Thanks to free trade, global investments will be much more active among the TPP countries, which will strengthen the economy. As economic activity will be mixed with that of many other nations, nations will work for good relations among TPP nations, as unnecessary collisions will harm the interdependent economic body. This works well geopolitically, as the current administration aims to do. Many TPP signatory countries are located in East and Southeast Asia, where China is increasing its influence for sovereignty over the South China Sea and hegemony in Asia. Professors Green and Goodman analyze that the United States' goal of strengthening economic ties among small Southeast Asian nations is to prevent Beijing from using trade coercion to placate these nations in the ongoing maritime conflict. South China Sea (Green, Goodman 28). This will allow the United States to continually maintain its national security in the Asia-Pacific region and prevent China from gaining market access.