Representatives of 27 countries in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) have discussed a wide range of security challenges at the ARF Defence Officials’ Dialogue (DOD) held via video link on May 20.

Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director General of the Foreign Relations Department, Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence. Photo: VNA

Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director General of the Foreign Relations Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence, joined the meeting that focused on the impact of emerging technologies on defense and security, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

At the meeting jointly chaired by Haji Adi Ihram Bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Policy and Strategy under Brunei’s Defence Ministry, and David Lewis, Assistant Secretary Southeast Asia under Australia’s Department of Defense, participants expressed concern over threats to defense and security and stressed on the need to ensure that the member states stay firm in the face of unprecedented challenges in the digitalization.

They discussed measures to narrow the gap in understanding of threats caused by emerging technologies to defense, security and mutual assistance in this field.

The representatives highlighted the defense cooperation against the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

Established in 1994, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is an important platform for security dialogue in the Indo-Pacific. It provides a setting in which members can discuss current security issues and develop cooperative measures to enhance peace and security in the region.

The ARF is characterized by consensus-based decision-making and frank dialogue. It comprises 27 members, including 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam); 10 ASEAN dialogue partners (Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the US); Bangladesh, North Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste; and one ASEAN observer (Papua New Guinea).

Australia was a founding member of the ARF.

The ARF has five work streams: Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime; Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Security; Disaster Relief; Maritime Security; and Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.