Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened in Manila on Tuesday for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In a joint statement following a closed-door session, the ministers expressed concern regarding renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran. The group noted that Middle East instability poses risks to global energy supplies and economic growth, particularly for Southeast Asian nations that rely heavily on oil imports.
The summit also addressed regional security issues, including the ongoing civil war in Myanmar and maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines recently accused the Chinese Coast Guard of striking a navy sailor during an encounter near the Second Thomas Shoal. China's Coast Guard denied the allegation, and Beijing subsequently summoned the Philippine ambassador to discuss the incident.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are scheduled to participate in the expanded ASEAN meetings later this week. In an opinion piece published upon his arrival in Manila, Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to freedom of navigation and stated that the U.S. would honor its treaty obligations to the Philippines. China continues to reject a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its sovereignty claims over much of the South China Sea.
The 11-member bloc is currently exploring the fast-tracking of an oil-sharing mechanism to mitigate potential supply disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East. Representatives from India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia, Britain, and the European Union are also expected to attend the multilateral talks in the Philippine capital.