ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTER S MEETING PLUS

ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEETING (ADMM) PLUS

Recently, the defence minister addressed the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus. The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MEETING

• Security & Dispute Resolution: India called for an open and inclusive order in Indo-Pacific based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. Supports freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce in the international waterways including the South China Sea, India hopes that the Code of Conduct negotiations (for South China Sea) will lead to outcomes that are in keeping with international law, including the the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Recently, ASEAN and China agreed to expedite the resumption of negotiations on the code, which were halted by the pandemic. China and ASEAN started negotiations in 2013 on a supposedly binding code of conduct. Stressed on peaceful resolutions of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.
• Need new systems to address the emerging challenges to international peace and security.
• Act East Policy: The key elements of the Act East Policy aim to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
• Terrorism: Called for collective cooperation to fully disrupt terror organisations and their networks. Identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and ensure that strong measures are taken against those who support and finance terrorism and provide sanctuary to terrorists.
• As a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) India remains committed to combat financing of terrorism. FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.
• Cybersecurity: Called for a multi-stakeholder approach, guided by democratic values, with a governance structure that is open and inclusive and a secure, open and stable internet with due respect to sovereignty of countries, that would drive the future of cyberspace.
• Covid-19: Globally available patent free vaccines, unhindered supply chains and greater global medical capacities are some of the lines of effort that India has suggested for a combined effort. South Africa and India have called for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to suspend intellectual property (IP) rights related to Covid-19 to ensure equitable sharing of vaccines and new technology to control the pandemic.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations: India remains one of the first to respond in times of distress in the immediate as well as extended neighbourhood. As a founding member of the Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM), India seeks to enhance capacity building through collaboration in the areas of Maritime Search & Rescue. HACGAM is an apex level forum facilitating the congregation of all the major Coast Guard Agencies of the Asian region, it was established in 2004.

THE CENTRALITY OF ASEAN

India shares a deep connection with ASEAN and has continued its active engagement in many areas contributing to regional peace and stability, particularly through ASEAN led mechanisms, such as:

• East Asia Summit.
• ASEAN Regional Forum.
• ADMM-Plus.

The India-ASEAN strategic partnership has been strengthened by virtue of flourishing cultural and civilisational links and enhanced people-to-people cooperation.

ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEETING (ADMM)

The 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in 2007 at Singapore adopted a resolution to establish the ADMM-Plus. The first ADMM-Plus was convened at Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010. Brunei is the Chair of the ADMM Plus forum for the year 2021. It is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN countries and eight dialogue partner countries.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. 8th of August is observed as ASEAN Day. ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta. It's objectives are to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, the improvement of transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of peoples. To promote Southeast Asian studies. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations.

• Membership: The ADMM-Plus countries include ten ASEAN Member States and eight Plus countries, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and the United States.
• Aim: It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and transparency.
• Areas of cooperation: Maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine.

TEST YOURSELF

Q.1 Which of the following nations is the chair of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus forum for the year 2021?

1. Singapore
2. Brunei: ANSWER
3. Vietnam
4. None of the following

Q.2 The Objective of ‘Act East Policy’ is to promote regional and multilateral levels thereby providing enhanced connectivity to the Indian states. Which of the following region(s) or state(s) under the policy are covered?

1. North Eastern Region including Arunachal Pradesh: ANSWER
2. North Eastern Region including West Bengal.
3. North Western Region including Himachal Pradesh.
4. Eastern Region including Bihar and West Bengal.

Q.3 India and the ASEAN countries working closely with the regional bloc in a range of activities. Which among the following activities is/are involved by the countries?

1. Developing a blue economy
2. Coastal surveillance
3. Building off-shore patrolling capabilities
4. All of the above: ANSWER

Q.4 Which of the following statements is/are correct in context of the objectives of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

1. To increase competition among the members countries for better products.
2. To integrate the economies of the region to make region more attractive for investors
3. To promote economic cooperation in the South East Asia and ensure economic stability in the region.

1. I & II follows
2. Only III follows
3. II & III follows: ANSWER
4. None of the above

Q.5 Being the member of the which of the following organisations, India remains committed to combat financing of terrorism which includes money laundering and terrorist financing?

1. Financial Action Task Force (FATF): ANSWER
2. United Nations Security Council
3. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
4. United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations.