China: "CPTPP Membership Application Unrelated to AUKUS Launch"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] As analyses emerged that China's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a measure to counter the security alliance AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States), the Chinese government strongly denied this.

Zhao Lijian (趙立堅), spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to related questions at a regular briefing on the 17th, stating, "China is a firm advocate of free trade and an important participant in cooperation and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region."

He emphasized, "China's formal application to join the CPTPP demonstrates its strong determination to expand opening-up and promote regional economic cooperation."

Spokesperson Zhao said, "China expressed its intention to consider joining the CPTPP a year ago," adding, "In accordance with relevant regulations, we have met informally with each member and studied the agreement's provisions, and based on the results, we submitted the application."

Regarding AUKUS, he criticized, "What China is pursuing is economic cooperation, but what the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia are pursuing is war and destruction."

The CPTPP is an agreement launched by the remaining countries after the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which was led by the U.S. China had previously viewed the U.S.-led TPP as a means to isolate China, but as analyses emerged that the Biden administration might rejoin the CPTPP to counter China, China actively participated in the application process.