Indonesia calls for more synergy of ASEAN defense forces chiefs

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

ANTARA News Agency 

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has called for more synergy of ASEAN defense forces chiefs to respond various challenges and threats to regional stability.

"Defense forces chiefs must be more synergic and productive to be able to respond to various challenges and threats that could endanger regional security," Indonesia`s defense forces commander Admiral Agus Suhartono said when meeting with defense attaches of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations here on Wednesday.

He said the issue would be one of the topics of discussion to be focused at the 8th ASEAN Chief of Defense Forces Informal Meeting from March 30 to April 1 2011 in Indonesia.

Agus said besides increasing cooperation among defense forces chiefs of ASEAN the forum would also discuss security situation in South China Sea following various regional and global issues linked to the region.

"Based on monitoring security in the South China Sea is now escalating following a shift of issue to the region," he said.

He said the ASEAN defense forces must continue to increase their cooperation so that they could anticipate various security challenges and threats both traditional and non-traditional on the stability of the region to support regional economic growth.