The ADMM Retreat, one of many ASEAN military-defense events that Vietnam will hold as ASEAN Chair for 2020, plays an important role in orienting regional defense cooperation for 2020 and preparing for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus later this year.

Responsiveness promoted

The Joint Statement on cooperation against disease outbreaks demonstrates the responsiveness of ASEAN members to non-traditional security challenges that no country can singlehandedly deal with. Vo Chien Thang, Director of the External Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense, said: “In the context of the rapid spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, Vietnamese defense agencies have consulted with ASEAN countries to work out a Joint Statement of ASEAN Defense Ministers on cooperation against disease outbreaks. The statement received support from ASEAN countries. Singapore and Cambodia want to co-sponsor the initiative. “

At the ADMM Retreat Meeting, ASEAN countries praised Vietnam’s preparations for ASEAN Year 2020 and initiatives to promote cooperation in coping with the new coronavirus and organizing roundtable talks on disease response. They agreed to boost cooperation against disease outbreaks based on current ASEAN initiatives and mechanisms including the ASEAN Center of Military Medicine and a meeting of ASEAN chemical, biological, and radiological defense experts. Vu Tien Trong, Director of the Institute for Defense International Relations under the Ministry of National Defense, said: "The Joint Statement was applauded by ASEAN and other regional countries. The ASEAN Secretary General said the statement was issued in a record time, less than 2 days demonstrating ASEAN Defense Minsters’ acumen and responsiveness and ASEAN people’s hope of containing the epidemic as soon as possible. The statement is a lesson on staying vigilant and being prepared and responsive to any non-traditional security challenge."

Vietnam contributes to ASEAN’s defense cooperation

Long before the ADMM Retreat meeting, the Vietnamese Defense Ministry had identified disease prevention as the primary task to ensure the success of the meeting. Vietnam had implemented co-ordinated measures including checking delegates’ health at the airports, disinfecting meeting venues, and setting up mobile military medical teams. ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi said he is impressed with Vietnam’s thorough preparations for the meeting saying agenda discussed at the meeting were direct and open toward preparation for upcoming ADMM and ADMM+ meetings. He said the Defense Ministers’ consensus on a Join Statement on cooperation against disease outbreaks reflects host Vietnam’s leading role in the region as well as unity and cooperation within ASEAN in dealing with newly emerging challenges like the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Joint Statement matches the theme “Cohesive and Responsive” for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and proves that ASEAN countries can move forward with further joint action programs in health security.