During a vitriol-filled campaign, Trump frequently took a combative stance against China, blaming Beijing for "inventing" climate change and rigging the rules of trade. Trump campaigned against the proposal as a "terrible deal" that would "rape" the United States by sending American jobs to countries with cheaper labor. In a Pacific region hungry for trade, that has left even longtime US allies looking to China to fill the void. Beijing is pushing two alternative plans, one that is region-wide and one that excludes the United States. "I personally think that President Trump will be like chairman of the corporation Trump," he said.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 20, 2016 04:32 UTC