The Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies at RSIS hosted the roundtable titled “The Emerging Biosecurity Landscape in Southeast Asia” on 23 and 24 July 2024. This event brought together a diverse group of experts from five Southeast Asian countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – from fields such as public health, security, academia, and the biotech industry, to focus on pressing regional biosecurity issues.
The roundtable generated a candid exchange of views on the range of biosecurity risks and challenges facing Southeast Asia. This was chaired by Professor Mely Caballero-Anthony, who is Head of the NTS Centre at RSIS and Lead of the Biosecurity and International Security Programme at the newly established Asian Centre for Health Security.
Experts examined the region’s current state of biosecurity governance and recommended policies for improvement moving forward. Security experts discussed best practices for strengthening regional security frameworks and enhancing information sharing to counteract emerging security threats, including cyberbiosecurity and bioterrorism. Biotechnology experts highlighted the importance of fostering a supportive environment for research and development, balanced with sufficient safeguards to reduce the risk of misuse. Measures such as rigorous personnel screening, monitoring and strict access protocols were recommended to mitigate the risk of both outsider and insider threats. Finally, public health experts argued that, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for enhanced regional cooperation in disease surveillance, outbreak response, and vaccination efforts to prepare for future pandemics caused by emerging infectious diseases. This should be done within a broader One Health framework that considers human, animal, plant and environmental health.
Mr Julius Trajano, on behalf of the NTS Centre’s biosecurity team, presented its baseline report which provided a comprehensive summary of the current state of regional public health, security, and biotechnology-related concerns. The report includes key challenges and opportunities, as well as data-driven insights and policy recommendations for integrated regional approaches to address complex, interconnected biosecurity issues. This presentation sparked engaging discussions among participants, reinforcing the urgency of joint efforts to enhance resilience and sustainable development in Southeast Asia.
