The forum, being held for the second time this year by the Defense University in Jakarta on July 11-12, 2018, is an academic platform for international practitioners and scholars to discuss selected issues that can be addressed effectively by implementing a defense diplomacy strategy.
The university`s rector Lieutenant General Yoedhi Swastanto stressed that defense diplomacy is essential to address common regional threats, including maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea, North Korea`s nuclear weapons, and terrorism.
"Terrorism remains the real threat in the region since ISIS struggles to have a stronghold in Asia, as we can see in the Philippines` Marawi and several attacks lately in Indonesia," he remarked at the opening session of IIDSS, Wednesday.
He also stated that precautionary measures should be taken in the face of China`s rise as a new major power since it has influenced the existing world order, and the international community is questioning the role of the United States, with its current outward outlook.
"Some even argue that China`s rise has challenged the current rules-based world order, with its assertiveness and more aggressive actions in the international community," Swastanto added.
Under such circumstances, the Defense University deems it necessary to contribute to addressing the issues as well as analyzing and identifying solutions and outcomes by hosting the annual IIDSS.
This year`s IIDSS features discussions focusing on six related issues including weapons of mass destruction, global diplomacy on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, crack down on organized transnational crimes in the Southeast Asian region, energy and natural resources, terrorism and separatism challenges, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as media and information warfare.
Speakers and participants from Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, the United States, South Korea, China, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Malaysia are attending the seminar, which was opened by Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto and Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.
(T.Y013/B/KR-BSR/F001) 11-07-2018 12:06:48
Reporter: Yashinta Difa Pramudyani
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
