16 nations in anti-mine action<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): A 16-nation anti-mine exercise involving the
\nworld's top naval powers formally opened here on Tuesday with a
\ncall for greater co-operation to keep the Western Pacific safe
\nfor global shipping.<\/p>\n
Fifteen ships and 1,500 personnel are taking part in the 12-
\nday inaugural Western Pacific Mine Countermeasure Exercise and
\nFirst Western Pacific Diving Exercise.<\/p>\n
Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia,
\nPapua New Guinea, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the
\nUnited States and Vietnam have sent teams and vessels to the
\nexercise.<\/p>\n
Singapore's Minister of State for Defense David Lim said in an
\nopening speech that the exercise was "part of the growing web of
\nmultilateral exercises and interactions in the region."<\/p>\n
"By promoting opportunities for interaction, (exercises) help
\npromote greater dialogue and bilateral ties between countries in
\nthe Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n
"And in doing so, they strengthen the framework of
\nmultilateral co-operation that underpins a stable and secure
\nenvironment conducive for social and economic development," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A secure maritime environment is important to Asia's continued
\neconomic development as more than half of the world's shipping
\ntonnage passes through the Malacca Straits, Singapore Straits and
\nthe South China Sea, Lim said.<\/p>\n
"Clearly, the safe and secure maritime navigation of the sea
\nlines of communication, or SLOCs, is vital to the continued
\neconomic development and prosperity of the region and the world,"
\nhe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/16-nations-in-anti-mine-action-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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