Good Morning

Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to be here today to address the participants of the 3^rd Asia-Pacific Summer Camp for senior military officers.

The importance of regional interaction and exchanges is reflected in the level of participation at this gathering, now in its third year.

Over the last few years, the Southeast Asian region has been gripped by uncertainty.

A major concern has been the region’s recovery from the economic malaise. It now appears that the region may yet again be hit by another downturn.

As a result of the economic crisis, a key message has been driven home — the message that the security and prosperity of the countries in the Asia-Pacific are inextricably linked.

With the rapid spread of globalisation, there is now an unprecedented degree of inter-connectedness in the region.

The recently held G8 summit is illustrative of the effects of globalisation.

Since its inception, the G8’s agenda has widened from a focus on purely economic issues to incorporate socio-economic development, environmental and other issues. Most recently, the agenda has been dominated by the issue of globalisation, with cross-cutting issues such as climate change, world poverty, genetically modified food, and the digital divide, grinding down the division between domestic and international concerns.

The lesson is clear — countries now have to work more closely together to meet the challenges thrown up by the new economic and security environment and to enhance their common prosperity and security.

In the Asia-Pacific region, we have moved ahead in some areas, but we must not be complacent.

A number of flashpoints still remain in the region and will continue to pose problems.

On the economic and social front, many countries are still grappling with uncertainties.

However, through institutions and processes such as ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum, which brings together all countries in the region, we can work together to build a stable and peaceful regional order.

As it is, regional institutions and processes such as these play an important role in fostering closer co-operation between countries.

In time to come, I believe these institutions and processes will become even more valuable to the region.

New security challenges have also emerged that are more complex than before. The very same process of globalisation, which has brought the region closer together, has also brought with it new threats and challenges that range from piracy to cyber­crime and the haze.

These new threats transcend borders, and know no boundaries.

They emerge gradually and are acknowledged by states only with the passage of time. Frequently too, the response is neither adequate nor timely.

These new threats have emerged due to social, political and economic instability within the region and are particularly indicative of the security environment we live in today.

To tackle such threats, we need to engage in co-operative efforts to build and strengthen our responses.

With increasing security interdependence between states, regional armed forces also need to recognise that regional security is just as important as national security.

In helping to maintain regional security, the security of individual nations is enhanced at the same time.

One area in which we can work at is the strengthening of the network of linkages between Asia-Pacific defence establishments.

While senior military officers meet regularly on a bilateral basis, multilateral dialogue among regional defence establishments remains relatively underdeveloped.

Defence establishments can contribute to confidence building through defence diplomacy, which in turn fosters regional co-operation.

Through such co-operation, regional defence establishments can play key roles in combating new security challenges.

Defence dialogue and interactions serve a further purpose of clarifying misunderstandings.

This is important because misunderstanding can breed miscalculation.

Such dialogue and interactions aid in preventing miscalculations and promote the peaceful resolution of differences.

We must build on our current exchanges and interactions at the bilateral level and enhance such channels to allow for multi-lateral dialogue and co-operation.

To further enhance our ability to deal with new threats to our common security, we must explore how multilateral dialogue and co-operation can involve other government and law-enforcement agencies, and perhaps even non-governmental organisations, as these new transnational threats require comprehensive and multi­faceted responses.

Regional defence establishments should look towards forging ties with government agencies and non-governmental organisations at the national as well as regional level. Hopefully, this will enable all parties to gain a better understanding of each other.

As an example of multi-lateral dialogue and co-operation, let me mention an arrangement which some of our participants here may be familiar with.

Three of the participating countries here at the Summer Camp, France, Australia and New Zealand, have in place an accord known as FRA.NZ, which relate to disaster relief co-operation in the South Pacific region.

Officials from these three countries meet regularly at a technical level to look, in close consultation with Pacific Island countries concerned, at how they can co-operate in preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the South Pacific.

Co-operation has been extended to include the exchange of scientific information, links between meteorological networks and radio stations, and joint bulk purchasing of relief supplies.

New Zealand and Australian aircraft have in the past delivered relief supplies to countries such as Tuvalu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

As you would have noted, the nature of security has changed.

We have to recognise that there is a need for regional armed forces to rethink their roles.

Traditionally, the armed forces’ role is to protect territorial integrity and defend against external aggression.

The challenge now is for regional armed forces to adjust from their sole focus on war-fighting to also focus on the reality of these new non-traditional missions.

From fighting piracy to providing disaster relief, the role of military forces in surmounting such challenges is likely to grow.

Regional armed forces must be willing to deal with less conventional threats.

They should be trained and equipped to recognise and respond to the new forces that threaten regional security.

In this regard, anti-piracy operations and civil-military co-operation are examples of missions that are important.

Over the next few days, you will hear from eminent speakers on many of the topics that I have just touched on, ranging from civil-military relations to peacekeeping and the security architecture of the Asia-Pacific.

This Summer Camp organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies is an important component of the process of informal dialogue and interaction among military officers in the Asia-Pacific region.

It will provide you with the opportunity to exchange views on new trends and issues that concern the military, and a chance to interact socially in an informal and relaxed environment.

I hope this Summer Camp will help in forging new friendships and foster better understanding among senior military officers in the Asia-Pacific.

I am also confident that this Summer Camp will aid in enhancing regional defence co­operation and contribute to a more peaceful Asia-Pacific.

On this note, J wish all participants a successful and rewarding Summer Camp and declare open the 3^rd Asia-Pacific Summer Camp for senior military officers.

Thank you.