FPDA members hold talks

FPDA members hold talks

MALAYSIA: Senior defense officials from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore held biennial talks on security issues on Monday, joint training exercises and other cooperation.

The countries involved make up the Five Power Defense Arrangement (FPDA), a 32-year-old group formed to bolster regional security and protect Malaysia and Singapore from external threats such as communism.

Officials said in statement they "exchanged views on the regional security situation and discussed the training arrangement and overall cooperation within the FPDA".

"The defense chiefs were in agreement that the FPDA remains relevant and acts as the bulwark for the defense of Singapore and Malaysia," the statement said. --AP