BADUNG - The 16th ASEAN Navy Chief Meeting (ANCM) in Bali highlighted the security situation of the South China Sea (LCS) and several waters in the border areas between countries that are considered vulnerable, namely the Malacca Strait, Singapore Strait and the Sulu Sea.
All chiefs of naval staff of countries in Southeast Asia agreed to increase cooperation, including in the form of coordinated patrols to maintain water stability and prevent illegal activities.
"All of us have an attitude to maintain stability (in the South China Sea). Of course, we don't always have to patrol together, but also through diplomacy and joint exercises," said TNI Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono in Nusa Tenggara. Two, Bali, Monday, August 22.
Yudo said the condition of waters in border areas, such as the Malacca Strait, Singapore Strait, and Sulu Sea, needs special attention from all navies of Southeast Asian countries. The Navy, he continued, had several times succeeded in thwarting illegal activities in the waters.
"What we have caught is drug smuggling, then illegal immigrants, PMI (Indonesian migrant workers) who almost every week always get it, then baby lobster, liquor. Things like that, if there is no cooperation with them, We're tired of ourselves," he said.
KSAL Yudo, who chaired the ASEAN-ASEAN head-level meeting, explained that the 16th ANCM also discussed the welfare and security of the Indo-Pacific region, especially in Southeast Asia.
"Intensely we carry out this meeting, of course it will be easier for us to coordinate," added the KSAL.
ANCM is an annual meeting between the heads of the navy in Southeast Asian countries. For the first time in 2022, the meeting will be held in person again after two years previously taking place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the 16th ANCM in 2022, the Indonesian Navy represented Indonesia as the host. Yudo said that almost all naval chiefs of staff in Southeast Asia attended the meeting in person in Bali, except for the Cambodian Navy chief who was unable to attend due to illness.
"Then, from Laos, because there is no navy, so the general chief of staff is present," he said.
He assessed that the 16th ANCM, which was held face-to-face, allowed the Navy chiefs to communicate more intensely and not only discuss a number of programmed agendas.
"We can interact directly with them, not just programmed ones; so that the relationship between personnel is closer when we meet directly," said Yudo Margono.
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