MANILA, Philippines — Defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have adopted in principle the world’s first multilateral set of Guidelines for Air Military Encounters (GAME) to enhance air safety in light of the projected increased military and civilian air traffic in the region.
The defense chiefs of the region gathered in Singapore on Friday for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) being hosted by the island state as this year’s chair of ASEAN.
GAME puts forth a broad set of principles for guidelines on encounters between military aircraft, as well as operational guidelines based on ASEAN principles of transparency, mutual trust and respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
“With prosperity, regional countries are also modernizing their militaries, including air forces, both for their own upgrading as well as to meet the demands arising from new regional security challenges,” the ADMM said in a statement released by the Singapore Defense Ministry.
In adopting and supporting the non-binding GAME, the ADMM and ADMM-Plus partners noted the rising growth development and prosperity of countries in the Asia-Pacific will push higher both maritime and air traffic.
As per International Air Traffic Association (IATA) estimates, the commercial air traffic in the region will double to 7.2 billion passengers in 2035, with more than 50 percent growth or an additional 1.8 billion passengers, all coming from Asia-Pacific.
As projected, defense spending in Asia-Pacific region will increase to $520 billion by 2020 along with increasingly congested air space.
“The guidelines shall be non-binding, voluntary, and will serve as practical confidence building measures for the militaries to improve operational safety in the air,” the ADMM said in supporting and adopting GAME.
The guidelines will be applicable to unintentional encounters in flight between military aircraft over high seas, ensuring safety separation to avoid creating a safety hazard.
To determine safe separation, military aircraft should consider their own national rules and relevant international guidance.
“Recognizing that the safety and security of air lanes are important for the growth and prosperity of countries, it is important to consider developing a set of guidelines that military aircraft can practice,” the ADMM said.
These guidelines will help reduce the likelihood of encounters or incidents that could spiral into a full blown conflict in an event of miscalculation.
ADMM added the guidelines would also help reinforce the spirit of ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, which calls on all ASEAN member states to promote shared values and norms as well as principles of international law, in building a rules-based community.
“Such guidelines will also adhere to the existing aviation standards promulgated by the Convention of Aviation Organization (Chicago Convention), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Code of Signals (ICS) which all ADMM-plus countries have subscribed to,” the statement read.
In an ADMM Joint Declaration also released on Friday, all ASEAN defense ministers admitted there is growing uncertainty in the global landscape, including the increasing complexity of non-traditional and transnational security challenges confronting the region.
The group also reaffirmed ASEAN’s purposes and principes in upholding rules-based regional order with respect for international norms and laws.
The group also underscored the importance of the ADMM and the ADMM-Plus as part of the region’s key security architecture, as these two provide the platforms for strategic dialogue and practical cooperation for defense sector.
During the meeting, ADMM also reaffirmed their respective states’ commitment to enhance counterterrorism cooperation while emphasizing all parties involved should effectively implement the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China through confidence building measures or via practical maritime cooperation to promote peace and stability.
ADDM in a joint statement also welcomed the positive development in the Korean peninsula post inter-Korean summits and summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.