Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen Hosts Lunch for Visiting Defence Ministers

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen speaking with Canadian Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay (left) and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin (right) before the Ministerial Luncheon.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted 20 visiting Ministers and their representatives to a luncheon on 1 June 2013, in conjunction with the 12th Shangri-La Dialogue. The luncheon provided a valuable platform for the Ministers to engage in informal and frank discussions on current security and defence issues, and provided an opportunity for countries to build shared perspectives on common security challenges, which are critical to improving regional peace and stability.

The Ministers welcomed the US' continued presence and engagement of the region, which represented a reaffirmation of the US' longstanding interest in and commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. The Ministers also reaffirmed the importance of constructive cooperation between the US and China as this would directly affect the region's peace and stability.

The Ministers discussed the key security challenges facing the region and beyond, including the ongoing maritime disputes and overlapping territorial claims in the South and East China Sea as well as the nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsula. The Ministers noted that these challenges had the potential to destabilise the region if not handled carefully. In this regard, the Ministers emphasised the need to put in place practical measures, such as the establishment of a hotline, that could help reduce the risk of miscalculations and avoid conflicts. The Ministers urged the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and the adoption of concrete actions that could build trust to prevent an escalation of tensions in the South China Sea. The Ministers further agreed that it was necessary to keep the channels of communication open so that the chances of mis-steps could be reduced.

In addition, the Ministers underscored the importance sustaining strategic dialogue, building confidence, engendering practical cooperation and promoting stable military-to-military relations. The Ministers reaffirmed the ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine (MM) Exercise which will be held in Brunei in June 2013 as an example of practical cooperation amongst the militaries.

Minister Ng will host a second Ministerial Luncheon on 2 June 2013.