The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) stands as a striking testament to transnational cooperation that successfully transcends deep-seated civilizational divides, mismatched political regimes, and starkly asymmetrical levels of economic development. Even as geopolitical frictions simmer beneath the surface, the sheer gravitational pull of mutual economic interest has woven together the world’s largest free trade area—offering a quiet, powerful rebuttal to the prevailing narrative of inevitable global decoupling. What Is the RCEP Agreement? The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the most consequential mega-regional free trade agreement (FTA) in contemporary economic history. Having entered into force on January 1, 2022, it binds the ten ASEAN member states with five key regional dialogue partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand . Rather than just another trade deal, RCEP functions as a critical linchpin of open regional...