BOLKIAH GARRISON, Wednesday, 26 August 2020 – The Chiefs of Defense Conference (CHOD) 2020 chaired by Admiral Philip Davidson, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US INDOPACOM) and co-chaired by Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, Acting Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was held from 25 – 26 August 2020 via video conference with the theme ‘Advancing Free and Open Indo-Pacific’.
Representing the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) was Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, RBAFCommander. Also present were RBAF Chief of Staff, Director of Intelligence and Chief Medical Officer.
The two-day conference focused on the current status of collaboration towards materialising the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) strategy where the opening remarks for CHOD was delivered by Frank Bainimarama, the Prime Minister of Fiji, while the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Mark Esper, the United States Secretary of Defence.
The Chiefs of Defence also discussed the impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic towards the strategic environment including the national security implications of COVID-19, health-related transnational threats and national security implications of 5G mobile technology.
The conference consists of 27 participating countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam.
PERSIDANGAN TAHUNAN KETUA-KETUA PERTAHANAN 2020
BOLKIAH GARISON, Rabu, 26 Ogos 2020 – Persidangan Ketua-Ketua Pertahanan (CHOD) 2020 yang dipengerusikan oleh Admiral Philip Davidson, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US INDOPACOM) dan dipengerusikan bersama oleh Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, Acting Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces telah diadakan dari 25 – 26 Ogos 2020 melalui sidang video bertemakan ‘Advancing Free and Open Indo-Pacific’.
Mewakili Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) ialah Mejar Jeneral Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Pemerintah ABDB. Turut hadir ialah Ketua Staf ABDB, Pengarah Perisikan Kementerian Pertahanan dan Ketua Pegawai Perubatan ABDB.
Persidangan yang diadakan selama dua hari telah membincangkan status kolaborasi terkini ke arah mewujudkan strategi ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ dimana ucapan perasmian telah disampaikan oleh Frank Bainimarama, Perdana Menteri Fiji, sementara keynote address telah disampaikan oleh Dr Mark Esper, Setiausaha Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat.
Selain itu, Ketua-ketua Pertahanan juga telah membincangkan impak pandemik COVID-19 terhadap persekitaran strategik termasuk implikasinya terhadap sekuriti kebangsaan, ancaman transnasional berkaitan dengan kesihatan serta implikasi teknologi mudah alih 5G terhadap sekuriti kebangsaan.
Persidangan melibatkan sebanyak 27 buah negara iaitu Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Perancis, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jepun, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Filipina, Singapura, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, United Kingdom, Amerika Syarikat dan Vietnam.