State Media Says Cabinet Seeks To 'Accelerate' RCEP Despite Chi-Aus Spat

Reports on social media and wires that Chinese state media has said the Cabinet has called for the 'acceleration' of the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal.

• RCEP is set to encompass Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• The stated desire to accelerate RCEP comes despite bilateral relations between two of the major signatories of the deal, China and Australia, are at multi-year lows.
• Relations took a turn for the worse in April when Australian PM Scott Morrison called for an international inquiry into the origin of COVID-19, which Beijing viewed as an attack on China's actions at the start of the pandemic. It follows on from the previous Australian administration's banning of Chinese firms becoming involved in Australia's 5G network and a foreign interference law viewed as targeting Chinese activities in Australia.
• This all spurred China to implement restrictions on the import of Australian red meat, wine, and grains due to alleged technical issues.
• This week relations reached their nadir, when Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted a fake picture of an Australian soldier killing an Afghan child, sparking a furious response from Canberra. Representatives from the US and UK have offered their backing to Australia in the argument.
• It remains to be seen whether Australia holds firm against what it sees as aggressive Chinese actions, something that would likely scupper the prospects of RCEP being implemented any time soon, or seeks to ameliorate the situation in exchange for an improved trading relationship with China.