SINGAPORE Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, in an address to the Munich Conference on Security Policy, has said the new economic realities in Asia will also have long-term strategic and security implications.
And Asean, which lies at the heart of many multilateral groupings such as the Asean Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit and the Shangri-La Dialogue, was well placed to play a unique role in the evolving Asian security architecture.
12 February 2008: Straits Times
MUNICH - SINGAPORE Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, in an address to the Munich Conference on Security Policy, has said the new economic realities in Asia will also have long-term strategic and security implications.
And Asean, which lies at the heart of many multilateral groupings such as the Asean Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit and the Shangri-La Dialogue, was well placed to play a unique role in the evolving Asian security architecture.
'As their economies grow, China and India will seek to extend their diplomatic influence and military capabilities,' Mr Teo said.
He also noted that Russia was already increasing its share of the arms market and was a supplier to South-east Asia. Japan, too, was redefining its global role and beefing up its defence posture.
'Even as the US remains pre-eminent and important as a stabilising force in Asia, new players and resurgent powers are jostling for influence, access to markets and strategic resources,' said Mr Teo. 'South-east Asia is an important crossroads where this great game is being played.'
He cited several reasons why Asean could help in the process of evolving new security arrangements for the region.
These included its pivotal geographical location; its history of forging cooperation out of conflict; and its ability to be a facilitator, an honest broker and the neutral ground where powers with intersecting interests in Asia meet.
The annual conference in Munich brings together heads of state, foreign and defence ministers and other high-ranking diplomats. This year, the theme is 'The World In Disarray - Shifting Powers, Lack Of Strategies'.
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