Singapore calls for evolving regional security architecture

Singapore's Minister for Defense Teo Chee Hean on Sunday called for evolving regional security architecture to support peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Speaking at a plenary session titled "Security cooperation in Asia: managing alliances and partnerships" of the sixth Asia Security Summit, Teo described the existing regional security framework "as a loose overlapping pattern of partnerships formed around functional areas of interest, with varying memberships and agendas."

He pointed out that this overlapping networks, including U.S. alliances in the region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit (EAS), was far from perfect and needed evolution.

"Diverse as the defense and security networks in the Asia- Pacific are, I believe there are three broad principles we can consider to guide the evolution of the regional security architecture," Teo said at the meeting, also known as the Shangri- la Dialogue.

He noted that the regional security is a collective responsibility, and the security architecture needs to be inclusive, and not limited by traditional notions of geography.

He also suggested that cooperation should be based on mutual respect and be in accordance with international law.

Noting the strategic landscape in the region, including the rise of China and India, the U.S. military presence, Teo stressed that "changes in the strategic landscape will fundamentally alter the regional security architecture whether we want them to or not. "

"Allowing the architecture to evolve carelessly may lead to structures that encourage adversarial and divisive instincts," he said, so he called for proactively guiding, "embracing ideals of openness, inclusiveness, collective responsibility and mutual respect."

He said that ASEAN is the natural trusted broker in the existing regional security architecture, and the adopting of the ASEAN Charter will help the grouping add value to the regional security architecture.

Organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the three-day dialogue gathered some 260 delegates from more than 20 countries and regions in Asia Pacific and Europe, including U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Deputy Chief of General Staff of People's Liberation Army of China Zhang Qinsheng, to address major regional security issues.

The annual dialogue has been held at Singapore's Shangri-la hotel since its inauguration in 2002.

Source: Xinhua