To sabotage China’s plans and prevent cross-border flow of data, Japan plans to build a coalition in the Asia-Pacific region. At an RCEP ministers meeting in Hanoi in May 2017, Hiroshige Seko --Japan's former economy, trade and industry minister – had proposed to cover digital rules in the negotiations. Japan had laid the groundwork for this month earlier, when Seko brought ASEAN ministers to the scenic landmark of Wakayama Castle, in his constituency, during the peak of cherry blossom season to build a consensus.

RCEP, which is expected to go into force as early as 2022, consists of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It will set the rules for electronic commerce, guaranteeing free data flows between members and banning demands by countries such as China to store information on local servers.

Tokyo's strategy is to prevent a Beijing-led pace of negotiations. It seeks to enlist other countries that share the same goal. Japan is looking at future deals as well, including possible Chinese participation in the TPP-11, formally known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.