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MANILA — South Korea, China, and Japan on Thursday called for stronger cooperation on supply chains and food and energy security at the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, according to South Korea's foreign ministry. The meeting brought together top diplomats from the 11 ASEAN member states and the three Northeast Asian countries to discuss ways to advance practical cooperation amid the continued Middle East crisis.

Coverage Comparison

The meeting, reported by Yonhap News Agency, highlighted both the trilateral consensus among South Korea, China, and Japan, and the separate Korea-ASEAN discussions on their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership vision. The reports from Yonhap focused on the outcomes of the ministerial meetings held in Manila on July 22 and 23, 2026.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun attended the APT meeting alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, while China was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, as reported by Yonhap.

In a separate development, Cho co-chaired the Korea-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting with his Thai counterpart on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related meetings. Yonhap reported that the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership vision and introduced new cooperation initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) and cultural and creative industries.

Key Claims

  • South Korea, China, and Japan called for stronger cooperation on supply chains and food and energy security at the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
  • The consensus was reached during the 27th APT Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, which brought together top diplomats from the 11 ASEAN member states and the three Northeast Asian countries.
  • Foreign Minister Cho Hyun attended the meeting and highlighted South Korea's role in providing rice assistance during food emergencies, calling for expanded cooperation to address complex food security challenges and diversify supply chains.
  • China's Hua Chunying represented China at the meeting and discussed the world's 'turbulence and transformation'.
  • The meeting also discussed the Korean Peninsula issue and the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
  • South Korea and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the implementation of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership vision.
  • New cooperation initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) and cultural and creative industries were introduced.
  • ASEAN member states welcomed the vision and expressed their willingness to cooperate.
During the APT meeting, Cho said, "Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have exposed vulnerabilities which had long been simply hypothetical. They have placed both our food and energy security under severe strain." He added, "Yet, paradoxically, this crisis also opens a window of opportunity for ASEAN Plus Three to once again demonstrate the value of this mechanism." Cho highlighted South Korea's role as the largest contributor to a regional mechanism for providing rice assistance during food emergencies and called for concrete cooperation measures to diversify supply chains. He also pledged Seoul's continued contributions to the ASEAN Power Grid project, the nuclear energy field, and regional energy security efforts in cooperation with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

At the Korea-ASEAN meeting, Cho said South Korea and ASEAN have become "indispensable partners" amid a rapidly changing regional environment marked by global supply chain restructuring and rapid technological shifts, calling for closer cooperation through the implementation of the vision. The vision, introduced by President Lee Jae Myung at last year's Korea-ASEAN summit, outlines three pillars of cooperation: people-centered cooperation, growth and innovation, and peace and stability.

During the meeting, South Korea introduced a "Korea-ASEAN AI Partnership Initiative," aimed at building AI ecosystems, promoting AI research and talent development, and supporting the safe use of AI based on Seoul's full-stack AI capabilities. Seoul also introduced new initiatives on cultural and creative industries, cooperation to combat online scam crimes, and the establishment of a joint maritime safety academy, while calling for ASEAN member states' support and participation in the projects.

ASEAN member states welcomed the vision and expressed their willingness to cooperate, according to Yonhap.