The Philippines and Japan have signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a landmark agreement that will allow the countries to deploy troops on each other’s soil.

The 17th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (ACDFM-17) was held online by the Ministry of National Defence on September 24 under the theme “Military cooperation for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN”.

A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Ngo Minh Tien, on August 20 left for the International Army Games 2020 and the International Military-Technical Forum (ARMY-2020) in Russia.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on November 17 met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe, during which the two sides agreed to further enhance military cooperation.

The armies of Vietnam and Cuba discussed and agreed on directions for cooperation in economics and trade in the time ahead during a visit of Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tran Don to Cuba from September 21 – 27.

Japan Coast Guard Training Vessel, the Kojima, with 80 officers and crew members on board, docked at Tien Sa Port, the central coastal city of Da Nang on July 24 to begin a five-day visit to Vietnam.

A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army, led by Phan Van Giang, Chief of the VPA’s General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence, is paying an official visit to Malaysia.

ASEAN Defence Ministers signed a joint declaration of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight over the East Sea.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception on April 5 for General Surapong Suwana-Adth, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

Singapore and New Zealand have pledged to continue their military cooperation and to expand it to new areas.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Janaury 6 visited anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Tributs - one of two Russian warships docked in Manila.

Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed on January 4 that Indonesia suspended military cooperation with Australia.

Indonesia has suspended all military cooperation with Australia due to offensive training materials displayed at an Australian base, according to ABC news.

Thai army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart met with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen and Minister of National Defence, General Tea Banh on December 19.

Le Hien Van, deputy head of the General Political Department of the People's Army, met with Bunlieng Sengphachian, head of the Lao respective body’s inner security department, in Hanoi on November 8.

Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Banh and his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu have agreed to expand the two countries’ military affiliation.

China and Thailand pledged to enhance relations and military cooperation in fields such as training and defence on January 26.

High-ranking military officers of Vietnam and Laos have reviewed the implementation of cooperation programmes between the two countries’ armies at talks in Hanoi on October 17.