Kuala lumpur: Malaysia today called on ASEAN member states to act in unison to safeguard regional maritime stability, cautioning that failure to do so could expose the region to external interference. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stressed that the region can no longer afford complacency in the face of mounting maritime challenges, urging nations to stand ready to collaborate and co-create a more secure maritime future.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the minister emphasized that challenges within the region's maritime domain are becoming increasingly complex, encompassing traditional power rivalries and territorial disputes, as well as non-traditional threats such as illegal fishing, cyber intrusions, and disinformation campaigns. Mohamed Khaled identified three priority areas to reinforce ASEAN's maritime cooperation framework. He underscored the need to uphold the bloc's centrality and neutrality amid intensifying external pressures, including grey-zone tactics, foreign incursions, and maritime coercion.
The minister further advocated for ASEAN to remain the anchor of maritime order in the region, with international laws, particularly UNCLOS 1982 (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), forming the foundation of cooperation. He urged ASEAN to move beyond rhetoric and implement practical ASEAN-led maritime cooperation. To this end, Malaysia proposed several initiatives including the ASEAN Maritime Innovation Challenge (AMIC) and the ASEAN Naval Sport Cup to promote collaboration and innovation.
Additionally, Mohamed Khaled proposed a region-wide ASEAN naval project to advance technology adoption, enhance human capital, and build naval capabilities through joint development programs. He invited all ASEAN nations to explore a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society (WOGOS) approach in tackling modern maritime threats, emphasizing its strategic necessity to integrate defence, diplomacy, and enforcement across various agencies.
The 19th ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting (ANCM), chaired by Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Datuk Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain, is a high-level gathering aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and trust. The meeting, themed 'Advancing the ASEAN Navies' Unity - Synergising Innovation and Technology in Strengthening ASEAN Maritime Security', brings together 88 naval delegates from the 10 ASEAN countries, along with observers from Timor-Leste. It also includes participation in the ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise (AMNEX) segment, involving 10 ASEAN naval ships and around 1,350 officers and personnel.