As the ASEAN Chair 2022, Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this morning shared a five-point recommendation to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Siem Reap province.
“The theme of the ADMM-Plus this year focuses on ‘harmonised security’. This is a relatively new concept for the region,” he said in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the ADMM-Plus.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen underlined that the ADMM-Plus nations need to recognise and underscore the importance of interdependence for peace and stability. Notably, interconnectedness, interdependence and cooperative security have been the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.
“ASEAN has been central to this process of fostering regional integration, interdependence, and connectivity. From my point of view, to realise a ‘harmonised security’ in our region, we need at least five elements,” he said.
First, Promoting ASEAN Centrality, which generally refers to ASEAN’s convening role, the legitimacy to set and drive agenda, and the capacity to shape and deliver outcomes.
Second, Promoting open, inclusive, and rules-based regional security architecture. The ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific is an important vehicle to realise such regional security architecture. We welcome all Indo-Pacific initiatives as long as they provide peace and development; not against any country; and support ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Third, Strengthening people-centred and trust-based security and defence cooperation. We put security and wellbeing of the people at the centre of our security policy and international cooperation. And mutual strategic trust is the foundation of international cooperation.
Fourth, Promoting comprehensive security. The COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for us to pay more attention to health security. Climate security is another pressing issue that we need to inject more efforts and resources. The civil-military cooperation on comprehensive security is increasingly crucial.
Fifth, Promoting cooperative security. Due to rising complexity and multidimensionality of transboundary security issues and threats, we need to closely collaborate to address these issues and challenges.
At the same time, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stressed that the region needs to act together to address the common traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
