General

Although the United States reiterated in the dialogue with relevant countries that the "India Pacific economic framework" would dilute the geopolitical color and emphasize the central position of the economic agenda, it has always been difficult to hide its purpose of "effectively countering China's growing influence". No matter what kind of regional cooperation framework, it should not impact the current regional cooperation framework according to the interests of a certain country and start the reverse of regional integration.

On May 23, the United States announced the launch of the so-called "Indo Pacific economic framework" after a series of initiatives such as "return to the Asia Pacific", "trans Pacific Partnership Agreement" and "Indo Pacific strategy" failed to make substantive progress or "died prematurely". Although the United States reiterated in the dialogue with relevant countries that the framework would weaken the geopolitical color and emphasize the central position of the economic agenda, it has always been difficult to hide its purpose of "effectively countering China's growing influence". The strong exclusiveness, strong strategic color and uncertain economic prospect of the "Indo Pacific economic framework" will eventually bring many negative impacts on the political and economic order in the Asia Pacific region.

First, the "Indo Pacific economic framework" seems to be an economic initiative, but it actually contains obvious strategic intentions. As the center of the world economy shifts eastward, the geopolitical and geo economic importance of the Asia Pacific region continues to rise. The United States believes that its "Indo Pacific strategy" aimed at strengthening regional leadership still has shortcomings in the economic and trade field. The main reason is that the "trans Pacific Partnership Agreement" is judged as a "political death" in the discourse system of American election politics, and the regional economic arrangements supporting its national security strategy are therefore "absent". Therefore, the Biden administration aims to reshape an Asia Pacific regional economic arrangement that implements the "us first" principle, respond to its strategic needs to improve regional influence, and take this opportunity to provide Asia Pacific countries with so-called "alternative solutions" other than cooperation with China. However, the key to success and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region in the past was win-win cooperation, not geographical conflicts and zero sum games.

No matter what kind of regional cooperation framework, it should promote open cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results both inside and outside the region, and should not politicize, secure and ideologize economic and trade issues. The "India Pacific economic framework" of the United States uses economic initiatives, economic means and strategic pressure to coerce Asia Pacific countries to "choose sides" between China and the United States, and attempts to camp, NATO and cold war the Asia Pacific region are increasingly "eroding" the foundation of peace and development in the Asia Pacific region and even the world.

Second, the "Indo Pacific economic framework" ignores objective economic laws and is not conducive to economic recovery in the Asia Pacific region and the world. The United States is prone to resort to the "decoupling" or "chain breaking" strategy, artificial decoupling of manufacturing technology and industrial chain breaking, which continuously exacerbates the supply chain crisis and destroys the cluster effect of scientific and technological innovation. Now it is "transplanting" these tricks to the Asia Pacific region, which will only create greater obstacles to the recovery of the Asia Pacific economy and the world economy. Although the "Indo Pacific economic framework" led by the United States has put forward a series of economic initiatives such as enhancing the toughness and security of the supply chain, its central idea is not to unblock the world economy, but to "plug up" the already fragile regional economy and the world economy. Its purpose is nothing more than to transfer the China related supply chains of countries in the region through means such as export control of high-tech products, so as to promote "decoupling" from China.

No matter what kind of regional cooperation framework, it should not violate the general principles of economic globalization, should not engage in a "new cold war" in the economic and trade field in the Asia Pacific region, and should act in accordance with free trade rules. The Asia Pacific region is expected to become the "leader" in driving the recovery of the world economy after the epidemic. No country should artificially cut off the cohesion of the regional economy, undermine the role of the Asia Pacific as an engine driving the healthy development of the world economy, and act against the trend of economic globalization.

Third, the "Indo Pacific economic framework" focuses on attracting "small circles", and the relevant economic terms are "empty" and "congenitally deficient". Unlike previous economic and trade agreements, the "Indo Pacific economic framework" is more concerned about whether more Asia Pacific countries can be drawn into the so-called "small circle" of China exclusion, rather than really using the economic framework to achieve the purpose of reducing tariffs, reducing regulation and opening the free market to relevant countries. Therefore, the United States has changed its style of "high standards and strict requirements" in the past, repeatedly lowered the access threshold of the framework, and modified relevant provisions according to the requirements of all parties. Relevant countries only need to join the discussion on one of the "four pillars" to become the initial members of the framework. The "four pillars" cover such areas as fair and adaptable trade, supply chain flexibility, infrastructure and carbon emission reduction, tax reform and anti-corruption. In addition, this loose "partnership" aimed at "jointly setting standards" with Member States does not need to be approved by the U.S. Congress, so it is relatively easy to reach. It can be seen that the US government is eager to form this exclusive "small circle" in the Asia Pacific region, and does not really care whether the economic framework can produce specific economic results.

No matter what kind of regional cooperation framework, it should not fabricate empty gimmicks to win over "small circles", should not create a closed and isolated atmosphere in the Asia Pacific region, and should objectively and neutrally do practical things to strengthen the development and prosperity of the regional economy. Although the United States has repeatedly reiterated that the economic framework is still in the stage of drafting and revision, a large number of international public opinions have pointed out that the economic framework is "empty" due to multi-party compromise, and the economic prospect is not clear. The only thing that remains is its strong political color.

Finally, the "Indo Pacific economic framework" focuses on helping the United States obtain strategic resources and has limited capacity and willingness to provide regional public goods. The White House statement stressed in a prominent position that "as a major power in the Indian Pacific region, the United States should expand its economic leadership in the region" and take this framework to "ensure that American workers, small businesses and farmers have the ability to participate in the competition in the Indian Pacific region". However, in sharp contrast, the statement did not explicitly mention how much tariff reduction, market access and poverty reduction the Indo Pacific region would receive under this framework. The "Indo Pacific economic framework" follows the principle of "us first" and does not care about the improvement of the overall welfare of the Asia Pacific region. The "Indo Pacific economic framework" focuses on shaping exclusive rules, which will inevitably mean that this economic framework does not give priority to efficiency and fairness, nor is it the starting point and end result of expanding and strengthening the economic cake of the region. As the "Indo Pacific economic framework" covers most of the member countries of the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement, it will, to a great extent, divide and undermine the previous efforts of countries in the region to pursue and build economic integration.

No matter what kind of regional cooperation framework, it should not impact the current regional cooperation framework according to the interests of a certain country and start the reverse of regional integration. The rules of the Asia Pacific region should be jointly constructed and shared by all countries in the region, and the laws of the market economy should be fully respected. It is not allowed to disturb the stable operation of the normal regional economic and trade order and even harm the future development potential of the regional economy just based on the political will of a certain country.