The idea of using military surveillance planes to combat Malacca Strait piracy was first floated during the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual conference for Asia security specialists held here in June.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean used the example of the 'eyes in the sky' proposal to demonstrate the value of informal dialogues in boosting regional security.
By David Boey, Defence Correspondent
The idea of using military surveillance planes to combat Malacca Strait piracy was first floated during the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual conference for Asia security specialists held here in June.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean used the example of the 'eyes in the sky' proposal to demonstrate the value of informal dialogues in boosting regional security.
Speaking at the opening of the Seventh Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers, Mr Teo said security meetings like the Asean Regional Forum and Shangri-La Dialogue complement the 'strong tradition of defence diplomacy in this region'.
'One important outcome of this myriad of interactions is that mutual understanding and trust, as well as cooperative instincts, are well established among regional armed forces,' Mr Teo said.
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak's 'eyes in the sky' proposal is not the only example of how productive these meetings can be.
Mr Teo also credited the success of the military-led tsunami relief effort earlier this year to the 'firm foundation of trust and understanding developed over the years' among the various armed forces involved.
Mr Teo said international cooperation is particularly critical in addressing the perceived threat of terrorism, which he described as a 'multinational enterprise with masterminds, bomb-makers and bombers working in different countries on the same operation'.
'Countries faced with this common threat have to work together for a coherent and effective response,' he said.
The Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers is an annual programme organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS). This year, it involves 60 military officers and security analysts from 27 countries, who will stay on Sentosa for a week-long series of lectures and team-building sessions.
Mr Barry Desker, IDSS' director, said he hoped military personnel attending the programme can 'learn, interact, and have fun and get to know each other in a relaxed and informal setting'.
'These relationships play a vital role in safeguarding against misunderstandings and suspicions that all too often characterise international relations,' he said.
