Defense official emphasizes importance of East Sea at ASEAN forum

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang. Photo: VNA

Addressing 16th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (ACDFM-16) in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 7, Giang as called on the law enforcement forces and navies of ASEAN countries to enhance cooperation in settling incidents at sea, especially those related to fishermen.

Giang, who is Deputy Minister of National Defense, went on to say that despite certain progresses, maritime security challenges such as sovereignty and natural resources disputes, piracy, and armed crimes at sea continue to be threats to maritime security in Southeast Asia.

He raised concerns about the continued complicated development of non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, extreme violence, the risk of racial and religious conflicts, cyber security, trans-national crimes, and climate change. He stressed that those are challenges to global and regional security that are beyond the settlement capacity of a single country.

At the ACDFM-16, a joint statement was issued and a ceremony was held for host Thailand to hand over the flag of the ACDFM Chair to Viet Nam, which will hold the ASEAN Chair in 2020.

On the occasion, Giang also had bilateral meetings with heads of the military delegations of Thailand and Myanmar./.

By Kim Anh