Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      News ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio Channel
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS
Connect
Search
  • RSIS
  • Publication
  • RSIS Publications
  • Strategic Engagement in the Asia Pacific: The Future of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)
  • Annual Reviews
  • Books
  • Bulletins and Newsletters
  • RSIS Commentary Series
  • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
  • Commemorative / Event Reports
  • Future Issues
  • IDSS Papers
  • Interreligious Relations
  • Monographs
  • NTS Insight
  • Policy Reports
  • Working Papers

Strategic Engagement in the Asia Pacific: The Future of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)
Sarah Teo, Mushahid Ali

21 August 2013

download pdf

Introduction

Ralf Emmers

The RSIS Multilateralism and Regionalism Programme held a roundtable on “Strategic Engagement in the Asia Pacific: The Future of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)” on 24 July 2013. As the region geared up for the second ADMM-Plus on 29 August 2013, the roundtable aimed to encourage timely and relevant discussions about regional security cooperation at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. Experts from around the region were invited to share country perspectives on the function and relevance of the ADMM-Plus, and on the wider issue of strategic engagement within the emerging security architecture in the Asia Pacific.

The commentaries in this policy brief arise from the presentations and discussions at the roundtable. Four main questions were addressed. First, how do regional countries implement strategic engagement—bilaterally and multilaterally—in the context of the U.S. rebalance to Asia? Most East Asian states have sought to keep the United States strategically engaged in the region and they have welcomed the U.S. rebalance strategy. Yet, they do not want to be forced to choose between the great powers. As the commentaries in this volume note, regional countries wish therefore to preserve their autonomy and diversify their engagement with various partners across several sectors.

Second, can non-traditional security issues sustain cooperation in the long-term? How long can traditional security issues be put aside in the dialogue? Cooperation under the ADMM-Plus focuses on non-traditional security areas such as counter-terrorism, disaster management, maritime security, military medicine and peacekeeping operations. A milestone in regional security cooperation was achieved in June 2013 as the ADMM-Plus held its first Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine Exercise in Brunei, involving about 3,200 personnel from 18 countries. This certainly needs to be welcomed as cooperation on such matters helps to promote trust and confidence in the region. Yet, a couple of commentaries in this volume argue that regional security forums such as the ADMM-Plus will have to at some point address traditional security issues to ensure their relevance to regional geopolitics.

Third, to what extent are bilateral and multilateral engagement strategies complementary? Clearly, strategic engagement is conceptualised and implemented differently between two partners as opposed to within a much larger setting involving 18 participants with sometimes divergent strategic interests. That said, the activities of the ADMM-Plus could also complement what is being done at the bilateral level. For example, the commentary on Japan’s view of the ADMM-Plus highlights the multilateral forum’s usefulness in helping to boost Tokyo’s bilateral relations.

Finally, what role does the ADMM-Plus play in a country’s strategic engagement policy? Overall, the commentaries note that the ADMM-Plus, and regional defence engagement in general, are valuable elements of regional countries’ strategic policies. The importance of the ADMM-Plus stems from the transnational nature of security threats, its usefulness as a platform for regional countries to engage with one another and with the major powers, as well as its contribution to the emerging security architecture in the region.

The commentaries in this policy brief are structured around three sections. The first commentary provides an overview of the strategic engagement in the Asia Pacific. The second group of four commentaries discusses the perspectives of the United States and China, while the third group focuses on the perspectives of other regional powers, namely Australia, India, Indonesia and Japan.

Ralf EMMERS is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Multilateralism and Regionalism Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. 

Categories: Policy Reports / International Politics and Security / Regionalism and Multilateralism / East Asia and Asia Pacific / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

Introduction

Ralf Emmers

The RSIS Multilateralism and Regionalism Programme held a roundtable on “Strategic Engagement in the Asia Pacific: The Future of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)” on 24 July 2013. As the region geared up for the second ADMM-Plus on 29 August 2013, the roundtable aimed to encourage timely and relevant discussions about regional security cooperation at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. Experts from around the region were invited to share country perspectives on the function and relevance of the ADMM-Plus, and on the wider issue of strategic engagement within the emerging security architecture in the Asia Pacific.

The commentaries in this policy brief arise from the presentations and discussions at the roundtable. Four main questions were addressed. First, how do regional countries implement strategic engagement—bilaterally and multilaterally—in the context of the U.S. rebalance to Asia? Most East Asian states have sought to keep the United States strategically engaged in the region and they have welcomed the U.S. rebalance strategy. Yet, they do not want to be forced to choose between the great powers. As the commentaries in this volume note, regional countries wish therefore to preserve their autonomy and diversify their engagement with various partners across several sectors.

Second, can non-traditional security issues sustain cooperation in the long-term? How long can traditional security issues be put aside in the dialogue? Cooperation under the ADMM-Plus focuses on non-traditional security areas such as counter-terrorism, disaster management, maritime security, military medicine and peacekeeping operations. A milestone in regional security cooperation was achieved in June 2013 as the ADMM-Plus held its first Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine Exercise in Brunei, involving about 3,200 personnel from 18 countries. This certainly needs to be welcomed as cooperation on such matters helps to promote trust and confidence in the region. Yet, a couple of commentaries in this volume argue that regional security forums such as the ADMM-Plus will have to at some point address traditional security issues to ensure their relevance to regional geopolitics.

Third, to what extent are bilateral and multilateral engagement strategies complementary? Clearly, strategic engagement is conceptualised and implemented differently between two partners as opposed to within a much larger setting involving 18 participants with sometimes divergent strategic interests. That said, the activities of the ADMM-Plus could also complement what is being done at the bilateral level. For example, the commentary on Japan’s view of the ADMM-Plus highlights the multilateral forum’s usefulness in helping to boost Tokyo’s bilateral relations.

Finally, what role does the ADMM-Plus play in a country’s strategic engagement policy? Overall, the commentaries note that the ADMM-Plus, and regional defence engagement in general, are valuable elements of regional countries’ strategic policies. The importance of the ADMM-Plus stems from the transnational nature of security threats, its usefulness as a platform for regional countries to engage with one another and with the major powers, as well as its contribution to the emerging security architecture in the region.

The commentaries in this policy brief are structured around three sections. The first commentary provides an overview of the strategic engagement in the Asia Pacific. The second group of four commentaries discusses the perspectives of the United States and China, while the third group focuses on the perspectives of other regional powers, namely Australia, India, Indonesia and Japan.

Ralf EMMERS is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Multilateralism and Regionalism Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. 

Categories: Policy Reports / International Politics and Security / Regionalism and Multilateralism

Popular Links

About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

Connect with Us

rsis.ntu
rsis_ntu
rsisntu
rsisvideocast
school/rsis-ntu
rsis.sg
rsissg
RSIS
RSS
Subscribe to RSIS Publications
Subscribe to RSIS Events

Getting to RSIS

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

Click here for direction to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
    Help us improve

      Rate your experience with this website
      123456
      Not satisfiedVery satisfied
      What did you like?
      0/255 characters
      What can be improved?
      0/255 characters
      Your email
      Please enter a valid email.
      Thank you for your feedback.
      This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
      OK
      Latest Book
      more info