Langkawi, 17 March 2015 - The ASEAN Defence Ministers have pledged to elevate regional defence cooperation to new heights consistent with the realisation of ASEAN Community 2015. This strong commitment was made at the 9th ASEAN Defence Meeting held in Langkawi, Malaysia on 16 March 2015, which was chaired by H.E. Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of Defence of Malaysia and attended by all Defence Ministers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The Meeting concluded with the Defence Ministers signing a Joint Declaration on Maintaining Regional Security and Stability for and by the People.

The main outcomes of the ADMM this year will contribute effectively to the overall ASEAN cooperation on disaster relief and humanitarian assistance (HADR). H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN, emphasised that “the work of the ADMM is crucial in contributing towards a more united and effective HADR response when a disaster strikes the region”. The Ministers adopted the Concept Papers on ASEAN Militaries Ready Group on HADR and the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre of Military Medicine.

The Ministers also endorsed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Utilisation of Military Assets for HADR under the Framework of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). This SOP will be a contribution to the existing SOP for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP).

NAY PYI TAW, 21 May 2014 - ASEAN Defence Ministers adopted two important documents, namely the Three-Year Work Programme 2014-2016 and the Concept Paper on Establishment of a Direct Communications Link at the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) which concluded yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.  The Work Programme will guide the direction of the defence cooperation under the ADMM, while the Direct Communication Link will provide rapid, reliable and confidential means for the ASEAN Defence Ministers to communicate with each other in time of crisis and emergency.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN, H. E. Le Luong Minh highlighted that “2015 is an important year for ASEAN to set the stage for the establishment of an ASEAN Community and the role of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting is pivotal in realising the ASEAN Political Security Community.”

Under the theme of ”Defence Cooperation Towards Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN Community,” the Ministers deliberated on the complex and fast-changing regional security environment, including traditional or non-traditional security challenges.  They also shared their views on approaches for further enhancing cooperation to reduce tension in view of the recent developments in the South China Sea. The Defence Ministers reflected on the critical role of the defence cooperation in maintaining ASEAN’s resilience in managing conflicts.  On non-traditional security issues, discussions ranged from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, cyber security, border security, and search and rescue operation.

PATTAYA, 23 October 2014 - Together with Delegations from the Medical Agencies of ASEAN Member States, some Plus Countries attended the Senior Medical Planner Workshop (SMP) during 20th to 24th October 2014 in Thailand Pattaya. The SMP is 5th ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine (EWG on MM) Meeting among the delegations from the Medical Agencies of ASEAN Member States and some Plus Countries that was intended to  implement  the ADMM-Plus EWG on MM 3-year work plan which was adopted by ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting-Plus (ADSOM-Plus) in April 2013, Brunei Darussalam.

The objective of discussion is to share ideas and help develop guideline to establish ASEAN Military Medicine Coordination Centre. The meeting touched on the experiences of MM in HADR of ADMM-Plus countries and the need for accurate medical information from affected countries and assisting countries such as POC, geography, legal system. It also discussed the objectives to establish ASEAN Military Medicine Coordination Centre, cost sharing, rotation of commander and staff officers, roles, capabilities, functions, mechanism and structures of ASEAN Military Medicine Coordination Centre. Finally, the meeting agreed to change the name from ASEAN Military Medicine Coordination Centre to ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine. The result of this meeting will be developed into the draft concept paper on ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine mechanism and structure which will be proposed to ADMM-Plus for adoption in Malaysia next year.

Jervis Bay, 30 September 2013 - The inaugural ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Maritime Security Field Training Exercise commenced yesterday in and around Jervis Bay and the East Australian Exercise Area.

The exercise is the flagship activity under Australia and Malaysia’s co-chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security.

The exercise will be jointly commanded by Co-Exercise directors Rear Admiral Dato Nasaruddin bin Othman from Malaysia and Commodore Peter Leavy from Australia.

CDRE Leavy said the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security exercise is focused on building a common understanding.

“The overarching goal is to promote information sharing and develop a baseline for communications at sea between ADMM-Plus countries.

“Force elements from Malaysia, Australia, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam will participate in the exercise.