ASEAN ministers meet amid renewed Iran war and South China Sea tensions

Southeast Asian foreign ministers convened in Manila for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, facing a packed agenda dominated by the resurgent US-Iran war, the long-running South China Sea disputes, and the Myanmar crisis. The meetings were overshadowed by the collapse of a ceasefire between the US and Iran, which has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and spiked energy prices across the region. Source: AP News Source: Al Jazeera

Iran war overshadows talks

The foreign ministers issued a joint statement expressing "serious concern" over the renewed hostilities and calling for "a complete and immediate cessation of hostilities across all fronts in the Middle East." Source: The Diplomat They also urged the restoration of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for Asian oil imports. The conflict has forced countries like the Philippines to declare a national energy emergency. Source: AP News On the sidelines, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov scheduled a meeting to discuss Ukraine peace talks. Source: Moscow Times

South China Sea code of conduct

ASEAN ministers hailed "significant progress" in negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea, hoping to conclude talks by year's end. Source: CNA However, fresh clashes, such as a confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal where a Filipino sailor was allegedly injured, underscored the urgency. Source: AP News India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated support for a substantive and legally binding COC compliant with UNCLOS.