TOKYO -- It was as if Chinese President Xi Jinping made a slam dunk, perfectly timed to take advantage of the presidential transition in the U.S.
On Nov. 20, Xi said that China would "favorably consider" joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- an 11-member trade pact including Japan and Australia. Just days before, China and 14 other countries had signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, creating the world's largest free trade bloc.
