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  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
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      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
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      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
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    • RSIS
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    • The Future of the ADMM/ADMM-Plus and Defence Diplomacy in the Asia Pacific
    • Annual Reviews
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    • Bulletins and Newsletters
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    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
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    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    The Future of the ADMM/ADMM-Plus and Defence Diplomacy in the Asia Pacific

    25 January 2016

    download pdf

    Executive Summary

    1. The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) has performed fairly well as an avenue for the ASEAN defence ministers to discuss and exchange views on Southeast Asian security issues, and has been relatively successful in the promotion of functional cooperation in the region. Its success can also be attributed to the ASEAN Way and the focus on non-traditional security matters. In spite of the non-issuance of a Joint Declaration in the 3rd ADMM-Plus, ASEAN centrality in the ADMM-Plus is widely seen to be still intact.
    1. However, sensitivities regarding sovereignty, as well as differences in viewpoints and capacities have limited regional cooperation. Moreover, the tensions over territorial disputes, major power rivalry, mistrust and arms build-up in the region have complicated the maintenance of ASEAN centrality. The ADMM also has institutional hurdles that may impede improvements to its efficacy.
    1. As such, ASEAN needs to continue to be the regional leader and speak with a stronger voice. In addition, the ADMM and ADMM-Plus must be better synergised, and the ADMM framework should be able to better feed into other high level forums like the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. In addition, the ADMM should continue cooperating with external partners so as to mobilise further resources. In sum, the ADMM needs to develop a strategic vision for the next five to ten years, while consolidating existing mechanisms and initiatives.
    1. At the same time, the ADMM-Plus is a good forum for external countries to engage with the core ASEAN countries, giving the defence establishments of the Plus countries greater access to their counterparts with ASEAN member states. The ADMM-Plus also differentiates itself as more than a talk shop by focusing on practical functional cooperation as embodied in its Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs), as well as on confidence and capacity building.
    1. Nonetheless, the geopolitical uncertainties as stated above also have an impact on the ADMM-Plus. The focus on non-contentious issues has also led to the avoidance of the “hard” defence issues, and there is a need for the ADMM-Plus to step up from cooperation in familiar functional areas. Although the slow pace of decision-making may actually lead to lowered tensions, events may still develop more rapidly than the pace of the ASEAN processes.
    1. All in all, the United States hopes to promote burden-sharing in the region, while Japan aims to consolidate a rules and norms-based regional framework as part of their engagement with the ADMM-Plus. China similarly supports the ASEAN processes and the ASEAN Way.
    Categories: Commemorative / Event Reports / International Politics and Security / Regionalism and Multilateralism / East Asia and Asia Pacific / Southeast Asia and ASEAN
    Related events: Roundtable by Regional Security Architecture Programme, IDSS, RSIS

    Last updated on 25/01/2016

    Executive Summary

    1. The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) has performed fairly well as an avenue for the ASEAN defence ministers to discuss and exchange views on Southeast Asian security issues, and has been relatively successful in the promotion of functional cooperation in the region. Its success can also be attributed to the ASEAN Way and the focus on non-traditional security matters. In spite of the non-issuance of a Joint Declaration in the 3rd ADMM-Plus, ASEAN centrality in the ADMM-Plus is widely seen to be still intact.
    1. However, sensitivities regarding sovereignty, as well as differences in viewpoints and capacities have limited regional cooperation. Moreover, the tensions over territorial disputes, major power rivalry, mistrust and arms build-up in the region have complicated the maintenance of ASEAN centrality. The ADMM also has institutional hurdles that may impede improvements to its efficacy.
    1. As such, ASEAN needs to continue to be the regional leader and speak with a stronger voice. In addition, the ADMM and ADMM-Plus must be better synergised, and the ADMM framework should be able to better feed into other high level forums like the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. In addition, the ADMM should continue cooperating with external partners so as to mobilise further resources. In sum, the ADMM needs to develop a strategic vision for the next five to ten years, while consolidating existing mechanisms and initiatives.
    1. At the same time, the ADMM-Plus is a good forum for external countries to engage with the core ASEAN countries, giving the defence establishments of the Plus countries greater access to their counterparts with ASEAN member states. The ADMM-Plus also differentiates itself as more than a talk shop by focusing on practical functional cooperation as embodied in its Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs), as well as on confidence and capacity building.
    1. Nonetheless, the geopolitical uncertainties as stated above also have an impact on the ADMM-Plus. The focus on non-contentious issues has also led to the avoidance of the “hard” defence issues, and there is a need for the ADMM-Plus to step up from cooperation in familiar functional areas. Although the slow pace of decision-making may actually lead to lowered tensions, events may still develop more rapidly than the pace of the ASEAN processes.
    1. All in all, the United States hopes to promote burden-sharing in the region, while Japan aims to consolidate a rules and norms-based regional framework as part of their engagement with the ADMM-Plus. China similarly supports the ASEAN processes and the ASEAN Way.
    Categories: Commemorative / Event Reports / International Politics and Security / Regionalism and Multilateralism
    Related events: Roundtable by Regional Security Architecture Programme, IDSS, RSIS

    Last updated on 25/01/2016

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    Latest Book
    The Future of the ADMM/ADMM-Plus and Defence Diplomacy in the Asia Pacific

    Executive Summary

    1. The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) has performed fairly well as an avenue for the ASEAN defence ministers ...
    more info