KUALA LUMPUR: No meaningful dialogue or engagement regarding Indo-Pacific security can take place without a peaceful and united Asean, Malaysia's Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Monday (Aug 3).
He underscored that Southeast Asia sits at the geographical and strategic heart of the Indo-Pacific, making Asean's stability fundamental to the peace and security of the wider region.
Consequently, he reminded all external partners and global powers that Asean's established security architecture must remain the primary conduit for any substantive discourse on the Indo-Pacific.
"First and foremost, I would like to firmly state and remind everyone that Southeast Asia is, and must continue to remain, a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN).
“We do not believe that peace requires us to choose sides. Rather, peace requires us to engage all and respect all, while remaining strictly guided by our core principles and national interests," he said.
The minister said this in his opening address at the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) 37th Annual International Military Law and Operations Conference (MILOPS) 2026, held at a hotel here Monday.
Elaborating further, the Defence Minister stressed that any nation seeking to engage with Asean must fully understand and respect the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
He highlighted that the TAC functions as Asean's code of conduct, embodying the core principles of mutual respect, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in internal affairs and constructive cooperation.
"Asean's success over the decades has never happened by chance. It was built on our neutrality and non-aligned stance, allowing our diverse cultures, religions and systems to thrive while building investor confidence and prosperity," he added.
Delivering a direct reflection to the military leaders, practitioners and legal experts present, the minister reminded them of the true calling of armed forces in modern geopolitics.
"The true purpose of being in the military is not to wage war, nor to create conflict, but to ensure that war and conflict never become necessary. The presence of military forces should never be seen as a demonstration of power or intimidation, but as a collective commitment to peace," he said.
Mohamed Khaled extended this message to major global powers holding significant military capabilities, framing them as custodians of global peace and stability.
"This recognition comes with immense responsibility. We do not presume to tell you how to conduct your foreign policy, but we expect you to do so while respecting international law and rules-based order consistently, not selectively," he said.
The 37th MILOPS conference brings together defence leaders, military officials, legal scholars and policymakers from across the Indo-Pacific to foster professional trust, mutual understanding and regional stability. – Bernama
