China has formally applied to join a trade bloc important to bolster its influence in the Pacific region. Beijing's desire to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) came a day after the US, UK and Australia announced the formation of an anti-China security alliance.
Many observers believe that if China joins the alliance, it will pave the way for its unilateral influence in Asia and the Pacific region. The US was the first to initiate the Asia-Pacific trade alliance under Barack Obama to counter Beijing's influence. Former US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the initiative in 2017. Later, negotiations for the formation of the CPTPP began under the leadership of Japan. In 2018, 11 countries signed it. Apart from Japan, these countries include Australia, Canada, Japan, Chile and New Zealand. New Zealand serves as the administrative center of the alliance.
On Thursday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said he had written to New Zealand's Commerce Minister Damien O'Connor to join the CPTPP free trade agreement. The Ministry of Commerce of China said in a statement that the two ministers also discussed the next step of this application. In June this year, the UK began formal negotiations to join the CPTPP; Thailand has also expressed interest in joining.
China also formed another free trade alliance, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), with 14 other countries in November last year. Apart from China, RCEP, the world's largest trade alliance, includes South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. BBC.
