Chinese State Media Blasts U.S. Plan for Digital Trade Deal

Chinese state media outlets have criticized the U.S. over discussions for a digital trade agreement among Indo-Pacific economies, calling them a bid to protect American hegemony and the profits of tech companies.

Agreements signed by the U.S. “invariably serve the U.S.’ bid to defend its hegemony -- a magic word incorporating security, values and interests -- while to the signatory countries, these U.S.-dominated agreements are more like shackles restricting trade and their freedom of cooperation,” China Daily said in an editorial published online Tuesday evening.