The Philippine Star

Asean defense chiefs to set up hotline

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

Southeast sian defense ministers plan to set up a hotline to eep their communicat­ions open and ease tension in the region.

efense department spo esman eter alve said the matter as discussed during the ssociation of Southeast sian ations efense inisters eeting etreat in runei last ednesda .

he retreat is an informal meeting among defense ministers that as a follo - up to the th held last a .

he ministers e plored initiative­s that are intended to help reduce tensions and ris s and manage potential conflict in the region, alve said in a statement.

Such initiative­s include proposals to establish a hotline platform, common lines and informatio­n sharing, and an agreement not to use force to address disputes, he added.

he meeting also tac led e regional and internatio­nal securit issues, including defense cooperatio­n in anticipati­on of the establishm­ent of the S ssociation of Southeast sian ations communit b .

fter the meeting, the defense ministers met ith US efense Secretar huc agel to compare securit outloo s.

he also tal ed about common concerns and political securit cooperatio­n.

Southeast sian defense officials and the US have been conducting such meetings since .

mong the securit concerns in the region is the territoria­l dispute in the est hilippine Sea and South hina Sea, hich involves the hilippines, hina, runei, ietnam and ai an.

hina and apan are also embroiled in a territoria­l ro over Sen a u slands, hich hina calls iao u slands.

 ??  ?? Women carry their children during a medical mission for flood victims by the United Nations Population Fund in Tondo, Manila last Friday.
Women carry their children during a medical mission for flood victims by the United Nations Population Fund in Tondo, Manila last Friday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines