Manila: Defence chiefs of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines met in Cebu City recently to discuss security issues as well as Manila’s quest for peace and stability in Mindanao.
Indonesia’s Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Malaysia’s Dato Sri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi met with Voltaire Gazmin, Philippine Secretary of National Defence, on August 27 and 28 in Mactan, Cebu.
A statement issued by the Department National Defence (DND) in Manila said the three defence ministers discussed regional security issues, specifically maritime concerns. The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia share common maritime borders.
The ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation to include cooperative activities in their tri-border area.
Purnomo emphasised the critical role that regional countries, such as Indonesia, play in maintaining peace and stability in maritime areas where tension could exist.
He stressed the importance of maintaining unity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) when the cohesion of the three countries are put to the test.
Hamidi highlighted how collaboration with and among civilian agencies could promote maritime security. Considering the myriad of maritime security challenges the three countries face.
Gazmin meanwhile discussed the importance of having protocols of interaction among naval forces and maritime agencies primarily to ensure that confidence and trust among maritime countries are built and more importantly to avoid possible accidents at sea accidents that could lead to tension.
Likewise, the three ministers expressed support to the current efforts to finalise the formulation of a Code of Conduct between ASEAN as well as China as an essential instrument for the maintenance of regional peace and stability, and are optimistic that it would soon be adopted.
Ten years ago, certain Southeast Asian countries signed and agreement with China, the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to resolve territorial disputes peacefully. The guidelines, however have yet to be approved by the countries conderned for it to be binding.
During the meeting between the three officials in Cebu, Indonesia and Malaysia supported the Philippine government’s quest for peace and stability in Mindanao. It can be recalled the Kuala Lumpur play an important role in peace in Southern Philippines for several years being a third party facilitator in talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government and contributed International Monitoring Team which monitors adherence to agreements by both the Philippine Government and the MILF.
Recently, Indonesia had joined the IMT and sent its contingent of monitors to Mindanao.
