Manila: South Korea, China, and Japan on Thursday emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation on supply chains, food security, and energy security during the ASEAN-related ministerial meeting amidst the ongoing West Asia crisis. The consensus emerged during the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Manila, where top diplomats from the 11 ASEAN member states and the three Northeast Asian countries convened to discuss practical cooperation strategies.
According to Nam News Network, the meeting was attended by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, while China was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, substituting for Foreign Minister Wang Yi amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Cho emphasized the vulnerabilities exposed in the Strait of Hormuz, which have significantly impacted food and energy security, and highlighted the opportunity for ASEAN Plus Three to demonstrate the value of their cooperation.
South Korea's role as a major contributor to regional rice assistance mechanisms was underscored by Cho, who called for expanded collaboration to tackle food security challenges. He also advocated for measures to diversify supply chains and reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to regional energy security efforts, including the ASEAN Power Grid project and collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi highlighted the grouping's role in addressing issues such as energy and food security, ageing populations, and disaster prevention. China's Hua Chunying remarked on the geopolitical challenges affecting energy and food supply chains and emphasized the need for regional security and resilience.
Cho also expressed a desire for continued support for efforts to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, noting the strained relations with North Korea and its absence from this year's ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The participating countries agreed on the importance of developing existing cooperation mechanisms into more practical frameworks to address external shocks and disruptions, while also advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to address Korean Peninsula issues.