Beijing seeks to join the Pacific Partnership

Beijing has petitioned to join an economic alliance originally intended to exert economic pressure on China. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is the successor to a free-trade project, established by US President Barack Obama to keep China in check. Under Donald Trump, however, the US has retreated from the project. Now, conversely, China is moving in, while the US is not a member.