CLARK, the Philippines - The defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations agreed on Monday to step up counter-terrorism measures to prevent pro-Islamic State (IS) militant groups from gaining a stronghold in Southeast Asia.
At the end of their annual security meeting, the ASEAN ministers stressed the need to strongly address the “threat of radicalism” by making the peoples of the ASEAN aware of the perils of violent extremism.
In a joint declaration issued at the end of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), the ASEAN ministers emphasized the need “to enhance regional cooperation through intelligence and information sharing, increasing surveillance, and promoting awareness among the public about the threat of radicalism.”
They also vowed to collectively combat terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations in accordance with the ASEAN Convention on Counterterrorism and ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counterterrorism as well as identify ways to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation among ASEAN defense establishments.” (Xinhua)