A study on the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve as a food security institution in East Asia

Abstract

This study was conducted to study the background, operation status, problems, and improvement plans of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) institution, which was formed under ASEAN and the Plus Three governments consisting of Korea, China, and Japan to cope with the food crisis in East Asia. This study performed a literature search and focus group interview with experts. In-depth expert interviews were conducted three times for one month in August 2021 with eight experts in the relevant field. The results of this study are as follows. The APTERR was established to cope with the regional food crisis. Experts recognized that the APTERR had been operating relatively successfully since 2011. However, the APTERR's financial dependence on the Plus Three countries, including Japan, should be corrected. Experts were positively aware of APTERR's role and prospects in the food crisis that might appear in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, this study revealed that the APTERR could contribute to regional cooperation and integration. This study has the significance of providing practical and academic