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With the Asia-Pacific region facing security challenges that are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional, different modes and levels of cooperation are required to address varying security needs and geopolitical contexts.
PIONEER was at the Shangri-La Dialogue, where Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean addressed defence ministers and officials from 27 countries.
The security challenges today now come from '360 degrees', and many of them are also transnational in nature and require multilateral cooperation, said Mr Teo (right) during his plenary speech on 1 Jun.
"Issues such as energy security, food and water security affect us all. Other examples of these new '360 degrees' security challenges include maritime security, pandemics, non-proliferation, terrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief."
The debilitating effects of such non-traditional security concerns were brought to the fore with the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in southern Myanmar and the earthquake in Sichuan province of China.
Conveying his condolences to the people of Myanmar and China, Mr Teo said such disasters were "sobering reminders" of the importance of practical international cooperation in areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
"No country, no matter how big, is able to muster all the resources and specialised capabilities necessary to attend to all the needs of the victims," he said.
"International aid organisations and rescue services from other countries can bring much needed assistance."
Mr Teo added that the armed forces had a crucial "quick response role" to play in HADR efforts. With their highly operational resources and manpower, they can transport aid to where it is needed most in the affected locality and help in its distribution.
Guiding principles for HADR
During a private luncheon hosted by Mr Teo on 31 May for the visiting ministers and ministerial representatives, one of the key issues discussed was ways to enhance the region's ability to respond to, and provide, relief in the wake of natural disasters.
The ministers agreed that multilateral cooperation in HADR could be guided by three broad principles:
- Firstly, the affected country has the primary responsibility to respond to disasters occurring within its territory in a prompt and effective manner.
- Secondly, where needed, the affected country shall facilitate external assistance from other countries and international organisations in its HADR efforts, to achieve the objective of prompt and effective disaster management and relief.
- Lastly, external assistance shall be provided with the consent of the affected country, and the HADR efforts should be under its overall control and supervision.
Going forward, Mr Teo said there was a need to "build capacities to accommodate different modes of cooperation between different configurations of countries".
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