Xinhua News Agency: Tensions in the Middle East have spilled over into the Asia-Pacific region, raising economic concerns and prompting calls for diplomatic mediation.

The ongoing military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to impact the Asia-Pacific region, triggering economic uncertainty and energy security alarms. Many governments and regional organizations have called for an immediate cessation of military operations. Julia Roknifard, a senior lecturer at Taylor's University in Malaysia, points out that Southeast Asia may face negative impacts such as trade disruptions and rising energy costs. A survey by the Malaysian Foreign Trade Development Council shows that nearly 64% of Malaysian businesses expect to be affected by the conflict, mainly involving transportation delays, increased shipping and insurance costs, and rising raw material prices linked to crude oil. Retail oil prices in Cambodia rose over the past week, with key garment and agricultural sectors facing higher production and logistics costs. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake warned that the conflict could impact the country's economy. South Korea's KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices fell 12.06% and 14% respectively on Wednesday before rebounding on Thursday. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated in Bangkok on Thursday that if the conflict continues, it could affect global energy prices, market sentiment, economic growth, and inflation. Countries are actively responding to the impact. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that ASEAN must strengthen regional resilience through energy diversification and deeper economic integration. Vietnam established a special task force to monitor the energy market, the Philippines stated it has 50 to 60 days' worth of oil reserves, and South Korea issued a "watch" alert for crude oil and natural gas. Australia and New Zealand began assisting their citizens in evacuating from the Middle East. On the diplomatic front, ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement on March 4 calling for an immediate ceasefire. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, emphasizing adherence to the UN Charter and opposition to the arbitrary use of force. China will also send its special envoy for Middle East affairs, Zhai Jun, to the region to promote de-escalation.