Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders are preparing a contingency plan that emphasizes international law, sovereignty, and freedom of navigation as they meet for an ASEAN summit in the Philippines.

The draft declaration also addresses regional risks from the Middle East war, including energy shortages, inflation, and disruptions to global trade.

It calls for coordinated measures such as emergency fuel sharing, a regional power grid, and diversified energy sources to strengthen resilience.

Leaders are also reaffirming commitments to open sea lanes and stable markets under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the AP has reported.

The plan reflects broader concerns about global instability affecting the 680-million-person region and its reliance on Middle Eastern energy supplies.