MH370: Hunt for missing plane shows how militaries can cooperate

The massive multinational search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 serves as a fine example of how militaries of different countries can work together and develop trust towards each other.

Singaporean Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen noted that despite ongoing territorial disputes involving some of the search areas, regional militaries and the international community were able to put aside their differences.

"Regional militaries and their countries build mutual trust when they help each other or work together to help another country," he said.

"I've mentioned the positive effects on militaries through working together in the ongoing search effort for MH370," he said when addressing the Putrajaya Forum 2014, here on Monday.

With the theme 'Strengthening Security and Regional Stability', the forum was held in conjunction with the 14th Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition and Conference.

Ng further said that the international response to the missing flight incident was a vivid illustration of the expanded roles of modern militaries today.

"Much of this military response to a civilian tragedy of MH370 was spontaneous as the global community empathised with the pain of families and friends of MH370 passengers having to cope with uncertainty.

"International help was readily forthcoming. Even so, the global military response to MH370 is not a one-off event and shows the extent in which militaries now actively contribute in non-traditional areas," he said.

Singapore, he said, had deployed its submarine rescue vessels, a frigate with a naval helicopter, a missile corvette, a C130 and Fokker-50 aircraft, and would continue to assist Malaysia if needed.

Ng also said that the military was increasingly engaged in tackling non-security challenges related to terrorism, drug and human trafficking, natural disasters, biological pandemics and cybersecurity.

The minister further noted that through confidence-building measures, the risk of miscalculation even over traditional challenges such as territorial disputes could be reduced.

Flight MH370 with 239 people aboard left the KL International Airport at 12.41 am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later, while over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30 am on the same day.