Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Malaysia on Friday called on fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to expand their security partnership from the high seas to cyberspace at the annual meeting of the bloc’s defense ministers.
Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin opened the meeting by warning that regional peace faces increasing pressure from both traditional and emerging threats, including rising tensions in the South China Sea and the spread of cyber attacks that “could topple governments and disrupt societies.”
“Today the threats transcend borders and dimensions,” he said. “We see the challenges in the South China Sea. But we must also understand that our digital sphere is equally at risk. The threats that test our networks and systems may be invisible, but are just as dangerous as those that threaten our maritime zones.
asean The Defense Minister will interact with dialogue partners including the United States, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea and Russia on Saturday. US Secretary of Defense also among those attending pete hegsethwho arrived late Wednesday night, and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.
Khalid also urged all ASEAN countries to expedite the formation of an ASEAN observer team to support Thailand and Cambodia in resolving their border crisis. On Sunday, both countries signed an extended ceasefire agreement in the presence of the US President. donald trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is this year’s ASEAN chair.
Khalid also reiterated ASEAN’s commitment to support a peaceful resolution to the civil war. myanmaradding that the bloc was committed to helping the country “return to its rightful place in ASEAN”.
Myanmar’s military government leaders have been barred from ASEAN meetings after failing to adhere to the bloc’s five-point 2021 consensus on peace and dialogue.
Myanmar has been gripped by conflict since a military takeover in 2021 ousted its elected government, sparking widespread protests and international condemnation.