REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, 13-16 November 2018 – The 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting – Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Field Training Exercise Mid-Planning Conference and Table Top Exercise (14th ADMM-Plus EWG on MS FTX MPC and TXX) was held on 13-16 November 2018. The FTX MPC was held on 14th November 2018 at Grand Copthorne Hotel and TTX was held on 15th November 2018 at the Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre (MEOC) in Changi Naval Base. The meeting was a continuation from the previous meeting the 13th ADMM-PLUS EWG on MS, which were held in Republic of Korea on 30th May – 1st June 2018.
The 14th ADMM-Plus EWG on MS was co-chaired by Rear Admiral Cheong Kwok Chien, Head of Naval Operation, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Rear Admiral Sung-Kyun Jeong, Second Deputy Director of Force Planning of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Republik of Korea Navy (ROKN). Participating the meeting are two from Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) officers – Commander Rasman bin Puteh,RBN, Commanding Officer of KDB DARUTTAQWA and Lieutenant Junior Grade Suwady Syakin bin Suffari, RBN, Communication Officer of KDB DARUTTAQWA.
During the 14th ADMM-Plus MPC, welcoming speeches were given by co-chairs from RSN and ROKN in which they are gratified by the commitment and enthusiasm given by all participants of ADMM-Plus, that the meeting would direct to a successful and safe exercise. It has been highlighted the primary objectives of the exercise are to strengthen maritime security practical cooperation through a joint exercise with ADMM-Plus members, to strengthen shared awareness and coordination systems amongst participating countries in maritime security issues and to enhance military-to-military interoperability response to international maritime security issues.
Detailed composition of the exercise that will be held next year 29th April -14th May 2019 were discussed during the TTX in MEOC, Changi Naval Base. Opening remarks were given by Co-CTG; Colonel Lim Yu Chuan, Commander First Flotilla Headquarter Fleet, Republic of Singapore Navy and Captain Yeon Hong Bae, Director of Exercise and Planning, Republic of Korea Navy. The exercise planned during the meeting will be conducted next year. It has been pre-plan to be conducted at Busan Naval Base, Republic of Korea as the starting point and end at Changi Naval Base, Republic of Singpapore. The exercise will be divided into two phases. The major exercise that will be conducted during each phases are: first phase is responses exercise to international maritime crimes protection of key maritime facilities and second phase is maritime surveillance, vessel of interest tracking and non-compliant boarding.
Finalise composition of the exercise will be given during the Final Planning Conference that will be held in February 2019 in Republic of Singapore.
