[War] Spain/China: "Acceptance"

[Chazenesq2b at aol.com]

OOC:  The actions in this post are subsequent to  actions in posts not yet 
finished, and therefore the writers reserve the right  to change what is written.
 
Likewise there are a few IC shots which, as always, are  intended to remain 
IC.  You are warned.
 
"Acceptance"
 
Prime Minister Elena Rodriguez
Spain
 
President Xia Hong
People's Republic of China
 
Date:  To Be Decided
==============================================
 
(Palacio de la Moncloa)
 
“Well, Madam President,” Elena smiled as she sipped at  her orange juice in 
her office, the Chinese leader sat opposite before her. “I  must say I wasn’t 
really expecting you to take me up on my offer of visiting  Madrid. I’m 
beginning to feel quite popular…”
 
"As well as the leader of such a lovely country should."  Xia gave a  
congenial smile and offered her hand to the Prime Minister.  It was rare  that she 
came across another woman in the 'Captain's Seat' as it were... before  Ms. 
Rodriguez's rise it had really been just Xia and President Denesti in  Romania.  
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance under happier  circumstances."
 
"Indeed," She accepted the hand in a firm shake before releasing it. "You  
and your family have been in my thoughts since our last meeting. However we  
should focus on the future now, I think?"
 
Xia nodded.  "I appreciate your sentiments, but I also  agree the future is 
where our attentions should lay.  Where would you like  to start our 
discussions?"  

"Please, take a  seat," Elena also did so, "Well as you know from the 
proposals I sent you, the  main thing I wish to discuss is the disparity between 
current G8 members and the  actual economic situation today. Both of our country's 
economies have grown in  recent years and for some time now have been 
stronger in several terms than some  of the current G8."
 
There was no arguing that point.  "I agree, the G8 is hardly as great  as 
it's label implies.  I would go as far as to suggest that Spain, China,  India, 
and perhaps Brazil should be considered for membership in these  talks."  As it 
stood, China was one of those nations that was often invited  as an onlooker, 
but not an actual participant in the major discussions. 
 
"Yes, there are arguements for all of us to put forward regarding our  
economies being comparible to, if not stronger than some of the G8 members.  Whilst 
I appreciated that getting others involved may be the way forward, I  wanted 
to discuss with yourself first - being the strongest economy not  currently 
included."
 
"I'm more than happy to discuss our mutual applications."  Xia  smiled.  "Out 
of curiosity, have you approached any of the G8 members as of  yet inquiring 
about membership?"
 
Elena frowned a little bit, betraying what she was about to say. "I have  
spoken in person to both President Williams and Prime Minister McColl. The US  
believes that Spain hasn't got the weight diplomatically or militarily to be of  
assistance in a crisis or indeed be taken seriously within the G8 and that  
membership is more about consensus than actual independent measurements." She  
let a little sigh escape. "McColl was much more neutral, he is concerned that  
Canada would lose it's seat if we were to gain membership and offered to take 
 forward our concerns by proxy. However, if Canada's seat were 'safe' as it 
were  I feel his support might be gained."
 
"That's simply... not right."  Xia shrugged, her native fluency in  English 
failing her momentarily in coming up with a better description.   "The G8 is 
supposed to be a group composed of economically strong nations to  settle 
economic matters.  Williams' concerns about Spanish military  capacity shouldn't 
prevent Spanish membership in the G8... besides the G8 is an  informal 
arrangement anyway, and membership could be expanded by agreement  without anyone 
'losing' their seat."  Her feelings about McColl needn't be  stated, for obvious 
reasons.  "It sounds like a stalling tactic, to  me."
 
"Perhaps, but even if it is not we may need to be thinking  about addressing 
inclusion or membership criteria. It seems strange that such an  'informal' 
yet powerful group have no agreement for why those who are members  should be 
members and no arrangements for review of this, in my view."  

"I stalwartly agree with you."  Xia folded her hands in her lap.   It was 
nice to finally have a neutral party to talk with on such things.   "Perhaps we 
should consider formally petitioning the standing G8 members to  either provide 
concrete guidelines to membership, or formally expand the G8 into  the G12."
 
"I agree that would be a prudent course of action. If we could gain the  
support of India and Brazil our position would be much stronger. I do not see  
that being a problem, I imagine they would both be more than happy with gaining  
membership."
 
 "Agreed."   Xia nodded again.  "It may be worthwhile to have a general 
meeting from  which a formal petition will be made.  With your agreement, my 
government  will send formal invitations to India and Brazil, and our four nations 
can meet  in Beijing to discuss our petition for application, and issue a 
formal statement  of goals."
 
"Agreed, I look forward to receiving your invitation. There is another  
matter I'd like to get your view on along a similar vein. It came up in  discussion 
that perhaps consistant representation of the EU at the G8 may be the  way 
forward. Now whilst this does not directly affect China it would be  
consolidation of Italian and French and possibly UK representation with others  under the 
EU banner so would effectively 'free up' a seat. Whilst this is not my  first 
preference, as obviously deciding how the EU would be represented and with  
such varied views on some matters whose views would be taken forward would be 
an  issue, it is perhaps an avenue worth some exploration?"
 
Dwelling on it for a moment, Xia decided that ought to be a  call for the PM 
to make.  "Prime Minister, I don't think the concentration  of European 
involvement under one EU seat woujld be practical given the strength  of national 
identity in Europe today in spite of the EU, however if that is an  avenue you 
wish to pursue, even realizing it may somewhat lessen Spain's voice  in the 
organization, than we will certainly support you."  

That was a definite 'it's your call', Elena could tell. "Thank you, Madam  
President. In the meantime getting our original plan off the ground should be a  
definite priority."
 
"Agreed.  But before we adjourn Prime Minister, I would like to raise  the 
issue of Iran."  It was something they were going to have to deal with  
eventually after all.  "I understand Spain has recently left the western  allies after 
their occupation of Iran.  In support of the Democratists that  my government 
had been supporting throughout the war, Chinese troops have moved  in to 
southern Iran to guarantee that Iran has a positive say in it's own  future.  The 
assistance of Spain, with it's democratic history and ideals,  would be of 
great assistance in helping us further develop the Iranian  system."
 
Elena was slightly skeptical of where this could lead so prompted further.  
"Although our combat troops have left we have non-combat personnel still  
involved in the allied rebuilding and aid work. What is it that Spain could do  for 
you there, Madam President?"
 
"We would like to see the Spanish military serve as an informal  intermediary 
between the Iranians, the Western Allies, and China.  Quite  frankly, the 
Iranian government as it does exist is a western puppet, but the  puppet we will 
need to deal with at least until a transitional election is held  as promised. 
 I would like to see that promise kept, and obviously it would  be best to 
ease tensions so that those promises could be kept."
 
"Whilst I am doubtful of deploying our military to act as  'intermediaries'," 
She sat forward a bit, this was an offer to get out there and  be recognised 
that perhaps they shouldn't decline. "I have no problem with  dispatching some 
of our Guardia Civil - essentially military police - and or  some diplomatic 
staff to assist how we can?"  

"The people of China, and I'm sure of Iran, would be grateful for, and  
welcome any participation Spain could render."  Xia smiled again.  "We  are also 
hoping your government may facilitate the involvement of NGOs and  humanitarian 
aid groups in Iran, as mine will be."
 
"We have already assisted in aid operations in Azerbaijan and of course  this 
will extend to Iran also. I do wish to point out, however, that as members  
of NATO our allegiance is to the 'western forces' as you called them. However  
Spain will be happy to remain neutral and assist in a fair electoral process 
in  Iran to select a government which is not controlled by any foreign power."
 
"That is all we are asking for."  Xia bowed her head  respectively.  "Are 
there any additional concerns you may have, Prime  Minister?"
 
"Well, there are the usual ones that you no doubt knew I would have to  throw 
in," Elena's smile returned with a vengeance. "Namely environmental  matters 
and the possession of a nuclear arsenal..."
 
"Two fields I am more than happy to discuss."  Xia chuckled as she  handed 
over a small, manilla folder.  "China is currently at the global  forefront in 
the development of 'green technology' as it is usually  termed.  Such 
developments have been a government priority since the days  of President Hu Jintao, 
but we have recently expanded national support even  further for conservation 
and environmental technology development.  As for  the possession of a nuclear 
arsenal, I fear after the Canadian attack on my  country any entertainment of 
an idea to reduce our nuclear capacity has had to  be shelved.  Most western 
nations, Spain not included, continue to see  China as an adversary rather than 
a partner.  It is a fundamental  philosophy that was proven in Williams' 
Korean Crusade, in the Canadian attack  on Chinese sovereign territory, and by 
Japan's involvement in the US North  Korean operation, and in the US disregard for 
our agreement over Iran."
 
"I'm not sure that justifies maintaining a nuclear arsenal, it does justify  
maintenance of an armed service. And before we go down the road of 'we'll give 
 them up if they give them up' - it needs to start somewhere, it just 
unfortunate  no-one will be the one to start..."
 
"There have been several incidents over the course of my Presidency where  
the only way to get those that 'needed' to listen to do so was the threat of  
nuclear attack.  I'm afraid that at this juncture, particularly following  the 
Canadian attack, China simply can not be the country that affords a  reduction 
of capacity without drastic assurances."
 
"I suppose I shall just have to accept that, at least for now." A small  
smile still remained. "On the matter of 'green technology' how does China stand  
on the development of an international project on research into the area -  
particularly with regards to energy generation?"
 
"China welcomes such a program, and would be happy to take a leading role  in 
it's creation.  We already have an abundantly diverse and well funded  
domestic program, and we could bring several developments to an international  
effort that might assist a global effort.  Naturally Spain is welcomed to  
participate in China's environmental programs should your government decide  to."
 
"We have several ongoing projects of our own and have developed one of the  
leading markets in such projects and would be more than happy to co-operate in  
the continuing development of these internationally. Unfortunately the 
financial  aspect of setting up an international body or project may be beyond our 
scope  until next year's budget I imagine."
 
"Well I'm sure the People's National Congress could be persuaded to fund  the 
creation of such a body for the remainder of 2014, at which point we can  
evaluate fairness in share of the 2015 budget."  Unlike Williams was famous  for 
being, Xia was no stooge.  She understood China was wealthier than some  other 
nations, and that when it came to global movements sometimes the richer  
'did' need to bear a little more of the burden.  "In turn, perhaps we could  allow 
our Ministries of State to negotiate a fair-trade agreement?  As  you've 
stated, Spain has an expanding market for environmentally friendly  technologies, 
and China has a burgeoning environmentally friendly  industry."
 
"I think my government would be more than happy to discuss that. And if you  
can find the funding, please do let me know. I'm sure Spain would be a 
valuable  partner in such a venture." She only just stopped herself short of 
suggesting  approaching Canada, perhaps a little too early for that.
 
"I think we can assume they will."  Xia gave a reassuring nod.   "If there is 
nothing else Prime Minister, I will return to Beijing and begin  working on 
our proposal to India and Brazil, as well as request from the PNC the  funding 
necessary to begin our international program."
 
"Thank you for your time, Madam President."
=================================================
 
ACTIONS
 
1.  China and Spain agree to approach India and Brazil about  petitioning the 
G8 members to expand membership to become the G-12.
    A.  A meeting between representatives of  Brazil, China, India, and Spain 
will meet in Beijing to make a united petition  and request.
 
2.  Spain inquires about China reducing it's nuclear arsenal.   China refuses 
because of past problems with agreements with the west, and for  the security 
reasons cited.
 
3.  Spain agrees to deploy Civil Guard and Diplomatic staff to help  Chinese 
forces and NATO forces in Iran to co-exist, and work with the current  Iranian 
government.
    A.  Agreement to facilitate the operations of  NGO and Humanitarian Aid 
operations in Iran.
 
4.  Spain and China agree to negotiate a Fair Trade Agreement.  
    A.  China agrees to pay 100% of the costs for  an international 'green' 
cooperative effort with Spain for the remainder of  2014, while 2015 will be 
negotiated so that the dispersion of costs is  fair.



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