Remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, at the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue 2011

International consensus-building and strategies for strengthening security and stability

My fellow panellists: Minister Howarth, General Ma, Lieutenant-General Hurley and General Sumardi.

I would like to thank Pak Purnomo and the organisers at UNHAN, the Indonesian Defense University, for their warm hospitality. I was in Indonesia, only three months ago. It is good to be back again, and to be with friends and colleagues. I am particularly glad to be here on this panel with General Sumardi, Minister Howarth, General Ma and Lieutenant-General Hurley.

The recent spate of natural disasters that has hit countries in the region is a reminder of the kinds of complex challenges that face all of us today. The earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan, and the unfolding nuclear crisis; earthquakes elsewhere in our region; and the floods that hit Queensland, in Australia, last December and early this year. Our thoughts are with the people who have had to endure losses of loved ones and hardships during this difficult period.

Certainly, the effects of many of the challenges we face today are far-reaching. Stock markets around the world, led by the Tokyo stock market for example, tumbled on news of the disaster in Japan. This struck markets already unnerved by the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, that had generated concerns about global energy supply, and whether European, or even global economic recovery could be affected.

We live in an increasingly inter-connected world. Whether it is a natural disaster, political turmoil or threats to security, contemporary challenges can easily have a regional or global impact. The same global inter-connections that can promote economic growth can lead to the rapid spread of financial contagion, infectious diseases or terror networks.

Amidst these challenges, the balance of global economic and geostrategic weight is shifting from West to East. Asian developing economies, particularly China and India, are growing much faster than the developed economies of the US and Europe. They are also making their presence felt in the strategic arena. This has inevitably led to questions being asked about how the regional and global order will be affected, and if there will be new points of friction as more States seek to secure access to resources and their sea lines of communication.

International Consensus and Cooperation

The multi-faceted contemporary challenges we face today require international consensus and multinational cooperation to deal with them, given their reach and their impact. Many States appear to have recognised this, and this is a welcome development. Last year, for instance, we saw the convening of the Nuclear Security Summit, where leaders of 47 countries came together to tackle one of the most critical threats to global security. The G-20 also evolved out of the global financial crisis, playing an active role in developing global responses to the crisis. In tandem, the Global Governance Group or 3G - a grouping of around 30 countries - was also founded to help develop a constructive dialogue on global governance issues, including how the G-20 process could be strengthened. The international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden and the Proliferation Security Initiative are also examples of how countries have come together to engage in practical cooperation to tackle pressing security threats.

Consensus and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific

Here in the Asia-Pacific, there are also signs that countries have recognised that strong regional consensus and multinational cooperation are critical to solving the problems of our time. We already have a good mix of regional institutions of different configurations and formats - both formal and informal, which provide flexible opportunities for dialogue and cooperation. A number of these have emerged over the last decade. We have broad-based groupings like the Shangri-La Dialogue, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year; more focused groupings like the ASEAN forums and the East Asia Summit; and functional groupings like the Malacca Strait Patrol, and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

The regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific is continuing to evolve. This has recently led to a more robust framework for key stakeholders to come together for dialogue, and to cooperate in tackling complex security challenges. The East Asia Summit was expanded to include the US and Russia - two key players in the region - last year. ASEAN has also established the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, or ADMM-Plus. This brings together the defence establishments of the ten ASEAN countries and eight "Plus" countries for open and constructive dialogue on a wide range of security issues. The "Plus" countries - Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the US - are key extra-regional players that have a stake in the region, and can contribute expertise, perspectives and resources to help deal with regional challenges.

The inaugural ADMM-Plus meeting last year agreed to advance practical cooperation among the 18 militaries, particularly through the establishment of Experts' Working Groups in five areas of common interest - humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, peacekeeping operations, counter-terrorism and military medicine. Hence, besides providing a platform for dialogue, the ADMM-Plus also provides an avenue for the ADMM-Plus countries to go beyond dialogue and build cooperation in a concrete and practical manner.

Principles for Consensus Building and Cooperation

If we look at all these efforts, particularly efforts that have successfully brought together States to engage in dialogue and cooperation, we can see that there are some underlying principles that are common to these efforts. It may be useful to bear these principles in mind, as we look ahead and seek to forge wider and deeper consensus and cooperation on today's and tomorrow's challenges.

First, open and inclusive dialogue that involves all the key stakeholders is the best means of achieving consensus and enabling cooperation. It is important to allow countries big and small, that have a stake in an issue, to express their views, even on issues where there may be differences. Through this process, countries can better understand each other's interests, allowing for the identification and active advancement of shared interests. Differences that may impede consensus and cooperation can also be bridged. In our region, the ASEAN-centred regional architecture is providing various platforms for countries to come together for open and inclusive dialogue, fostering trust and consensus.

Second, even as we seek to build consensus through dialogue, it is vital that we also focus on moving from consensus to implementation, and from dialogue to practical cooperation. To ensure that challenges can be dealt with quickly and effectively, modes of cooperation should be flexible. This includes configuring focused groupings that can capitalise on parties with niche capabilities and expertise, as well as flexible groupings that allow contributions based on each country's capabilities and mode of cooperation. A good example of this is the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden, where navies from around the world are working together. Although each navy may operate under different multinational or national commands, the navies are able to coordinate their actions, each doing what they are able and willing to do, to secure a strategic sea lane for everyone's use.

Third, cooperation should be based on mutual respect and in accordance with international law. States should seek to adhere to and promote responsible and constructive norms of international behaviour. Where there are disputes, it is important that States commit to peaceful forms of conflict avoidance and resolution. Only with this can there be a sustainable basis for mutual trust and cooperation.

Governance and Development

Let me share one final thought before I end. As recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East remind us, security and stability would not be possible without also addressing fundamental issues such as good governance and economic development. At the end of the day, it is crucial for a government, whatever its political system may be, to deliver good governance and build better lives for people. With good governance, and the economic development that flows from it, countries are more likely to achieve internal stability and security, and correspondingly, contribute to regional and international stability and security. It is therefore essential that any solutions to contemporary security challenges are multi-dimensional, addressing both direct security concerns as well as the underlying issues of governance and development.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing the views of my colleagues at the discussion later.