Since the Trump administration withdrew from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the United States has not proposed a feasible alternative, whether due to insufficient capacity, reluctance, or a combination of both. The subsequent trade agreement, now renamed as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), excludes the United States but includes several Southeast Asian countries. At the same time, China has joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) led by ASEAN, of which Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and 10 ASEAN countries are all members. Beijing has also made full use of its economic strength through the "the Belt and Road" initiative, which is a global investment and infrastructure plan very suitable for the needs of Southeast Asia. Washington seems to have no realistic ideas to counter this initiative