- POSTED: 02 Jun 2013 12:33 PM
- UPDATED: 02 Jun 2013 10:24 PM
- TREND
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Speaking on Sunday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said this is a threat that exists today in a number of ways such as in matters of contested sovereignty and competing territorial claims.
SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said rising nationalism within individual countries in Asia can threaten stability in the region.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Dr Ng said regional frameworks are needed to balance rising nationalism.
In the East China Sea, strong nationalist sentiments have been roused in both China and Japan due to claims over islands there, called Diaoyu by the Chinese and Senkaku by the Japanese.
China has also defended its navy's patrol in the disputed South China Sea.
Qi Jianguo, China’s deputy chief of army, said: "Our attitude on the South China and East China seas is our Chinese sovereignty and we are very clear about that, so the Chinese warships and the patrolling activity are totally legitimate and it is uncontroversial to patrol within our territory."
Tensions also are running high over the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard in the South China Sea.
There have also been periodic skirmishes between ships from different territories.
Dr Ng said: "It is against this backdrop that existing regional and global networks play a much-needed and crucial role to help balance rising nationalism and keep, if not expand, our global common space. Without this framework, individual countries risk becoming increasingly insular at the expense of common goals."
This framework goes beyond security and includes arrangements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
It comprises ASEAN countries and six free trade agreement partners.
Dr Ng also pointed out the need to quickly establish channels of communication and other mechanisms to prevent the escalation of tensions in various territorial disputes. He suggested the possibility of increased information sharing especially between regional navies on their procedures in the event of incidents at sea.
Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Defence reiterated his country's suggestion for claimant states in a territorial dispute to enter into a "no first use of force" agreement.
Singapore supports this idea.
Brunei further proposes the setup of hotlines to quickly diffuse tensions at sea.
In addition, Dr Ng suggested stepping up practical cooperation among militaries to build understanding.
France’s defence minister expressed interest to join the ADMM-Plus, a security network consisting of ASEAN defence ministers and their eight other dialogue partners.
Dr Ng said: "I welcome the interest of other countries in the ADMM-Plus mechanism, but it is with the view that constant tension of having more representation and delivering effective outcomes that shapes out decision."
On the final day of the security summit, diplomats and defence chiefs were hosted to lunch by Dr Ng.
- CNA/fa/xq
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