US-MALAYSIA MILITARY TIES CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- Military ties between United States and
Malaysia are very strong and continue to strengthen, said Commander of US
Pacific Command, Admiral Robert F.Willard.

Willard who is here for the 25th Asia Pacific Roundtable, said that during
his stay here he discussed matters of mutual interest with Malaysian Armed
Forces chief, General Azizan Ariffin.

He said the discussions touched on exploring new ways in which the Armed
Forces of both countries could contribute to the security of Asia Pacific
region.

"Malaysia and US already conducted training together. I think it is
important that Malaysia decide how and where the military cooperation expand and
improve," he told reporters after delivering a talk on "Securing the Maritime
Commons: The Role of Regional Navies" at the Roundtable here Wednesday.

Willard said that there were many areas that the Malaysian Armed Forces
could contribute regionally, and maritime security was only one of them.

He noted that Malaysia had increased participation in the multi-national
"Cobra Gold" military exercise in Thailand.

"That we think was very positive. When you consider the high end Malaysian
military...it is a very accomplished military in the region," he said.

The biennial exercise also involved Thailand, US, Singapore and the
Philippines.

Since Asia Pacific was a strategically crucial part of the world, people
looked at the 21st century Asia in a profound way, in regards of the importance
of the region.

In order for the region to accomplish all its vision, it would require a
peaceful, safe and continually prosperous and sharing Asia Pacific set of
nations.

Willard said that in order to do that the military's role was vital.

"The US Pacific Command will continue to play its role to help keep not just
maritime but ensure that all the commerce (sea lanes) are safe for use," he
said.

Willard said that Asia Pacific in its entirety, spans half the world and is
home to dozens of nations and more than 3.5 billion people.

It also supports over US$5 trillion of international commerce annually and
shares an annual two-way trade with US that exceeds US$1 trillion.

Since the turn of the century, it had been said in many forums and by
countless heads of state, that Asia will play the most pivotal global role in
the 21st century.

"Like it or not...Asia's role is already either directly or indirectly
linked to security in the maritime commons," he said.

Willard said militaries especially navies have the capability and capacity
to deal with challenges in the form of pirates, traffickers, weapons
proliferators or extremists.

"If the world is right about Asia and the 21st century, then solutions to
the challenges we discuss today must be a forgone conclusion...security in the
commons must prevail...and supporting navies and militaries must cooperate to
be part of the solution, never be part of the challenge," he said.

The three-day Asia Pacific Roundtable is organised by the Asean Institute of
Strategic and International Studies (Asean-ISIS).