US, Japan and South Korea create new economic-security forum before Xi-Trump summit

The United States, Japan and South Korea have announced a new consultation focused on economic security, according to the South China Morning Post. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun unveiled the initiative after meeting, the report said. The three governments also reinforced their support for stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The announcement came only days before a planned summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. The timing placed the three-way statement against the backdrop of forthcoming talks between the Chinese and US leaders. The report described the initiative and the Taiwan Strait message as a coordinated position on issues regarded as sensitive to Beijing.

The source material does not give the consultation’s schedule, membership beyond the three countries, or the precise arrangements for its work. It also does not provide details of the leaders’ summit agenda or any response from China. The available information establishes the launch of the economic-security mechanism and the governments’ reaffirmed position on cross-Strait stability.