China's Bilateral and Regional Trade Negotiations.

I argue that China's participation in bilateral and regional trade agreements is motivated to a large degree by political and security objectives. Although economic imperatives are significant, they play a supporting role. This is evidenced by China's enthusiasm for agreements in which it has the ability to assert regional leadership or to extend "good neighbor" gestures, and the lack of motivation for agreements that do not have perceived political benefits. These observations are supported by empirical evidence gathered from interviews with trade officials in China and other Asia-Pacific countries. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]