Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan speaks at the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, June 1, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

He said the region is facing serious challenges such as the North Korean nuclear issue, terrorism, cyber security, drugs and transnational crime. There are still actions against the international law and order, militarization, or attempts to force countries to follow others’ specific strategies. Shanahan also introduced the US’s cooperation and military distribution plan and multilateral military exercises in the region to better respond to traditional and non-traditional security threats.