World leaders are in the Philippines today, engaging in a flurry of high-level diplomacy amid a destabilised global order and rising geopolitical tensions.
This year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila will set the tone before US President Donald Trump and other leaders head to China for APEC talks.
There's also potential for a meeting of the Quad, the strategic partnership between India, Japan, Australia and the United States that's seen as a means to check China's growing influence across Asia.
A meeting of the Quad is also likely; the strategic partnership between India, Japan, Australia and the United States that is seen as a means of checking China's growing influence across Asia.
With numerous global challenges, these issues are set to dominate the ASEAN agenda.
The war in Iran and the ensuing chaos in global energy markets are front of mind for leaders, as much of South-East Asia is heavily reliant on oil and gas from the Middle East.
Hunter Marston, South-East Asia program director at the Lowy Institute, said the energy issue has been "massive".
"It's triggered protests … and has caused enormous headaches for political leaders," he said.
"ASEAN this year has been emphasising progress towards a strategic petroleum reserve and the ASEAN power grid.