Southeast Asian foreign ministers began meetings in Manila on Saturday as the regional bloc sought a coordinated response to surging energy costs, security tensions, and an approaching El Niño, challenges Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said demand collective action.
“Especially at a time when we face multiple crises, from rising oil prices to security concerns and the approaching El Niño, ASEAN needs to act as one,” Marcos said ahead of the meetings, which the Philippines will chair, as reported by Japan Today.
The 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits run from Sunday, November 15, to Tuesday, November 17, 2026, according to RAPPLER. Leaders from major powers including the United States, China, and Japan are scheduled to hold talks covering economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, Myanmar, the South China Sea, and transboundary pollution.
Higher fuel costs strain Southeast Asian economies
Import-dependent Southeast Asian economies are grappling with higher fuel costs that have squeezed households and businesses and added to inflation pressures, Japan Today reported. The crisis has exposed the limits of regional energy security, leaving proposals for a shared oil stockpile under study.
A summit on the Asia Zero Emission Community, a Japan-led framework aimed at achieving energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization simultaneously, is scheduled for next week. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he was unlikely to order new military strikes on Iran following appeals from countries including Qatar, offering some reassurance to energy markets.
Lito Albino, a 50-year-old jeepney driver, said that the conflict involving Iran forced him to work longer hours for less money, making it difficult to support his three children amid rising household expenses.
“No one truly wins in a war. It is the poor and marginalized people like us who suffer the most,” Albino told Japan Today.
Travelers can request refunds for flight adjustments
A total of 322 domestic and international flights are affected by the ASEAN Summit from November 13 to 19, according to The Filipino Times. The Civil Aeronautics Board issued an advisory identifying 264 domestic and 58 international flights subject to adjustments.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon assured passengers that affected travelers can request full refunds, free rebooking, or travel credits without paying additional penalties. Heavy traffic has also been reported around Ninoy Aquino International Airport ahead of the long weekend.
ASEAN leaders review Myanmar conflict response
Myanmar tests ASEAN’s ability to maintain a common position on the civil war that began after the military seized power in 2021. Dominic Xavier Imperial, Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson, stated at a Friday press conference that leaders are reviewing the five-point consensus, with decisions reflected in a negotiated document issued after the summit.
The United Nations estimates the Myanmar conflict has killed 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million. While Western nations maintain isolation, Myanmar’s administration under Min Aung Hlaing has received support from China, India, and Russia, alongside renewed reengagement from some ASEAN members and secret talks with U.S. officials.
Negotiations on a long-delayed Code of Conduct for the South China Sea are about 70 percent complete in terms of overall progress, Imperial said.
Protests and Economic Strains
Activists plan protests during the summit demanding that ASEAN maintain its exclusion of Min Aung Hlaing from leaders’ meetings. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and multi-sectoral groups launched 12 days of protest on November 4, defying government requests to show courtesy during the summit hosting, according to Bulatlat.
Protesters also called for an end to the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative, which critics describe as war production and environmental destruction. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show Philippine unemployment at 5.4 percent, with GDP growth at 2.1 percent, trailing regional neighbors.
Who is attending the summit and which flights are affected?
Who is attending the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila?
Southeast Asian leaders are convening alongside counterparts from major powers, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, as reported by RAPPLER.
What flight adjustments are in place during the summit?
The Civil Aeronautics Board identified 322 domestic and international flights affected between November 13 and 19, 2026. “These are the things that we are assuring you of, [the] government as well as the airlines—you are assured of either free rebooking, all penalties waived, walang penalty 'yan, walang rebooking fee, walang kahit ano,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said, stating that travelers are entitled to full refunds, free rebooking with waived penalties, or travel credits.
What is the status of the South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations?
Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said that negotiations on the long-delayed Code of Conduct with China are about 70 percent complete regarding overall progress.
What is the Asia Zero Emission Community summit addressing?
The Japan-led summit convening next week aims to achieve energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization simultaneously as regional energy pressures increase, according to reporting by The Jakarta Post.
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