Asian defense weak after crisis

Asian defense weak after crisis

SINGAPORE (AP): Asia's defense position has been weakened by
the financial crisis that ravaged the region in 1997 and 1998, a
Singapore official said on Tuesday.

The crisis has "presented some particular challenges for
defense establishments in the region," said Second Minister for
Defense Teo Chee Hean.

"Regional cohesion and the regional security architecture have
been weakened as countries focused inwards on their own
problems," Teo said in a speech at a Five Power Defense
Arrangements conference in Singapore.

"The crisis led to cuts in defense, limiting interactions
among armed forces and forcing the postponement of modernization
programs," Teo added.

Military air threats, in particular, are becoming more
sophisticated and diverse, Teo said.