KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — In a show of unity and purpose, the top military leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have come together to form a joint task force, marking a new chapter in regional cooperation. The goal? To confront non-traditional, cross-border threats — from cybercrimes and online fraud to natural disasters that know no boundaries.
General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, Chief of the Malaysian Defence Force, described the formation of this task force as “the most important step” to come out of the 22nd ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM), which began today and spans three days.
At a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart, General Romeo Brawner Jr., General Nizam said the task force would begin operations immediately, tackling issues that demand a coordinated and collective response across ASEAN borders.
“What we have is this combined task force to look into how we can foster cooperation and take joint action together,” Nizam said. “We will review and pay close attention to these matters in our next meeting in Manila, Philippines next year.”
While some may draw parallels with NATO, General Nizam clarified that ASEAN’s approach is unique. “It’s not exactly like NATO,” he noted. “But when a threat is directed at ASEAN countries, we will come together to discuss and act at the same level. That’s a step forward — though full evolution will take time as we continue to uphold ZOPFAN (Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality).”
Key Agreements from the 22nd ACDFM:
- Elevating ACDFM as the highest-level military forum within ASEAN.
- Reaffirming commitment to peaceful dispute resolution in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982.
- Enhancing trust through:
- The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES)
- Guidelines for Military Air Encounters
- Guidelines for Maritime Interaction
- Strengthened ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure
- Ongoing efforts under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)
In a symbolic handover, Malaysia passed the ACDFM chairmanship to the Philippines, which will host the next meeting in 2026.
