Asia’s defense chiefs sound the alarm on ISIS threat

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG — Southeast Asian defense officials are urging greater regional security cooperation to counter what they say is the growing threat of Islamic State-linked extremists.

The need to contain terrorist activity in the region was a common refrain among the defense ministers and top brass at the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s most highprofile security conference.

The host country’s defense chief, Ng Eng Hen, warned Sunday that terrorism was the region’s “biggest security concern” and said the potential of Islamic State fighters returning was growing as they lose ground in the middle east.

The warnings came amid condolences for the UK as news reports rolled in about the latest terrorist attack in London. Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was not at the summit, electing to stay home after President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared martial law to fight Islamic State-linked militants in the southern city of Marawi.

“Even as this conference ensued, events are unfolding in Marawi and London,” Mr. Ng said. “The ferocity of attacks in the UK, as recently as yesterday, and European countries, even when conducted by single individuals or small groups, are a grim reminder of the harm our citizens are exposed to, if ISIS-related or -inspired attacks occur here.”