ASEAN Leaders Meet in Philippines to Address Middle East Conflict Impacts

Southeast Asian leaders met in an annual summit Friday under pressure to reduce the impact on their people and economies from the conflict involving Iran. " The heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations decided to focus discussions on a contingency plan for their fast-growing region, which imports most of its oil and gas from the Middle East, to maintain stable fuel and food supplies.

The Philippines is hosting the summit on the central island province of Cebu. The host leader ordered the event stripped of traditional pomp and pageantry because of worldwide economic headwinds. A main concern is carrying out large-scale evacuations from the Middle East, where more than a million Southeast Asian citizens work and live, if widespread hostilities resume.

Several Southeast Asian citizens have been killed since the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Feb. 28 against Iran. The hostilities have continued sporadically despite a month-old ceasefire, especially in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

A draft joint declaration seen by The Associated Press calls on the regional bloc’s 11 member states to share information and strengthen coordination with international organizations to ensure the safety and welfare of ASEAN nationals in affected areas.

Thailand’s foreign minister called for the current ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to be indefinitely extended and for safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz to be assured. >"This war should not have occurred in the first place. We don’t know what the objectives are right?

" — Sihasak Phuangketkeow (@Independent) ASEAN’s contingency plan includes possible ratification this year of an agreement for coordinated emergency fuel sharing, planning a regional power grid, diversifying sources of crude oil, promoting electric vehicles and studying new technologies including civilian nuclear energy.

Despite the focus on the Middle East and a shortened summit to cut costs, the leaders will discuss the South China Sea territorial disputes involving Beijing, a five-year civil war in Myanmar and a recent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

In a separate statement on maritime issues to be released after the summit, the leaders pledged to work toward concluding negotiations on an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Negotiations on the proposed pact with China have continued for more than a decade amid tense confrontations, particularly between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces.

ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are involved in the decades-long territorial standoffs in the South China Sea. The other members of the regional bloc are Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.