allow us individually to prevent problems, so it's a very useful forum for discussion and we will continue to discuss ways and means to enhance the role of the ARF." But the discussion on combating terrorism was not just confined behind closed doors. Another two countries - Pakistan and New Zealand - have inked an agreement with ASEAN to battle transnational crimes together. And even while members got into deep discussions on security issues, the question of Myanmar and its decision to give up its bid for ASEAN's chairmanship in 2006, continued to be of interest to the international media. But their many questions got very little answers from ASEAN ministers who just wanted to move on with their full agenda. The ten-member ASEAN grouping is expected to have a busy year ahead. Besides its annual leaders' summit at the end of the year, Malaysia will host the inaugural East Asia summit with ASEAN in the driver's seat. And this will be an excellent opportunity for ASEAN to broaden its networks and take stock of how successful it has been in meeting the political, economic and security challenges facing the world and the region. - CNA /ch



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