1. VIETNAMS PROPOSAL RE-ARRANGMENT OF ARF DEFENCE MEETINGS IN ARF

2. ARF Current Chart 4 th DoD 2 nd DoD 1 st DoD ASPC 3 rd DoD Note: 1.thick-line double-ended arrow: bottom-up reporting and top-down instruction 2. thick-line single-ended arrow: bottom-up reporting 3. single-ended dotted arrow: one way briefing

3. Observations Defence Officials (DoD) meet 4 times annually and participated in ISM Meetings Topics discussed in DoD do not directly comply with Agenda of the ISG, ARF SOM and ARF Ministers which consists various defence-related aspects DoDs brief is one-way interaction and get no feedback from ISG, SOM, ASPC, Ministers DoD does not support ASPC, eventhough they are defence officials The 4 th DoD meets back-to-back with the ARF Ministers but is not given a clear mandate

4. 3 rd DoD ARF Proposed Chart ASPC 2 nd DoD 1 st DoD Note: 1.thick-line double-ended arrow: bottom-up reporting and top-down instruction 2. thick-line single-ended arrow: bottom-up reporting 3. single-ended dotted arrow: one way briefing 4 th DoD

5. VIETNAMs Proposals The suggestions are: –DoD should be more interactive with ISG –DoD should report to ISG and SOM (rather than brief) and subjected to ISGs and SOMs instructions –DoD should discuss ISGs and SOMs defence- related Agenda Items –DoD should also report to ASPC (rather than brief) and subjected to ASPCs instructions on defense related aspects –ASPC considers to convene the 3 rd DoD –The 4 th DoD should be given a clear mandate to review the DoD for the inter-sessional year and recommend activities/agenda for the next in line with the ISG activites/agenda

6. Contact: ASEAN Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam asean.mfa@mofa.gov.vn Fax: +84 3 843 5758 asean.mfa@mofa.gov.vn