SINGAPORE, June 3 - Singapore wants the evolution of security architecture in the region to be proactively guided rather than allowed to evolve carelessly.
Noting that changes in the region's strategic landscape would "fundamentally alter the regional security architecture", Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said that allowing it to evolve on its own might lead to structures that encouraged "adversarial and divisive instincts".
"If we proactively guide the evolution of the regional security architecture, embracing ideals of openness, inclusiveness, collective responsibility and mutual respect, we would lay the foundation for enduring peace and stability," he said at the Asia Security Summit dubbed the Shangri-La Dialogue, here.
Asia Pacific is home to a series of security frameworks that often overlap each other, with the United States playing a key role in some of the initiatives.
The largest is the 26-member Asean Regional Forum as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation which has expanded its agenda to include security issues such as terrorism and total supply chain security.
There is also the Five Power Defence Arrangements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Teo said that the existing security networks would evolve over time to reflect changes in the region.
"This web of old and new constructs is far from perfect. Some fora reflect a past that may no longer be relevant while the others reflect a future that has not yet arrived," he said.
He said the evolution should be guided based on broad principles that the regional security was a collective responsibility; that the security architecture should be inclusive; and that the cooperation should be based on mutual respect and in accordance with international law.
"All countries, big or small, as well as international organisations such as the United Nations have a role to play.
"We should not let traditional notions of geography limit our framework of cooperation. We should create new opportunities for cooperation and collective security, not create new divides in the region," he added.
Noting that changes in the region's strategic landscape would "fundamentally alter the regional security architecture", Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said that allowing it to evolve on its own might lead to structures that encouraged "adversarial and divisive instincts".
"If we proactively guide the evolution of the regional security architecture, embracing ideals of openness, inclusiveness, collective responsibility and mutual respect, we would lay the foundation for enduring peace and stability," he said at the Asia Security Summit dubbed the Shangri-La Dialogue, here.
Asia Pacific is home to a series of security frameworks that often overlap each other, with the United States playing a key role in some of the initiatives.
The largest is the 26-member Asean Regional Forum as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation which has expanded its agenda to include security issues such as terrorism and total supply chain security.
There is also the Five Power Defence Arrangements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Teo said that the existing security networks would evolve over time to reflect changes in the region.
"This web of old and new constructs is far from perfect. Some fora reflect a past that may no longer be relevant while the others reflect a future that has not yet arrived," he said.
He said the evolution should be guided based on broad principles that the regional security was a collective responsibility; that the security architecture should be inclusive; and that the cooperation should be based on mutual respect and in accordance with international law.
"All countries, big or small, as well as international organisations such as the United Nations have a role to play.
"We should not let traditional notions of geography limit our framework of cooperation. We should create new opportunities for cooperation and collective security, not create new divides in the region," he added.
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