Declaration for peaceful, prosperous Asean adopted at ADMM+

HÀ NỘI – Defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries and their partners on Wednesday adopted the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration towards a future-ready, peaceful and prosperous Asean.

The eighth Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) convened on Wednesday via virtual conference under the host of Brunei.

Defense ministers of Asean nations and eight partner countries (Russia, China, US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India) once again affirmed that Asean is the primary driving force of regional defense cooperation and partnership with its external partners, working closely with partner countries to enhance collective responsibility and promote trust.

Acknowledging unprecedented security challenges facing the region and the world as well as the implications of emerging traditional and non-traditional security threats, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the ministers vowed to continue promoting cooperation within the framework of ADMM+.

Defense agencies of Asean and its partners pledged to make more contributions to preventing, detecting, controlling, and responding to the spread of infectious diseases, including Covid-19.

The leaders also emphasized the importance of leveraging the capabilities of the ADMM+ Expert Group on Military Medicine, the ASEAN Military Medical Centre, and the Asean Network of Defense Experts on Chemistry, Biology, and Radiation.

In terms of responding to maritime security challenges as well as dealing with maritime issues in the region, ADMM+ defense leaders committed to maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea); pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that could complicate or escalate the situation; reaffirming the importance of upholding international law, including 1982 UNCLOS, while enhancing mutual trust and confidence;

Vietnamese Minister of Defense Phan Văn Giang strongly urged all relevant parties to “strictly abide by the principle of peacefully settling disagreements on the basis of international laws, including the (UNCLOS 1982), and finalize an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea in accordance with international laws”.

Countries must refrain from actions that increase tension and complicate the situation in any way, he said.

Minister Giang affirmed that it was more than necessary than ever to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and UNCLOS 1982 and to ensure humane treatment of fishermen in the East Sea.

“By doing this, we affirm that we are defense leaders working towards peace,” said Giang.

Giang said ADMM played a key role as an Asia Pacific defense-security cooperation mechanism and served as a driving force and nucleus for ADMM+ collaboration.

The defense ministers agreed to continue to organize the ADMM+ annually, showing that Asean is highly concerned about and appreciates cooperation of partner countries in ADMM and ADMM+ framework.

He believes that cooperation within ADMM+ framework will continue to primarily contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region thanks to practical dialogues and cooperation, which are the principles of ADMM and ADMM+ since the early days of establishment. (VNS)