Alarmed ASEAN leaders discuss crisis plan to mitigate backlash from Middle East war

Key Points:

• Southeast Asian leaders at the ASEAN summit in Cebu focused on developing a contingency plan to secure stable fuel and food supplies amid the Iran war, which threatens their oil and gas imports from the Middle East.
• The summit, hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasized practical measures over traditional pomp, highlighting the region's vulnerability to external shocks such as oil supply disruptions caused by the conflict.
• ASEAN leaders face the challenge of evacuating over a million citizens working in the Middle East if hostilities escalate, with a draft joint declaration urging member states to enhance coordination and information sharing for the safety of their nationals.
• Thailand’s foreign minister criticized the ongoing conflict, calling for an extended ceasefire and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while ASEAN’s contingency plan includes emergency fuel sharing, diversification of oil sources, and exploring new energy technologies.
• Despite focusing on the Iran war, the summit also addressed regional issues like the South China Sea disputes, Myanmar’s civil war, and recent border conflicts, with leaders pledging to advance negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea amid longstanding tensions with China.