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Way of Authoritarian Regional Hegemon? Formation of the RCEP From the Perspective of China.

Authors :
Tae Yoo, In
Chong-Han Wu, Charles
Source :
Journal of Asian & African Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.); Sep2022, Vol. 57 Issue 6, p1214-1228, 15p
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

How has China contributed toward the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)? The extant literature tends to either undervalue China's role or emphasizes the absence of China's willingness to realize the RCEP. However, it is difficult to form region-wide multilateral preferential trade agreements (PTAs), such as RCEP, without any significant contribution from a regional hegemon, such as China. This paper, thus, argues that China has contributed significantly toward the conclusion of RCEP by engendering incentives for member countries to join through multiple cooperative structures. These cooperative structures involve China-led bilateral PTAs and international development forums, which include the Belt and Road Initiative and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. With the gradual shift from bilateral to multilateral PTAs and forum-linkage strategies, China turned to be more assertive in concluding the RCEP than in the early years of RCEP negotiations, as evidenced by the discourse of political and opinion leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00219096
Volume :
57
Issue :
6
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of Asian & African Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
157908322
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096211049792