ASEAN Urges Keeping Hormuz Strait Open Amid Rising Tensions

July 23, Manila (RAS/SPA) – As the escalating armed conflict between the United States and Iran raises increasing risks to global energy supplies and maritime trade, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called for uninterrupted passage and freedom of navigation in international waterways. The draft joint statement issued after the foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila emphasized the importance of maintaining open access to the Hormuz Strait. The statement also urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation of conflict in the Middle East. For the first time, it explicitly highlighted the necessity of ensuring free movement of vessels and aircraft in international waterways.

Attending the ASEAN meeting in Manila, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran’s attempt to control the Hormuz Strait could set a dangerous precedent for international maritime traffic. Rubio stressed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle underpinning the international order. Following US and Israeli operations, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has directly impacted Southeast Asian nations reliant on energy imports. Fuel shortages and rising prices have compelled the Philippines to declare a national emergency.

Although the draft statement reaffirmed commitment to continued regional energy cooperation, it did not mention any new progress on previously proposed initiatives such as a shared energy grid or fuel-sharing arrangements. Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s busiest maritime routes, centered on the Malacca and Singapore Straits. Consequently, disruptions to international maritime trade in this region are widely analyzed to have immediate economic repercussions for Southeast Asian economies.

Meanwhile, prior to the meeting’s commencement, new tensions surfaced between China and the Philippines over the disputed South China Sea. Despite this, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zheng Quan expressed confidence that negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea would proceed as scheduled. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohammad Hassan also expressed hope that an agreement on the code of conduct would be reached before the ASEAN summit in November. While China characterizes the proposed code of conduct primarily as a framework establishing shared rules for maritime activities rather than a mechanism to resolve bilateral territorial disputes, analysts warn that a document designed to satisfy all ASEAN member states and China may lack effective enforcement.