[War] Japan: "Special Proposal"

[Ian Martell]

"Special Proposal"
Foreign Minister Daigo Jonouchi
Japan
Aug 2 2014
-----------------------

Heavy was the head that wears the crown, wasn't that the saying he learned 
at Oxford? Foreign Minister Jonouchi as he downed an antacid pill with his 
cup of green tea as he considered it.  It was true even the almost 
chimerical circlet that was the post of Deputy Prime Minister was weighty 
when the man who doled out (and took away) such honors was Shunichi Sato, as 
wild a Type B* as could be found in Japan. One only needed to look at his 
predecessors still warm political corpse reduced from the post in order for 
Jonouchi to rise to it, and bring his faction into Sato's fold.

He sipped his tea. Things had certainly turned on their head since his 
former mentor Hiroshi Sakai had been ousted from the office of Prime 
Minister, the Diet, and eventually the country. If Jonouchi had been a 
samurai, he supposed he would have been obliged to fall on his sword at his 
master's disgrace, but he was a politician and so belly uncut he hooked his 
star to Sato's in hopes that he would take him up with him and so far it was 
working. For now, in time things would change and either he would fall or 
Sato would, but at the moment, he would focus on keeping his position, which 
meant that the Nagano Summit would have to succeed.

Which was the matter.

There was a knock on the door and his private secretary entered. "Sir, the 
Thai, Singaporean and Filipino Ambassadors have arrived."

"Show them in," Jonouchi said as he slid the package of antacids into a 
drawer and closed it quickly. It wouldn't do to show the foreigners the dirt 
under Japan's nails.

His secretary showed the three men in and Jonouchi smiled and rose from his 
seat and rounded his desk to meet them.

He bowed. "Ambassadors," he said and then shook their hands. "Please have a 
seat," he said nodding to the informal seating area on the edge of his 
office. "Jiro will get you a drink if you would like one."

The men nodded and the drinks were requested and as soon as they were served 
and their recipients were seated they got down to business.

"I know you are both very busy," Jonouchi said. "So let us get right to the 
point. By now, the news of the proposed summit is well known; in fact I 
think it was in the last issue of the Economist and by now your governments 
have received their official invitations however we would like more than 
just the attendance of Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, if your 
governments do plan to attend, and we hope so; but your full support for the 
objectives of the summit."

"What makes you think that it is in our interests?" asked the Thai 
Ambassador.

"Well firstly, you were both some of the most enthusiastic supporters of the 
original anti-piracy proposal, and can only continue to benefit by its 
expansion, while narcotics is a sticky issue in both your countries, we are 
not the Americans, we understand there are certain political realities that 
exist in some countries that will not easily be put aside, and we are 
willing to be accommodating, so long as the third objective, the active 
pursuit of counter-terror operations are looked after. Given the trouble 
these groups have given both your countries I am sure that will not be 
difficult for your governments to agree to, especially with Japanese help."

"What sort of help?"

"Technological and monetary support, satellite intel, UAVs, everything but 
boots on the ground for obvious reasons of your sovereignty and our 
constitution."

"And this is just for us, or for everyone who signs on?"

"Everyone," Jonouchi replied. "But we can make arrangements to begin 
whenever your governments are ready."

"Why the sudden focus on terrorism?"

"Stability, we all benefit if the violence and instability in Asia 
decreases, quality of life, security, investment dollars, it all goes up as 
violence goes down. Terror, be it based on religion or ideology is a major 
source of that violence."

"Why not bring in one of the major powers?"

Jonouchi smiled at the question. "We like to think of ourselves as one, but 
you mean why not bring in the United States, China or Russia?"

"Yes."

"Credibility," Jonouchi replied. "The United States, China and Russia, all 
have their stigma however it is not our aim to change regimes, promote an 
ideology, or create client states in Asia, we simply want peace and 
stability in Asia and are willing to commit ourselves to that goal and 
achieve it through assisting rather than fighting our neighbors. We feel if 
given a chance, we can show your governments and the governments of your 
neighbors we are not the latest in the line of those who have sought to 
exploit you, and are in fact a true friend and ally."

The men, career diplomats nodded without sign of whether they believed 
Jonouchi or not. Jonouchi had expected nothing less.

"Well gentlemen, as I said, I would get right to the point, now are there 
any questions?"

*See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_blood_type_theory_of_personality


Actions:
1>	A little character development
2>	Make our case to Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines for their active 
support of the Japanese plans at the summit and let them know, emphatically, 
that we are not in the empire business anymore, and our goal is simple and 
plain, stability, and the betterment of Asia.