China will position itself as free trade's new champion at an Asia-Pacific summit this weekend, with the Communist government seeking to project economic leadership as the Trans-Pacific Partnership languishes under President-elect Donald Trump.
Beijing aims to capitalize on the Trump-induced coma of the U.S.-led Pacific Rim trade pact, with President Xi Jinping selling alternate visions for regional trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting this weekend in Peru.
"If the U.S. gives up its leadership here, of course China will take the role," said Tu Xinquan, a trade expert at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics, who has advised China's government on trade issues.