Timor-Leste's Asean entry gets full support from regional leaders
Speaking to the media at the 46th Asean Summit, he expressed confidence that his country would be able to meet all the necessary criteria under the Asean legal framework.
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New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Taiwan simulation reveals Singapore as lifeline
THE exercise presented a fraught scenario: China's military had blockaded Taiwan by air and sea, and Southeast Asian countries were grappling with how to evacuate as many as one million of their nationals trapped on the besieged island. Over two days in April at a Singapore hotel, some 40 participants and observers in the war game, including serving and retired Asia-Pacific officials and military officers, as well as security scholars, simulated their responses to the unfolding crisis, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Hours ticked by as some players weighed unified action through Asean, while others reached out to the mock United States, Chinese and Japanese delegates to negotiate special air and sea corridors to extract foreign nationals. Eventually, the people said, a stark conclusion emerged: Southeast Asian states needed a Singaporean airlift to have a chance of evacuating their people. "Nothing was moving until the Singaporeans stepped in at the 11th hour," said one participant in the event at the Jen Singapore Tanglin hotel. "They had found a way of getting their own people out, and offered to get others out, too." Reflecting its discreet and decades-old security presence inside Taiwan, where its forces train, Singapore was able to leverage access to airfields and aircraft, said the person. But the exercise ended before any detailed discussion of how Singapore had reached a deal with China to secure an evacuation route through the blockade, or how precisely it would work, said three of the people. Southeast Asians account for about 94 per cent of the almost one million foreign residents in Taiwan, according to Taiwan's National Immigration Agency. Indonesians, Vietnamese and Filipinos make up the vast majority of those foreigners, with comparatively small numbers of Japanese and Americans. Singapore's Defence Ministry said it wasn't involved in the "workshop" and none of its officials attended in any capacity. China's Foreign Ministry said it wasn't aware of the circumstances of the exercise. The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, which organised the exercise, said participants had attended in their private capacities, and that it could not comment on "discussions, attendees, or any other elements". Drew Thompson, a Singapore-based security scholar, said it was vital for Southeast Asian countries to move beyond war games and contingency discussions to build meaningful, unofficial ties with Taiwan, particularly its military. These countries have diplomatic ties with Beijing and don't officially recognise Taipei. "The big takeaway here is that a plan is one thing but you need the access and the relationships to put it into play," said Thompson, of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, who wasn't involved in the exercise. "Singapore has long had these ties, the Philippines is building them, but it remains an open question whether the other countries in Southeast Asia have the unofficial networks in place to meaningfully engage with Taiwan in a conflict." Given recent drills in which Chinese vessels encircled Taiwan, some military attaches and analysts say any attempt by Beijing to seize the island could start with a blockade, which would be considered an act of war under international law. The risks are felt acutely in Singapore, a financial and shipping hub that hosts US Navy ships and surveillance aircraft yet maintains strong cultural, diplomatic and economic ties with China. Singaporean forces have conducted military training in Taiwan since 1975, under an arrangement known as Project Starlight. The presence is seldom publicly acknowledged by officials in Singapore, which does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. But it remains important to Singapore's defence forces, according to seven diplomats and security scholars familiar with the matter. Singapore rotates up to 3,000 infantry troops and commandos annually through three training camps in southern Taiwan, according to five of the seven people. Singapore's forces also train regularly in Australia, France, Brunei and the US. Yet an outbreak of war in Taiwan could trap Singapore's forces there or render them bargaining chips that could give China military and diplomatic leverage over Singapore, according to some analysts and military attaches. The writers are from Reuters
Borneo Post
9 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Malaysia reaffirms commitment to effective South China Sea Code of Conduct
The Asean delegations in a photo call during the 48th Meeting of the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the DOC (JWG-DOC) and the 24th Asean-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC (SOM-DOC) – Photo from Wisma Putra KUCHING (Aug 11): Malaysia has reiterated its commitment to advancing a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea, underscoring the importance of peace, security, and stability in the Asean region. The Foreign Affairs Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement said the COC, currently being negotiated by Asean Member States and China, aims to address key issues in the disputed waters constructively, while fostering mutual trust, confidence-building and constructive dialogue among the parties. 'It is also envisaged to serve as a meaningful instrument in ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes and the prevention of tensions in the region. 'The negotiations are being held under the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which was signed on Nov 4, 2002, as a shared commitment between Asean and China,' the statement read. According to the ministry, five rounds of COC negotiations have been scheduled this year with one in Jakarta in February, Manila in April, Kuching in August, Singapore in September, and China in November. 'Malaysia remains deeply committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the DOC by all parties. 'At the same time, Malaysia remains committed to advancing a substantive and effective COC that constructively addresses key issues in the South China Sea, while safeguarding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and national interests,' it said. Wisma Putra noted that efforts on both the DOC and COC reflect Malaysia's ongoing role in fostering regional dialogue and cooperation under the Asean-China framework, particularly in promoting peace, stability and mutual trust in the South China Sea. This week, Malaysia is hosting the 48th Meeting of the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the DOC (JWG-DOC) and the 24th Asean-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC (SOM-DOC) in Kuching from Aug 11 to 14. The last time Malaysia hosted the meetings was in 2019. In addition to chairing Asean in 2025, Malaysia is also serving as the Country Coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations from Aug 2024 to July 2027, co-chairing discussions with China on the DOC's implementation and the COC negotiations.
Malaysian Reserve
11 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia hosts ASEAN-China meetings on South China Sea in Kuching
KUCHING — Malaysia is once again hosting key ASEAN-China negotiations on the South China Sea, with the 48th Meeting of the ASEAN-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (JWG-DOC) and the 24th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration (SOM-DOC) taking place here from today until Aug 14. In a statement today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) said the meetings aim to further strengthen the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which was signed on Nov 4, 2002 by ASEAN Member States and China. 'The DOC reflects the shared commitment of ASEAN and China to work towards the finalisation of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), which is envisaged to contribute meaningfully to regional peace, security and stability. 'Under the DOC framework, various cooperative initiatives have been undertaken to build trust and confidence, as well as to promote constructive dialogue in addressing differences,' it said. The statement said currently, ASEAN and China are actively engaged in developing the COC through the established mechanisms of the JWG-DOC and SOM-DOC. Meanwhile, Wisma Putra said as ASEAN Chair in 2025 and Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations from August 2024 to July 2027, Malaysia also serves as Co-Chair alongside China in steering discussions on the implementation of the DOC and COC negotiations. 'Malaysia remains deeply committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the DOC by all parties, while also advancing a substantive and effective COC that constructively addresses key issues in the South China Sea, and safeguards its sovereignty, sovereign rights and national interests,' it added. This year, five rounds of COC negotiations are being held in various ASEAN and Chinese cities — Jakarta in February, Manila (April), Kuching (August), Singapore (September) and China (November). Malaysia last hosted these meetings in 2019. Wisma Putra said this year's hosting reflects the country's continued commitment to fostering regional dialogue and cooperation under the ASEAN-China framework, particularly in promoting peace, stability, mutual trust as well as the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea. — BERNAMA
