Chief of the Defence Force attends annual Shangri-La Dialogue

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, has spent three days discussing regional and global security at the 15^th annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

The Shangri-La Dialogue provides a forum to promote practical defence cooperation with international counterparts.

Air Chief Marshal Binskin met with counterparts from Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. He also met with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, the Commander of US Pacific Command, the Chairman of the NATO’s Military Committee, as well as senior representatives from a number of other countries including the Philippines, Japan, China, France, Tonga and Canada.

"Some of the common themes we addressed in these meetings included building cooperation on Indo?Pacific security challenges, continuing tensions in the South China Sea, and recent military provocations by North Korea," Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.

"We also discussed regional maritime security, the global threat of terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in response to natural disasters."

The Chief of the Defence Force also met with China’s representative, Admiral Sun Jianguo where he welcomed the growing defence relationship between the two countries.

"I also reiterated Australia’s position on tensions in the South China Sea, emphasising that while Australia did not take sides on competing territorial claims, we had a strong interest in maintaining peace and stability, along with respect for international law, unimpeded trade, and freedom of navigation and over-flight.

"The Shangri-La Dialogue provided an excellent opportunity to build on Australia’s already strong network of international defence relationships.

"These relationships play a critical role in supporting our interest in a stable and rules-based order, both in the Indo-Pacific and globally."