China doesn’t even have to actually join, merely being in negotiation will have a desirable effect.
Suppose China says to Singapore:-
"We know you do not want to pick sides. So we would like to open a naval base for the PLAN in the future, if the Americans wants one then China should have one too in Singapore. That way Singapore is not choosing sides because the Lee family chose both."
The Americans are not strategic geniuses.
The signing of the RCEP signalling regional economic integration, to be the world's largest economic zone in 10 years, is also sealing off further US military encroachment via new bases in the region.
The old US bases in the region, guess they are there to make sure China is the engine of the world's largest trade block, and fastest growing block.
Seems a little pointless and redundant. Then to top it all off, the Americans want more money (for their bases) to do nothing. Military welfare that is all that is.
re: the Malacca Straits, seems like there was a plan all alongI would not be surprise if Singapore does lease a base since I've rarely seen singapore antagonize China, more than usual, I heard their pm/ex-pm sorta supporting beijing or at least sound like they are against the hk rioters. If that happened, checkmate on the dream of blocking the malacca straits.
Xi Jinping says China is actively considering joining CPTPP.
This is a masterstroke. The only chance for Biden to get political support for joining CPTPP is to present it as a mechanism to contain China, but if China is also joining, CPTPP will revert back to purely a trade issue in the U.S. subject to a whole different set of political considerations.
China doesn’t even have to actually join, merely being in negotiation will have a desirable effect.
The kiwi fruit is actually native to China, not New Zealand.i dont like pavalova. the aussies are welcome to it.