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