Southeast Asian Leaders Adopt Contingency Plan at ASEAN Summit in Philippines

Southeast Asian leaders adopted a contingency plan on Friday to reduce the impact of the Iran war on their economies and populations. The Philippines, one of the countries most affected by fuel price increases linked to the conflict, hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations annual summit in the central island province of Cebu.

The plan calls for ratification, possibly this year, of an agreement on coordinated emergency fuel sharing. It also includes planning for a regional power grid and fuel stockpile as well as diversifying sources of crude oil. Promoting electric vehicles and studying new technologies including civilian nuclear energy form additional elements of the approach.

The contingency steps will begin immediately. However, establishing a regional fuel stockpile and power grid is a complex process that may require considerable time, officials said. "Let’s talk about the fuel reserve. " one leader asked during the discussions.

A regional power grid that allows countries to trade electricity has been under consideration for years and has been realized only at a fairly small level so far. Leaders expressed commitment to the measures. They noted that everyone in the region is affected by the situation and wants to resolve it.

A central concern involved potential large-scale evacuations from the Middle East, where more than a million Southeast Asian citizens work and live, should hostilities intensify. Several Southeast Asian citizens have been killed since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Feb.

28. The hostilities have continued sporadically despite a month-old ceasefire, particularly in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has exposed vulnerabilities of Southeast Asian nations to external shocks, with recovery potentially taking years even if the war ends soon.

"Even if the tensions de-escalate in time, the damage to critical infrastructure, to vital systems and trust in general will continue to be felt for years to come," one official said.

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow called for the current ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to be extended and for assurances on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. "This war should not have occurred in the first place," Sihasak told AP in a brief interview, adding that all ASEAN states were alarmed.

The region will remain in a difficult position until the Iran war ends. "Until the fighting ends, until the bombing ends, then it is very difficult to put together any kind of solution," one official stated. The leaders also addressed other regional matters including territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving Beijing, a five-year civil war in Myanmar and a recent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. East Timor joined as a full member in October last year. The summit was conducted without its usual ceremonial elements at the direction of the Philippine president to reflect global economic pressures.