China Hosts Unauthorized CPTPP Event During APEC; Some Members Boycott in Protest

Central News Agency, Tokyo, May 23. During the APEC trade ministers' meeting held in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, yesterday, China hosted an event related to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). However, as China is not a member of the CPTPP and had not obtained prior approval through formal procedures, the move sparked confusion and backlash from some member countries. According to a report by Japan's Jiji Press, China held the event in the form of a dialogue with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), with participants including Japan, China, South Korea, and ASEAN countries. However, it is reported that some CPTPP member countries chose not to attend to express their dissatisfaction. Against the backdrop of the United States moving toward protectionism, the influence of the CPTPP continues to rise. China applied to join the CPTPP as early as 2021, but has not yet entered the formal negotiation process. Observers believe that Beijing's high-profile hosting of the event is intended to highlight the legitimacy of its bid to participate in the CPTPP. However, the report points out that some member countries criticized the Chinese side for "holding the event without consent," arguing that this action violates the CPTPP's principle of consensus and could have a negative impact on China's accession negotiations. In addition, the APEC trade ministers' meeting is also expected to discuss the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) initiative, which covers 21 member economies including the United States, Russia, and Taiwan. It is understood that China hopes to push for the inclusion of FTAAP content in the joint statement by expanding large-scale free trade agreements such as the CPTPP. The report mentions that as China actively seeks to lead trade liberalization in the Asia-Pacific region, the vigilance of various countries has also increased, making it uncertain whether the current APEC meeting will be able to successfully pass a joint statement.