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ASEAN Foreign Ministers underline need to address cybersecurity challenges

VGP – ASEAN Foreign Ministers have issued a Joint Communique underlining the need to address cybersecurity challenges in a holistic manner to ensure an open, secure, stable, accessible and resilient cyberspace to support the digital economy.

July 31, 2019 5:56 PM GMT+7

The regional diplomats emphasized the need to enhance regional cybersecurity cooperation through a feasible coordination mechanism on cybersecurity across the three ASEAN Community pillars, the Communique reads.

They voiced support for cybersecurity activities and training programs of the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (ASCCE) in Singapore and the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Center (AJCCBC) in Bangkok, which will complement existing ASEAN efforts in cybersecurity capacity building.

Regarding peace and security domain, the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their  commitment to promoting sustainable security in the region by reinforcing strategic trust and mutual confidence within ASEAN and in the wider Asia-Pacific region and reaffirming the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) as well as its application to this wider region. 

The Foreign Ministers also welcomed the endorsement of the draft Practical Arrangements (PA) between ASEAN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the ASEAN SOM and looked forward to the signing of the PA, which will serve as the overall framework for future collaboration in the areas of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards as well as nuclear technologies and their applications. 

For the East Sea issue, they  reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the East Sea and recognized the benefits of having the East Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity.

They emphasized the need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the COC negotiations, and thus welcomed practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation, according to the Communique.

The Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in the East Sea, during which concerns were expressed on the land reclamations, activities and serious incidents in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.

They reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

They also emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the DOC that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the East Sea./.

By Quang Minh