The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum is considering new initiatives aimed at helping member states work together to combat terrorism and other criminal activities, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, June 2).
The group's members would organize tabletop drills and workshops and share technical expertise under the ARF Work Plan for Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime, a strategy paper that envoys at the ASEAN Regional Forum are expected to endorse this week.
The organization might eventually focus on countering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks, Kyodo reported.
"The future work of the (ARF on counterterrorism) must be practical, action-oriented and concrete," the paper states.
"While there are other important aspects of international counterterrorism cooperation, ARF should focus its own work on the areas where it could bring the most added value given its geographic focus, participation or past work," it adds.
The strategy calls on countries to step up their biological terrorism preparedness efforts and to better secure materials, equipment and knowledge that could support the development of biological weapons.
"The dual-use ... nature of biological science, for both peaceful and nonpeaceful purposes must be addressed to both prevent bioterrorism and continue biological science development for peaceful purposes," the document states. "This will also build safe, secure and sustainable capacity to combat infectious diseases, thereby meshing international security and public health priorities."
The forum includes the 10 ASEAN member nations -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- as well as Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, East Timor, the European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Sri Lanka, North Korea, South Korea and the United States (Kyodo News/Breitbart.com, July 22).