PM’s announcement on RCEP is akin to DOKLAM. It is all about China, this time on the Trade Front. RCEP, as now structured, would have led to a walk-into the Indian market for Chinese products, especially through other ASEAN countries. Meanwhile, India has been negotiating with China in regard to reducing the bilateral trade deficit. These efforts would have been undermined. India has given an important signal to China by staying out of RCEP now