By Amb. Gurjit Singh (R)
The latest ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) took place in Penang, Malaysia, on February 26, at a crucial time for regional security.
The retreat provided an opportunity for ASEAN Defense Ministers to engage in informal discussions on maintaining ASEAN unity, enhancing regional cooperation to address emerging security challenges, and integrating modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the defense sector.
Defense ministers from all ASEAN countries or their representatives attended the meeting. Timor-Leste, currently an observer, also participated; in accordance with ASEAN norms, Myanmar was represented by a non-political delegate.
ASEAN is facing several territorial disputes, particularly between the Philippines and China. In addition, cyber threats and broader global strategic tensions require ASEAN to demonstrate greater unity and resolve. Indonesia’s Defense Minister emphasized that by prioritizing diplomacy, solidarity, and closer relations among ASEAN members, the region can remain a pillar of global stability, ensuring peace and prosperity.
Malaysia’s Defense Minister, Dato’ Seri Mohammed Khalid bin Noordin, chaired the discussions on technological advancements in the defense sector. A key outcome was the adoption of a joint statement on cooperation in the field of AI. This aligns with ASEAN’s efforts to address non-traditional security challenges that many member states face.
ASEAN now recognizes the misuse and exploitation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and AI as major threats. In response, the organization has developed an ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, established a new ASEAN Working Group on AI Governance, and introduced the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap. These initiatives aim to complement existing frameworks and foster regional collaboration.
The ADMM acknowledged UN Resolution 79/239 on AI in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security, adopted at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Recognizing the potential of AI in defense while mitigating its risks, ASEAN countries expressed their intention to find common ground. The discussion also noted that AI is increasingly being incorporated into military applications across ASEAN defense institutions, perhaps at an uncoordinated, national policy level.
ASEAN understands the need to bridge digital and AI capability gaps among its member states. Strengthening regional cooperation and capacity-building in AI for defense was a key theme, with an emphasis on sharing best practices and lessons learned among ASEAN members and their partners. Such engagement could help prevent divisions in how AI is integrated into military strategies across the region.
ASEAN is particularly keen on AI’s role in supporting its cyber defense network, including the ADMM Cyber Security and Information Center of Excellence and the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Cyber Security. While the joint statement reflected strong intent, it lacked concrete action points.
Notably, the ADMM did not issue statements on pressing regional issues such as the South China Sea disputes, tensions with China, or the situation in Myanmar, which remains a sensitive topic.
This meeting occurred against the backdrop of significant geopolitical shifts, including developments in U.S. governance under the Trump administration, which is recalibrating relations with allies in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. While not formally included in the joint statement, discussions at the ADMM retreat also touched on China’s military maneuvers in the Indo-Pacific.
These included a series of live military exercises from the Taiwan Strait to the Tasman Sea, aimed at testing the responses of the U.S., Australia, Taiwan, and other regional stakeholders.
China appears to be capitalizing on the perception that the U.S. is preoccupied with issues related to Russia, Europe, Ukraine, and trade disputes. Beijing has used this window of opportunity to conduct military exercises that challenge U.S. allies in the region. Chinese military activities are probing the defenses of various Indo-Pacific powers, particularly those aligned with the United States.
Among the notable incidents was China’s live-fire training approximately 75 kilometers off Taiwan’s southwestern coast. In response, Taiwan deployed military aircraft and naval vessels to monitor Chinese activities. Additionally, China conducted a large-scale joint combat readiness exercise in waters and airspace near Taiwan, involving 45 military aircraft and 14 naval vessels. This exercise, conducted without prior notification, heightened tensions and increased anxiety in Taipei.
China has defended these exercises as routine military training. However, similar maneuvers were also conducted near Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin and near Australia in the Tasman Sea. The presence of three Chinese naval vessels in the Tasman Sea raised concerns in Canberra and Wellington, as neither Australia nor New Zealand had been informed in advance. The scale of the Chinese task force took many by surprise, reinforcing concerns about China’s growing military assertiveness in the region.
Some analysts interpret China’s military drills as a deliberate signal to Australia, New Zealand, and other regional powers that Beijing will continue its military activities undeterred. These exercises followed the resumption of military-to-military discussions between China and Australia after a five-year hiatus, leaving Australian officials perplexed about China’s true intentions.
With U.S. attention diverted from the Indo-Pacific, regional powers must take the lead in ensuring stability. This situation calls for greater involvement from countries like India, Japan, and Australia. Japan, in particular, has expressed a strong desire to play a more active role in regional security.
The ADMM retreat highlighted ASEAN’s growing focus on AI governance, cyber defense, and regional cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions. While the joint statement signalled ASEAN’s commitment to addressing emerging security challenges, its lack of concrete action on pressing issues underscores the complexities of regional diplomacy.
As China continues to assert its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN and its partners must navigate an increasingly uncertain security landscape with strategic foresight and collective resolve.
- Gurjit Singh is a former Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN, and the African Union Chair, CII Task Force on Trilateral Cooperation in Africa, Professor, IIT Indore.
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