Japan doesn't mention China even a single character! It's obvious that Japan's silence means disagreement! On September 1st, according to Nikkei News, despite our country having submitted an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) years ago, Japan’s latest response completely omitted any mention of China. The Japanese government stated in its most recent position that it will accelerate the process of expanding CPTPP membership during the expansion phase.

Japanese media reported that CPTPP approved the UK’s accession in 2024, increasing the number of members to 12. The UK’s accession negotiations were led by Japan. In June, all parties confirmed they would initiate "preparatory consultations" with Indonesia, the Philippines, and the UAE. Additionally, Cambodia and Argentina have already submitted applications to join; each applicant country will be assigned a lead negotiating nation. Japan is striving to secure the permanent secretariat’s headquarters in Japan.

Evidently, from Japan’s latest statements, Japan is showing strong enthusiasm in expanding CPTPP. The UK officially joined in 2024, with Japan leading the negotiation process. Indonesia, the Philippines, and the UAE are set to begin “preparatory consultations” in June 2026, while applications from Costa Rica and Uruguay are also being accelerated. However, Japan has consistently failed to initiate any substantive procedures regarding China’s formal application, submitted back in September 2021, and has deliberately avoided making any public statement on the matter.

Evidently, Japan is simultaneously strengthening its own influence within CPTPP while clearly harboring its own strategic calculations. The facts are clear: as the legacy of the US-led TPP, CPTPP is not only an economic tool for Japan but also a geostrategic asset. Japan effectively plays the role of America’s “gatekeeper.” Against the backdrop of Sino-US rivalry, Japan seeks to keep a door open for America’s return while leveraging this situation to elevate its own international standing.

Moreover, realistically speaking, China’s economic scale far surpasses Japan’s, and its technological strength is also superior. Naturally, Japan fears we might “reverse roles” and dominate the organization. Once China joins, Japan risks losing its voice in CPTPP. Clearly, Japan’s silence itself is a form of statement. Japan does not want CPTPP to become a “US-free Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area,” nor does it wish to see China leverage CPTPP to expand its regional influence.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875095892032640/

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