Southeast Asia faces “very real” threats from the Islamic State (IS) group despite their defeat in Iraq and Syria, as well as cyberattacks, Singapore’s Prime Minister warned on Saturday at a regional summit.
A deadly gun and suicide-bombing attack in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in 2016 was the first IS-claimed assault in the region, while the Philippine city of Marawi was overrun last year by fighters loyal to the jihadists, triggering a months-long battle that killed hundreds.
Opening the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that the IS continues to threaten the region, home to about 650 million people, despite their military defeat in Iraq and Syria.
Fighting cyberattacks
He also warned the move towards digitalisation has made countries more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
In a final statement, the leaders vowed to fight a “rising tide of protectionism” and intensify efforts to conclude talks for a massive 16-nation free trade zone that would include China and India, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Mr. Lee warned that the open global trading system, which has allowed many of the region’s export-driven economies to flourish, has come under increasing threat.
“The political mood in many countries has shifted against free trade,” he said. “In particular, the trade tensions between the U.S. and China are worrying concerns.”
