New integration projects in the Asia-Pacific region and Japan

The claim that the center of world economic and political life is moving to the Asia-Pacific region (APR) has been thoroughly reinforced over the past two and a half years in the form of two competing integration megaprojects: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (СPTPP, formerly TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RСEP). In the future, due to their gigantic scale, these integration megaprojects can radically change the trade and economic landscape not only in Asia, but also in the world as a whole. Japan, as the second economic power in Asia and the third one in the world, intends to make the most effective use of both the СPTPP and the RСEP in order to solve its economic problems, as well as strengthen its own economic and political positions both on the regional and global levels. To do this, Tokyo is striving to take a leading position in both partnerships. Japan's success in achieving its goals in the СPTPP and the RСEP will largely depend on the further course in relation to both integration megaprojects of China and the United States, as well as building its own bilateral trade, economic, and political relations with both world powers. Tokyo believes that the course of the Donald Trump administration to withdraw from the TPP was a mistake and encourages the Joe Biden administration to return to this integration structure. At the same time, Japan takes a very cautious position about the possible entry of China into the СPTPP. Both projects (especially the RСEP), as well as their significance for Japan, have not yet received a sufficiently broad and deep understanding in the Russian academic literature in the form of monographic studies or articles. At the same time, much more attention is paid to the two new integration megaprojects in Japan and other countries of the Asia-Pacific region. The article analyzes the views of Japanese and other foreign politicians and experts on the СPTTP and the RСEP, and an attempt is made to identify the role and significance of both projects for Japan and other states.

Asia-Pacific Region, СPTTP, RСEP, Japan, USA, China, economic integration, trade, competition

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