03 August 1999
Opening Address by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, for The 1st Summer School for Senior Military Officers in the Asia Pacific at Beaufort Hotel, Sentosa
Ladies and Gentlemen
The past two years have been difficult and challenging years for the Asia-Pacific region as the countries in the region battled the economic storm that swept through the region after the devaluation of the Thai Baht in July 1997. Fortunately, there are now signs that the crisis is bottoming out and we are seeing positive indications of economic recovery. Another ground for optimism is that while the region was shaken, regional stability remains basically sound, despite changes in the regional political landscape.
This economic crisis has driven home a key message — that the security and prosperity of countries in the Asia-Pacific are inextricably linked. In an increasingly interdependent world, countries in the region have to work hand in hand to enhance our common security.
For the past decade or so, bilateral co-operation among regional countries has grown in depth and scope. In addition, there has been encouraging progress in the institutionalisation of multilateral security co-operation, the ARF being the centrepiece of this process.
There were ominous predictions last year that the economic crisis would destabilise the region. That these predictions did not come true can be partly attributed to the efforts to build a regional security architecture favourable to the maintenance of peace and stability.
However, we cannot afford to be complacent. There are still a number of potential flashpoints in the region, and we will face new security challenges as we enter the next millennium. We must be vigilant in our efforts to work together to build and strengthen a stable and peaceful regional order.
One aspect of the regional security architecture that can be strengthened is the network of linkages among Asia-Pacific defence establishments. At present, there are arrangements that allow for senior military officers in the region to meet and interact at a bilateral level. However, multilateral security dialogue and co-operation among defence establishments to address common security issues in the region remain relatively undeveloped. This is a weak link in the chain of security-related dialogues and co-operation now taking place in the Asia-Pacific that needs to be enhanced.
Security dialogue and co-operation among regional defence establishments can contribute to regional security in three important ways.
First, dialogue remains the best way to prevent new disputes from arising and for defusing rising tensions over current disputes and differences. Dialogue and professional exchanges among defence and military officials at the multilateral level will provide additional opportunities to enhance understanding and trust among regional defence establishments, in the same way that frequent meetings among foreign affairs officials within multilateral fora such as the ARF, ASEAN and ASEM, have helped to foster greater trust and understanding.
Second, such multilateral fora will allow defence officials to collectively identify common security concerns and appropriate mechanisms to address these problems, thus bringing defence establishments together in a mutually beneficial relationship to build and support a regional order necessary for the maintenance of regional peace and security.
Disaster relief, humanitarian relief and maritime safety are but a few areas in which there could be beneficial co-operation among regional defence establishments.
Third, by coming together in a multilateral setting to address common security concerns, regional defence establishments will convey a strong message of the region’s determination to preserve peace and stability. This will no doubt boost confidence in the region’s economic recovery.
In short, a network of linkages among regional defence establishments will serve as another safety net for regional security, and contribute towards the development of an Asia-Pacific community of co-operative security and common prosperity.
This inaugural Summer School organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies is an invaluable contribution towards the development of a process of informal dialogue, interaction and exchange among military officers at the multilateral level.
It will provide senior military officers in the Asia-Pacific region an opportunity to exchange views on matters of professional interest, learn about broad trends in military thinking as well as interact in an informal and relaxed environment.
I hope that this forum will foster better understanding and friendships among senior members of the military establishments of the Asia-Pacific.
On this note, it is my pleasure to declare open the inaugural Summer School for Senior Military Officials in the Asia Pacific.
I wish all the participants a fruitful time at this Summer School.
