[War] China: "Taking a Trip"- A Domestic Tour
Chazenesq2b at aol.com
Chazenesq2b at aol.com
Sat Nov 22 00:12:14 EST 2008
OOC: Just like everyone else, something short and simple to get back into
the swing of things.
"Beijing Tech-Expo"- A Domestic Tour
President Xia Hong
The People's Republic of China
21 November 2014
=========================================
(The Executive Residence, Beijing)
The Executive Estate was in the midst of yet another normal working day.
The offices were abound with activities as information passed from analyst to
analyst, manager to manager, department to department. Even when the
President wasn't in her office, the work of the People's Republic continued,
particularly with the experimental wave of PNC elections about to hit. For the first
time ever, fully half of the PNC would be standing for election... that
number determined simply because of the need to keep 1/2 a Congress in session
should an emergency arise that Hong could not deal with alone... a peculiarity
in Chinese politics which, although rare, was within the realm of possibility
now that the Executive was slowly conceding powers to it's Legislative and
Judicial counterparts. Slowly and deliberately, that was the Chinese way.
And to the outsider without access, one would never have known the kind of
Earthquake that shook China's political world in August ever occurred, let
alone that the 'clean-up' had yielded considerable political fruit and
influence... as well as other benefits. Without having to worry about political
rivals, Xia was free to, for a short while, actually enjoy some of the benefits of
being the most powerful 'woman' on God's green Earth.
======================================================
(Airborne and Air Assault Warfare Training Center- Lanzhou, a while ago)
Unlike the West, up until the North Korean Stabilization Operation (now
known in the Chinese media and MoD as NKSO or 'neekso'), China had never used
Airborne forces in a major way. They were largely used for ceremonial purposes,
the existence of small, elite, highly trained and specialized units
completely antithetical to the mass-wave and heavily armor reliant tactics and
strategies that had been the mainstay of Soviet style forces such as China's... yet
the Chinese Airborne troops had a history of their own. It was rumored that
a USMC officer, discussing things with British and South Korean counterparts
once said "the only thing that keeps me up at night is the possibility that,
if I wake up, I'll find myself stuck in Seoul and surrounded by Chinese
paratroopers."
High praise to be sure from an officer in one of the worlds most elite
military forces.
Whether the statement was said or not, there was good reason for the
sentiment. China had built up a Rapid Response Force policy dating from the mid
90's, of which the Airborne was a considerable component. They had
distinguished themselves in combat, be it restoring order in Tibet after certain CNP
officials overstepped their bounds, or leading the way into North Korea or Iran.
In North Korea they battled terrain and hostile forces to secure and shut
down the 8,000 plus artillery pieces aimed at Seoul before they could be turned
on North Koreans by North Koreans... a feat even the Americans never thought
possible. In Iran, they were part of the Special Operations Forces that
captured dozens of top-level Iranian officials now standing trial at an
international court... and stunned the world with their speed, proficiency, and
efficiency.
And just as the Americans looked on their soldiers with pride as the valiant
defenders of freedom, the Chinese had come to look upon their soldiers as
the heroic avenging angels of justice... always doing what was right, whether
it was popular or not. The Airborne proved it could do more than just scare
the shit out of just about any military force out there... they were the first
troops redeployed to the Yalu area of operations following the natural
disaster there, rescuing North Korean and Chinese citizens from the rubble of
ruined cities, and bringing in water, food, and shelter for the survivors.
Troops like China's Airborne forces were often used to criticize the country
as a whole. Their existence seen as 'threatening' or 'ominous' or
'foreboding' somehow... despite the fact NATO and Warsaw Pact Nations, and many 3rd
world countries, all had airborne troops of their own. And like the Americans
did when their troops were criticized, the Chinese seemed to take 'pride' in
being 'the bad guys'. Xia had long given up trying to prove she wasn't the
villain she was often made out to be. If they were going to talk about China,
China was determined to give them something to talk about.
So her month long tour of the nation started out by joining China's elite
forces at the relatively new Airborne and Air Assault Warfare Training Center in
Lanzhou. Under Xia, the Airborne had begun to be reorganized from it's
battalion centered structure. China now retained 75,000 Airborne troops,
including 2 full Airborne Divisions (1st and 10th) under the Sino Airborne Corps
(SAC) of the PLA. Additionally, every Province and independent zone had
Independent Airborne Regiments (IARs) at the beck and call of the military regional
command. There was also the Airborne Training Brigade (ATB) based here in
Lanzhou, and the National Rapid Reaction Force... an even more elite Brigade
of 5,000 stationed in Nanjing... this was the unit US Intelligence followed as
a sign that invasion of Taiwan might be imminent, since they were expected
to be the first ones in.
She joined them just in time for the Airborne Survival Training Regimen.
Following basic training, those recruits that distinguished themselves
sufficiently were offered the opportunity to elect into Airborne training, the first
step towards entering China's Special Operations or Special Forces
communities. Airborne training was an additional 6 months above and beyond what the
normal soldier had to endure, and culminated with (often) brutal hazing
rituals. Rumors of what was required became so prevalent that even Jane's, the
military publishing think tank, began picking some of them up. Not all of them
were accurate, but then not every rumor was. As it stood though, the training
was ferocious... considered 'strenuously difficult' under the best of
circumstances, and 'brutally inhumane' by some... though most agreed it was severe
enough as to be virtually intolerable if not unconscionable by Western
standards. It's goal was to 'adapt' the normal soldier, used to strict
regimentation and reaction, to be far more independent, far smarter, and far more
capable than his opponent, or even fellow soldiers. This included a 6 week
Survival program, 2 weeks in the jungle, 2 weeks in the desert, and 2 weeks in the
Alpine and mountains.
Xia was fortunate enough to join them in the mountains. Bitter cold, frozen
ground, unforgiving terrain, heavy burdens... trapping live animals for
food, starting fires by hand, building shelters, land navigation and situational
exercises... it was 'hell' to put it bluntly. The fact that military
photographers had taken kind to catching her in less than 'photogenic' positions,
clad in dirty fatigues with frazzled hair eating a rabbit she had to skin
herself, didn't exactly help things either. It did feel good, finding out she was
tough enough to bear a pack that weighed pretty close to half of what she
did... and living out in nature for a bit did help her relax mentally, if not
physically.
======================================================
(National Convention Center- Beijing, also a while ago)
For coolness, few things equaled opening a 4 month-long festival in one of
the world's greatest cities.
Since 2010, Beijing had hosted a world class Technology Expo, and this year
Xia joined Beijing's mayor in the opening ceremony. Companies from all over
the world, in hopes of soliciting interest (and thusly, sales) showed up with
all kinds of goodies ranging from the bizarre and futuristic (such as a R2D2
like robot with a flat head called 'serve-bot' and showed off by Beijing
Technical University) to the near-future modernity of more advanced versions of
currently existing technology (such as Shanghai Rail's 'Hyper Maglev' which
promised to reach speeds between 600 and 800 km/h.) The Hyper Maglev was the
star of the opening ceremony, a demonstration being arranged in which the
train made fairly short work of the Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, Beijing commuter line
at a relatively 'low' cruising speed of 650 km/h... faster than any current
train in the world. Shanghai Maglev's CEO marveled, speaking of the
possibility of a trans-national line which could literally move people from East to
West in hours... and maybe even a link to go from Beijing to Moscow in a day.
Xia didn't know about any of that, and while the CEOs were busy showing the
international media team around, she decided to take the time out to sit down
with Cai Qinghua, one of the leading news personalities.
"Madame President, thank you for your time." The reporter started with a
smile.
"It's my pleasure, Cai."
"First of all, allow me to express my, and I'm sure the nation's, gratitude
for your service despite well publicized personal problems, not the least of
which was the revelation of your husband's infidelity and death. That must
be a traumatic experience."
"Not one you'd want to have, no." Xia gave a weak smile.
"How is it you've perceivered?"
"I am fortunate to be blessed with a loving family, and the support of a
great many people. Wen's death was not easy, nor were the revelations of his
many... infidelities. It was deeply painful, but you have to be able to move
beyond these personal tragedies for the good of the people, as well as for
your own sanity. It was deeply touching to have so many representatives, from
so many nations, attend his services. I've thanked all those who've attended,
and will always remember their kindness."
Cai nodded. "Do you feel that experience has impacted the way you've lead
as President?"
Xia took a sip of tea and thought. "I believe it may have changed the way I
accept things, but not the decisions I make."
"How so?"
"You can't live through something like that, without being forever changed."
Xia clarified. "If you're asking me how what I've experienced would alter
the decisions I've already made if I had to make them again, all I can say is
it would not."
"Even knowing the international backlash for decisions such as North Korea,
Iran, or Tibet?"
"North Korea was a necessity. Other nations of the world were quick to
judge our actions, but would America not send troops to restore order in Mexico
should a coup devolve into a Civil War? Would the Europeans be blamed for
sending troops to Yugoslavia when that nation fell apart? The fact of the
matter is all nations on this planet mind their neighbors because that which
effects their neighbors inevitably effects them. That is an inescapable truth of
history, and although I regret the loss of lives of innocent, and not so
innocent, in Korea... however I am grateful that things were not worse for the
Koreans and for our southern countrymen, which is what the rest of the world
seems to have desired. I would be remiss in my duties as President to protect
my people if I did not act."
"What of Iran, or Tibet?"
"Tibet was a tragedy for China, a self-inflicted one. It was created by a
failure of training and preparedness on the part of our police forces, and by
the zealous disregard for human life and public order demonstrated by the
protestors. I make this statement clear and unambiguously, Tibet is a province
of China. People who live in Tibet, are Chinese. Separatists will be
tolerated so long as their protests remain peaceful. When people are hurt, when
buildings are burned and police attacked, that is unacceptable and will be
responded to. I am sorry that so many people were wounded, that some were
killed, and my government has taken drastic steps to assure there will be no
reoccurrences. I can not change the past, but we can guarantee the future for
China is brighter, and that's what my reforms to the CNP and the military are
intended to do. As far as Iran goes, I was not willing to let the Americans and
their allies invade a sovereign nation without mandate nor cause. Chinese
troops are in Iran to protect Iranians, and to provide a buffer between the
belligerent parties in Iran."
"Those being the west and the insurgents?"
"Correct." She sighed. "President Williams, before the invasion, while we
met in America had promised to me, personally and directly, that the fate of
Iran should be determined by the Iranians. I agreed, and China upheld it's
side of the bargain. Unfortunately President Williams and his allies did not.
That is the reason that we were forced to establish the safe zone... to
prevent a humanitarian disaster in a strategically critical area of the world.
Oil may be important, but I believe Iranians deserve better than to be mugged
by the West for oil."
"Is it your belief that President Williams and his allies as you put it,
instigated this war for oil?"
"Yes."
"Madame President, some here in China criticize you for 'bowing' to the
West, particularly after Canada's attack on China. How do you respond?"
"I certainly was not 'bowing' to the west. Canada's actions were horrendous
and illegal. They killed one of our citizens to accomplish their criminal
task, and in turn freed dozens of criminals now on their shores. Those
criminals were not worth starting a third World War over, though should such an
event occur again you can rest assured we have the military means to retaliate."
"Are there any plans to retaliate militarily against Canada?"
"I will not speak on possible military plans or actions."
"Very well madame President. Your son Chan is a member of the PLAF
stationed in North Korea. Recently your administration announced plans to withdraw
all but 50,000 troops from North Korea, 25,000 of which will be combatant. Is
your son's presence in a war zone a motivating factor behind that decision?"
"I love my children deeply, but the plan for the next phased withdrawal was
not mine alone. The Minister of Defense believed the security situation in
North Korea sufficiently stable for us to put faith in North Korean authorities
and return their country completely to them. The 50,000 to remain in North
Korea are keeping in line with our recently signed mutual defense pact, and
will be there to provide training, technical assistance, and to continue the
relief mission. Active Chinese combat operations in North Korea are
essentially over, and despite publicly exposed foreign efforts to the contrary, we've
emerged victorious."
It was a milestone that wasn't lost on the upper echelons of Chinese
society. They'd essentially defeated the United States, albeit by proxy, in a new
age war. If there was anyone alive who still doubted China's ability to
effectively counter US leverage, they changed their minds today.
"Your critics and supporters alike opine openly on the constantly reversing
fortunes you and Prime Minister Sato of Japan seem to have. On one day
you're allies for a greater Asia, on the next you're split by allegiances. Has
Wen's relationship with Prime Minister Sato's daughter contributed to this ebb
and flow?"
Xia blinked, as if she was having trouble catching up with those words.
"Excuse me?"
"Well a North Korean combat photojournalist has reported on their time
together in North Korea, complete with photographic evidence..."
There was an announcement over the intercomm. "Ladies and gentleman, this
train is now approaching Beijing central terminal. The current time is 13:26.
Please remain seated until the train has slowed to less than 50 km/h, a
speed indicator is located on the digital board in every car..."
"Thank you for your time, Madame President." Cai smiled, taking the stunned
woman's hand. "Please send my regards to Chan and Mei Lu."
Xia was left in shock. He 'had' mentioned someone named Akemi... but it
wasn't until now that she thought of the possibility that it could be 'Akemi
Sato'... that was just... wrong, on 'so' many levels.
As she was accustomed to though, Xia put on a stoic front and actually ended
up enjoying herself at the Expo, where her daughter Mei Lu met up with her
after the maglev sliced through the ceremonial red tape. There were games and
exhibits for everyone, from the next generation video game consoles to fully
automated automobiles that were expected to be viable consumer products in
the next 5 to 10 years. Green was the color of the Expo, with almost every
gadget there optimized for minimal ecological impact. Many of the automobiles,
boats, planes, etc. on display were powered by ethanol, or electricity, or
hydrogen, or some other clean power source. The exhibits included Law
Enforcement, and even some military contractors... though the main events were
predominated by civilian fairs. The Expo was expected to bring some $2 billion to
the Beijing economy in tourism alone, forget about the revenues from
prospective sales.
======================================================
(Sanya Executive Retreat- Yalong Bay, Hainan China)
One never knew it given the popular images of China, but it's geographical
features were quite diverse. That diversity included some of the finest
beaches in the world, the equal of anything you'd find in Hawaii or Europe.
The most popular was in Sanya on the island of Hainan, just off the mainland
and overlooking scenic Yalong Bay. If you were to set Sanya akin to any
world famous beach resort, it would be unlikely you could differentiate between
the two. The massive environmental clean up efforts of the last 20 years had
paid off on Hainan. The skies were beautifully blue, the wind wonderfully
refreshing, the water warm and inviting, the beaches clean and the nature
breathtaking. The people were likewise kind and accommodating, leading to a
great deal of FDI and domestic investment. A great deal of the southern coast of
the island had become a massive resort paradise... it was actually where Wen
and she had their honeymoon.
In a more secluded part, a few kilometers away from the utopian vacation
spot and well off the beaten path, was the Sanya Executive Retreat... the 'Sino
Camp David' as some called it The 8th Independent Airborne Regiment had it's
base only 25 kilometers away, a hop and skip for a heliborne force. The
Chinese Marines had an Expeditionary Unit about 20 minutes away by helicopter,
and an elite Special Security Garrison (SSG) maintained nominal security of
the facility. The CNP had some of their best precincts on Hainan, and as
always the ESS bore actual responsibility for the President's security. The
Retreat included a central Dacha, support facilities for the SSG, ESS contingent,
and staffers, an ESS security building, office space, a vehicle depot, a
hotel for special staff, about a dozen independent houses for extremely
high-level guests, a golf-course, wooded areas for hunting or picnicking (or
horse-riding in Xia's case), an observatory, an aquarium, a zoo, and recreational and
sports facilities. It ranked favorably with Camp David, and like the famed
American installation was one of 'the' most secured places on the planet.
It was also the only place on the planet one could spot Xia and her daughter
in two piece bathing suits, taking in the sun, swimming, and otherwise
enjoying themselves.
The perfect way to end a trip.
======================================================
ACTIONS
1. Introduce some more background information about China's military
reforms, specifically about the Airborne revisions and their recent, distinguishing
service. For those who are interested, SAC consists of...
2 Airborne Divisions (1st and 10th), 20,000 Troops Each
28 Independent Airborne Regiments, 1,000 Troops Each
1 Airborne Training Brigade, 2,000 Troops
1 Rapid Reaction Force, 5,000 Troops
2. Xia to complete the 2 week 'Alpine and Mountain' survival training
course with a class of Airborne troops. Military photographers likely to get a
bit of change for forking over photographs to Xinhua and the West, but it is
okay.
3. After getting a clean bill of medical health, Xia to return to Beijing
and open the Beijing Tech Expo- 2014. Showcase all the new goodies from all
over the world in the National Convention Center.
A. Xia gives a brief, personal interview with a reporter from Xinhua.
A few questions over tea and danishes.
B. China shows off it's new fancy civilian goods. We're not all about
developing weapons like some think
we are :-p
C. Have Xia get blind-sided over the Chan/Akemi relationship. No way
better to find out than from a reporter :-p
4. Finally, a nice break!
======================================================
SOURCES
_http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/69-29424.aspx_
(http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/69-29424.aspx)
_http://www.china-defense.com/pla/brigade_reform/brigade_reform04.html_
(http://www.china-defense.com/pla/brigade_reform/brigade_reform04.html)
_http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/69-29424.aspx_
(http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/69-29424.aspx)
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Transrapid_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Transrapid)
_http://www.smtdc.com/en/gycf3.asp_ (http://www.smtdc.com/en/gycf3.asp)
_http://www.bwmaglev.com/technology/default.htm_
(http://www.bwmaglev.com/technology/default.htm)
_http://en.invest.china.cn/english/travel/219436.htm_
(http://en.invest.china.cn/english/travel/219436.htm)
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