Thayer Consultancy

Background Briefing:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

ASEAN Defence Ministers and

Ecological Security?
Carlyle A. Thayer
May 22, 2016
[client name deleted]
Cambodias defense minister attended the ASEAN Defense Ministers conference in
Vientiane, Laos this week. The ASEAN countries are set to sign an agreement on
disaster relief cooperation. The Cambodian Defense Ministry announced:
"The ASEAN defense ministers will sign two documents about technological security and
cooperation in disaster relief which remained a common regional concern from the
recent drought, says Defense Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat
Regional military cooperation is very important, as it would help each other in sharing
information on relief for the people who are affected by flood and drought as the cause
of climate change, said Socheat. The gathering of both militaries and equipment will
contribute to a fast response to relief in the region as well as in individual country.

I would like your assessment of whether what we're seeing here is ecological
security pushing regional integration in a substantial way. How likely is it that the
immense stressors of climate-related disasters might actually bring about some
serious cooperation between the region's militaries?
ANSWER: Military-to-military cooperation is always mired by suspicions and other
difficulties. The easiest path is to pick the low hanging fruit such as humanitarian
assistance, disaster relief and search and rescue. These are invariably the first steps.
These activities are aimed at practical results as they address transnational security
issues with high impact and high probability of occurring. To a certain extent they
build confidence and trust among participants. In some cases, such as airline
disasters like the MH 370, there is an obligation to take part in search and rescue
under ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) conventions. All ASEAN
countries, including Cambodia, took part in the search for MH 370. The military is
usually engaged as first responder for natural disasters because it has the assets,
communication systems and a disciplined force. Since natural disasters usually affect
two or more countries simultaneously this is an obvious area for international
cooperation.
Cooperation in addressing natural disasters is being undertaken by members of
ASEAN in a regional context as witnessed by exercises conducted under the auspices
of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) whose objectives include, among
others, To enhance regional peace and stability through cooperation in defence and

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security, in view of the transnational security challenges the region faces. This
cooperation also has been extended under the auspices of the ADMM Plus Working
Groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management and Military
Medicine. These two Working Groups hold joint exercises among the ten members
of ASEAN and their eight dialogue partners (Plus).
To a certain extent transnational security challenges, including environmental
security issues, are driving regional military-to-military cooperation. I would caution
that this process has been quite limited although it has the potential to grow and
expand. It is also likely that military-to-military cooperation will not advance
significantly into hard or conventional security cooperation. In other words, the
recent agreements reached by ASEAN Defence Ministers reflect a trend that has
been underway for a number of years. It represents incremental progress not a
break through.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, ASEAN Defence Ministers and Ecological

Security?, Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, May 22, 2016. All background
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