Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano attended the 11th Asia-Pacific Defence Summit "Shangri-La Dialogue" that was held from June 1-3, in Singapore.

The dialogue, which has developed into an important meeting for defence ministers and defence officials in the Asia- Pacific region, was organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and attended by participants from 28 countries.

Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, who is also Tonga's Minister for Defence attended the dialogue, which focussed on the South China Sea tensions and the future military role of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.

Other Pacific leaders attending were Stephen Smith, the Australian Minister for Defence, and Dr Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand's Minister of Defence.

The US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta announced at the dialogue that the United States would expand its military power and presence in the Asia Pacific region. He said that 60 percent of the US Naval Forces will be based in the Pacific by 2020.

Security

Other topics that were in the agenda of the dialogue included protecting maritime freedoms, deterrence and regional stability, containing the South China Sea Disputes, Armed Forces and Domestic Emergencies, submarines and regional security, South Asia's Growing Security threats, new forums of warfare: cyber and emerging risks to global and Asia Pacific security.

While Lord Tu'ivakano was in Singapore, he held talks with the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and according to Channel News Asia, both leaders agreed for further cooperation between the two countries. He also met the Singapore's Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen.

Lord Tu'ivakano who was accompanied by the interim Secretary to Government, Alfred Soakai were expected back in Tonga on June 5.