China takes wary stance on TPP talks

China's Foreign Ministry has stressed that the integration of the Asia-Pacific economies should be carried out on the principle of openness and transparency.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said this at a news conference on Monday. The remark is seen as a warning to Japan, which is to make a decision soon on whether to join negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. China is outside the framework of the US-led negotiations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed at a Japan-US summit last week that it is not necessary to make a prior commitment to unilaterally eliminate all tariffs when joining the TPP negotiations. The confirmation clears a major hurdle to Japan's joining the negotiations.

China, on the other hand, is aiming to expand a free trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region that includes members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and South Korea.

NHK's correspondents in Beijing say Hua's remark comes at a time when Japan may possibly join negotiations on the TPP talks. They say the spokeswoman's statement is seen as an indication of Beijing's stance of restraining progress in setting the framework of the free trade rules without China's participation.

February 25, 2013

Source: NHK