ASEAN leaders gather in Manila as Trump’s visit and energy crisis loom

Southeast Asian leaders are gathering in the Philippines for the ASEAN summit. Talks are expected to focus on trade, regional security and an energy crisis linked to the war in Iran. US President Donald Trump is expected on Tuesday. Disputes over the South China Sea and the conflict in Myanmar are also on the agenda. Let's speak to Barnaby Lowe, who joins us from Manila. Barnaby, lots on the agenda for this summit. Just break it down for us. That's right. So the ASEAN Summit this week is actually a culmination of hundreds of meetings hosted by the Philippines as chair. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and as you can imagine, most of these meetings have focused on the economic impact of the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, given that this region relies very heavily on oil imports, especially from the Middle East. The Philippines, for example, imports 99% of its fuel supply. Again, much of that coming from the Middle East, and the Philippines was actually the first country in the world to declare a state of Energy emergency in Seoul. So to that end, when ASEAN leaders gathered in Cebu, in the central Philippines, in May, they agreed that they would create a mechanism whereby member states would be able to share fuel stockpiles. And the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand have taken the first step. They've signed an agreement on Saturday whereby the Philippines would be able to get priority access to Thailand and Indonesia's fuel stockpile in the event. that it runs out of fuel. Now, President Donald Trump, as you mentioned, U.S. President Donald Trump, will be arriving in Manila on Tuesday, and so ASEAN leaders will also have the opportunity to discuss with him how he plans to end the Iran war, and how he plans to coordinate the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Now, because this is ASEAN, of course, and because Chinese Premier Li Qiang is also attending, There will be discussions on the South China Sea, particularly on a code of conduct in the South China Sea that has been under negotiation for more than 20 years. Now, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro said on Saturday that 80% of this agreement has been finalized, but there are still some very controversial issues that they need to iron out. Now, there will be other meetings as well on the sidelines. And in fact, the Philippines and Australia just... Just signed a renewed defense cooperation pact. The issue of the civil war in Myanmar will also be on the table. ASEAN, since 2021, has blocked its leader, President Binong Lai, and senior officials from attending ASEAN gatherings. Yeah, clearly lots and lots to discuss there, lots of discussions on the table. Barnaby, we can also see some demonstrators gathering behind you. I can see the order sign and chanting going up. There are also protests planned across Manila. What are people calling for? Right. So we are at the University of the Philippines campus on the north side of the Philippine capital, Manila, where hundreds of students have camped out since Friday. These students are protesting the attendance of U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit. They're furious that U.S. policy. President Trump started the Iran war and has caused prices to spike in the Philippines, not just oil prices, but prices of basic commodities. They're also protesting a U.S.-led... artificial intelligence supply chain initiative called Pax Silica and on the part of the Philippines they will be or they're planning to build an artificial intelligence hub in the northern Philippines. Now they're concerned that indigenous people will be displaced by this manufacturing hub and they're concerned that the Philippines water and mineral resources will be depleted by this project. But apart from that, there is also a small group of protesters As you said, gathering behind me and you can see there, they have a simulation of a jail where behind the bars you see Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing. They say he needs to get jailed for war crimes. And on the building right behind the protest, ahead of the protest, they actually put up That banner portraying Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing getting arrested for war crimes. So they're protesting Myanmar's military backed government, they say has been committing killings of civilians, has displaced millions of people in Myanmar. They're also protesting increasing engagement by individual ASEAN member states with President Min Aung Hlaing. ASEAN-ESA bloc still bars Myanmar from participating in regional gatherings, but individual member states have met with Min Aung Hlaing. The U.S. also has reportedly been engaging with Myanmar for access to critical minerals. Frankie. We're in Manila, and, of course, we'll have continued coverage as that summit takes place right here on Al Jazeera. Thank you.