'Open and inclusive' regional architecture can maintain peace, stability in Asia: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: Countries in Asia should be thinking of how to work together, before conflict arises, to maintain peace and stability in the region, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday , as he called on Japan to do more for regional security cooperation.

ASEAN can play a “significant role” in this, and Japan, beyond its major role in economic affairs, can “make a greater contribution to regional security cooperation”, he said. Mr Lee said that even at the height of the Cold War, there were “quiet channels of communication” between the US and the Soviet Union, at the top leadership level and between the armed forces.

These players have “legitimate interests” in Asia in maintaining security, keeping the region open for global business and in accessing sea lanes of communications in Asia vital to global shipping and commerce. “But they should be very careful about taking extreme measures, preemptively before conflicts arise,” said Mr Lee.

“There will be no good outcome if Asian countries are split between two camps, each siding with one or the other. “This will enable it to make a greater contribution to regional security cooperation, and to participate in building and upholding an open and inclusive regional architecture.”

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