Myanmar's actions risk undermining Asean centrality: Ng Eng Hen

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Asean was at an impasse on certain issues after Myanmar's objection.

- Mike Yeo

Myanmar's objection to Asean engaging more partners for defence cooperation risks undermining the Asean centrality that has been painstakingly built over more than two decades of defence cooperation, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Nov 20.

Speaking after the 18th Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Vientiane, Laos, Dr Ng said Asean was at an impasse on certain issues discussed at the meeting due to Myanmar's sole objection.

He warned that the ADMM will lose credibility if the impasse continued, and called on Myanmar to "not use Asean to engage in the politics of retaliation".

Following a March meeting, the ADMM said it was considering accepting new members for its expanded defence meeting platform, the ADMM-Plus, which currently includes eight dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US.