Asean defense chiefs mulling 'hotline' for closer communication

MANILA, Philippines - Southeast Asian defense ministers are looking at setting up a hotline to keep their communication open and to ease tensions in the region.

Peter Galvez, spokesman of the Department of National Defense, said the matter was discussed during the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Retreat in Brunei last August 28.

The retreat is an informal meeting among defense ministers that was meant to be a follow-up of the 7th ADMM held last May.

“The Ministers explored initiatives that are intended to help reduce tensions and risks and manage potential conflict in the region,” Galvez 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.

The meeting also tackled key regional and international security issues including defense cooperation in anticipation of the establishment of the Asean community by 2015.

After the retreat, the defense ministers met with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to compare security outlooks. They also talked about common concerns and political security cooperation.

The US and Southeast defense ministers have been conducting such meetings since 2011.

Among the security concerns in the region is the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea, which involves the Philippines, China, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan. China and Japan are also embroiled in a territorial row over Senkaku Islands, which China calls Diaoyu Islands.