After meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue today, the officials told a news conference that the relationship among the member nations was warm, and that they were focused on the future even amid increasing geopolitical complexities.

As tensions in the region increase sharply, particularly between China and US allies, the FPDA has great relevance as a moderating force, defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

“My biggest concern is unintended incidents and accidents that may spiral out of control and make it bigger than what it is.

“If these platforms (such as the FPDA) did not exist, there wouldn’t be any opportunity to manage incidents that do sometimes go out of control,” he said.

Hishammuddin, Singaporean defence minister Ng Eng Hen, Australian defence minister Richard Marles, New Zealand defence Minister Peeni Henare and British high commissioner to Singapore Kara Owen also reaffirmed their commitment to the FPDA and noted its relevance for the future.

“Australia is deeply committed to the FPDA,” Marles said. “It’s not something we take for granted.”