Dr Ng Urges ADMM-Plus to Abide by Common Principles and Norms, and to Foster Mutual Trust

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (fourth from right) taking part in the ASEAN wave with his defence counterparts after the conclusion of the ADMM-Plus.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the 3rd ADMM-Plus, which took place on 3 and 4 November 2015 respectively.

During the ADMM Retreat, the ASEAN Defence Ministers affirmed the integral role of the ADMM in strengthening the ASEAN Community. They emphasised that the ADMM could do more to enhance regional security, including addressing issues such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) threat and the South China Sea disputes. Dr Ng highlighted that Singapore supported the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

The ADMM-Plus brings together ASEAN and its eight "Plus" partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States), and meets once every two years. During the 3rd ADMM-Plus meeting, the Ministers affirmed the value of the ADMM-Plus in strengthening practical cooperation between the region's militaries in an inclusive manner. In particular, they noted that four field training exercises involving all six Experts' Working Groups are expected to be conducted in 2016, including the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism (MS&CT) Exercise, which Singapore will co-organise with Australia, Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand next May. Dr Ng emphasised the need for the ADMM-Plus to abide by a common set of principles and norms, and to foster mutual trust, so that the ADMM-Plus will become more effective. In this regard, Dr Ng suggested expanding the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) to include white shipping, and for the ADMM-Plus to adopt a similar protocol for the air.

The ADMM-Plus Ministers also discussed key security challenges such as terrorism and religious extremism, natural disasters, combating trans-boundary haze, as well as the situation in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. They agreed on the importance of establishing effective and practical measures to de-escalate tensions and prevent conflicts in the disputed waters of the region.

As part of the ADMM-Plus programme, the Ministers jointly called on the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. Dr Ng also held bilateral meetings with India Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar, Indonesia Minister of Defence GEN (Ret.) Ryamizard Ryacudu, Laos Minister for Defence LG Sengnouane Sayalat, Malaysia Minister of Defence Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, New Zealand Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee, and United States Secretary of Defence Dr Ashton Carter. Dr Ng is accompanied by Permanent Secretary for Defence Mr Chan Yeng Kit and other senior MINDEF officials.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen meeting with Malaysian Minister of Defence Dato' Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein at a bilateral meeting

Minister of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen meeting with New Zealand Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee at a bilateral meeting.

Dr Ng shaking hands with United States Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter at a bilateral meeting.

Dr Ng meeting Indonesian Minister of Defence GEN (Rtd) Ryamizard Ryacudu at a bilateral meeting.

Dr Ng meeting with Laos Minister of National Defense Lieutenant General Sengnouane Sayalat at a bilateral meeting.

Dr Ng meeting with India Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar at a bilateral meeting.