CLARK, Philippines: Southeast Asian defence ministers began two-day talks in the Philippines on Monday, with combating terrorism high on the agenda. Mr Lorenzana, who is chairing the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers Meeting, said ministers discussed during a breakfast meeting the challenge of terrorism and violent extremism in Southeast Asia. Asean consists of 10 countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Other issues discussed among the ministers include tension in the South China Sea over competing territorial claims by some Asean countries, China and Taiwan, and North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. On Tuesday, the Asean ministers will be joined by their counterparts from the bloc's dialogue partners -- Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

Source: Bangkok Post October 23, 2017 04:18 UTC