KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Asean member states should not allow overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea to fracture the peace and solidarity in the region, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

Speaking at the 20th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), Mohamed Khaled said the Asean solidarity is one of the bloc’s greatest strengths that must be preserved.

“The South China Sea represents one of the most consequential tests of Asean’s unity, credibility, and commitment to its founding principles,” Mohamed Khaled told his Asean counterparts in Cebu, the Philippines yesterday.

“Several member states have overlapping maritime claims, and each has legitimate interests in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial rights.

“But no dispute, however deeply rooted, should be allowed to fracture Asean or undermine the peace we have spent decades building,” he said.

Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, China and Vietnam have competing claims over territories in the contested waters.

Asean and China signed a non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DoC) in 2002 and talks for a binding Code of Conduct (CoC) have been underway since 2013. Both parties are reportedly expecting to finalise the CoC by end of this year.

Stronger regional disaster response capability needed

As the region increasingly grapple with the ravages of climate change, Mohamed Khaled said Asean requires a stronger, more coordinated and effective regional disaster response capability.

He pointed out that Asean already has essential mechanisms in place, such as the Asean Militaries Ready Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (AMRG on HADR).

The mechanism provides a framework to coordinate military assistance and facilitate the deployment of military assets to disaster-affected areas, which was reflected in Asean’s response to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last year.

“We must now build upon these foundations to strengthen operational readiness, improve coordination and ensure that our armed forces can respond swiftly and effectively when disasters strike,” he said.

Confronting new threats

Established in 2006, the ADMM marked its 20th anniversary this year under the chairmanship of the Philippines with the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together”.

As such, Mohamed Khaled called on the ADMM to develop strong local and regional capacity to respond to new non-traditional threats effectively.

“The threats confronting Asean today are more complex, more interconnected, and potentially more destructive than ever before.

“We must acknowledge that non-traditional threats are no longer distant possibilities. These threats are real, recurring and increasingly difficult to ignore,” he said.

Mohamed Khaled also reminded his counterparts that Asean member states cannot effectively combat the evolving security challenges by working in silos.

“No Asean member state, regardless of its resources, can address these challenges entirely on its own.

“Asean’s future cannot be secured by any one member state acting alone.

“Our strength rests on the trust we build among ourselves, our willingness to manage differences constructively, and our determination to uphold the wider interests of the region,” he added.