China 'willing' to work with Southeast Asia on energy securityHundreds of farmers queue with jerrycans as motorists form a one-kilometre line at the PTT station in Phon Sawan district, Nakhon Phanom province, on Wednesday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)BEIJING — China is ​willing to strengthen ​coordination ‌and cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to address energy ​security issues ⁠arising from the war in ‌Iran, the Chinese foreign ministry said on ⁠Thursday. The situation in the Middle East has disrupted global energy security, ​said Lin Jian, spokesperson at ​the ‌foreign ministry, at a regular news ​conference, ⁠when asked if Southeast ⁠Asian nations had reached out to China for ⁠help in ​tackling their energy security issues. In Thailand, the Ministry of Finance are preparing measures to reduce excise taxes on fuel, as well as draft legislation to allow the Oil Fuel Fund to borrow more funds to stabilise domestic prices. In addition, small businesses and households are being urged to reduce their reliance on the state electricity grid and adopt solar power solutions, as global energy price volatility threatens to drive up costs, despite the government's capped power tariffs.

Source: Bangkok Post March 19, 2026 15:40 UTC