ASEAN leaders issue statement on cybersecurity cooperation

On the occasion of the 32nd ASEAN summit, the leaders of ASEAN countries issued a Statement on cybersecurity cooperation. The leaders reaffirmed that the international law, and particularly the UN Charter, is applicable to cyberspace, and acknowledged that sovereignty and norms flowing from it apply to the conduct by states with regards to ICT. The leaders recognised the need to build closer cooperation and coordination among ASEAN Member States on cybersecurity policy development and capacity building initiatives. They tasked relevant Ministers to recommend options of coordinating cybersecurity policy, diplomacy, cooperation, technical and capacity building efforts among various platforms of the three pillars of ASEAN. They also tasked Ministers to identify a concrete list of voluntary practical norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace that ASEAN could adapt and implement, taking into consideration the report of the UN GGE from 2015. The Ministers are further requested to facilitate cross-border cooperation in addressing critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and encourage capacity building and cooperation for combating criminal and terrorist use of cyberspace.