No Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue without a peaceful, united Asean, says Defense Minister
Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin emphasized that Indo-Pacific security dialogue requires a peaceful and united ASEAN. He reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment to neutrality and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation as the primary framework for regional stability.
Why it matters
It highlights the ongoing geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific and the strategic importance of ASEAN's non-aligned stance amidst competition between global powers.
KUALA LUMPUR: No meaningful dialogue or engagement regarding Indo-Pacific security can take place without a peaceful and united Asean, Malaysia's Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Monday (Aug 3).
He underscored that Southeast Asia sits at the geographical and strategic heart of the Indo-Pacific, making Asean's stability fundamental to the peace and security of the wider region.
Consequently, he reminded all external partners and global powers that Asean's established security architecture must remain the primary conduit for any substantive discourse on the Indo-Pacific.
"First and foremost, I would like to firmly state and remind everyone that Southeast Asia is, and must continue to remain, a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN).
“We do not believe that peace requires us to choose sides. Rather, peace requires us to engage all and respect all, while remaining strictly guided by our core principles and national interests," he said.
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