The lunch has been a regular feature of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's only forum for defence ministers, policy makers and security analysts, organised since 2002 by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank.
It was at last year's lunch that Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak suggested maritime air surveillance cooperation, a proposal that culminated in joint air patrols of the Malacca Strait by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Joint planning exercises proposed so militaries of different countries can work together better in relief and peace efforts
By Goh Chin Lian
DEFENCE ministers gathered here for the 5th Shangri-La Dialogue Asian security summit want to move beyond discussions and start cooperating in areas such as humanitarian aid, disaster relief, peace support operations and maritime security.
At a lunch hosted by Singapore Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean on the sidelines of the summit yesterday, the ministers proposed the idea of joint planning or 'table-top' exercises that would enable their militaries to work more easily together when mobilised.
However, no decisions on who will lead this collaborative effort have been made yet, Mr Teo said.
'It's an informal discussion, so we are able to speak freely and we don't come to any concrete decisions. But my sense is that the ministers felt strongly that this is something which we should do. So at the end of the meeting, we agreed that we should go back and talk to our various agencies and ministers and encourage them to see how we can come together.'
Guests at the lunch included United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Japanese Minister of State for Defence Fukushiro Nukaga.
Also present were ministers and representatives from Australia, Britain, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, France, South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.
The lunch has been a regular feature of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's only forum for defence ministers, policy makers and security analysts, organised since 2002 by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank.
It was at last year's lunch that Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak suggested maritime air surveillance cooperation, a proposal that culminated in joint air patrols of the Malacca Strait by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Over roasted cod, lamb and risotto at the Shangri-La Hotel yesterday, the officials also discussed issues ranging from the importance of inclusive regional groupings to the need for China to have a higher-level presence at the summit.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Rumsfeld and Mr Teo discussed issues ranging from maritime security and terrorism to building peace and stability in the region.
Mr Teo also met Mr Nukaga, Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff and Bruneian Deputy Defence Minister Pehin Dato Haji Yasmin Umar, as well as defence leaders and senior officials from Britain, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and the US.
Mr Teo will host a second lunch today, which Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono is expected to attend. Visiting ministers are expected to request an update on the recent earthquake in Central Java.
