The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) has established a hotline to resolve maritime disputes and to ensure the line of communications between the countries remain open during a crisis, reports the Star.
The unveiling of the Direct Communications Link (DCL) took place as the region’s defence ministers continue efforts to bridge differences over the South China Sea maritime and territorial spat.
The meeting’s chair, Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, told reporters at a press conference yesterday that having the direct and secure communication method in place will prevent “emotional” or “irrational” behaviour from spiralling out of control and affecting peace in the region.
“The DCL aims to build confidence and trust and promote rapid response cooperation in times of emergency,” Hishammuddin said according to Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama. “Our biggest concern is unintended accidents and unintentional incidents in the high seas,” he added.
Singapore’s defence minister Ng Eng Hen welcomed the hotline, and highlighted the need for “countries to build relationships and links to build trust and avoid misunderstandings”.
“We are now a phone call away from each other. This hotline will reduce the risk of incidents at sea,” Dr Ng wrote.
ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN on matters related to defence.
Hishammuddin also said yesterday that Direct Communication Link will ensure speedy response to a crisis situation in the region among ASEAN Defence Ministers.
The agreement for installing the DCL hotline was signed yesterday between Brunei and a vendor. The initiative was mooted by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The DCL signing comes amid a tense time in the South China Sea after a U.S. warship finally sailed within 12 nautical miles of one of China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea, a move American officials had signaled for months.