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.