Chinese-Ascoobian Economic Summit [CoDN Only]

[Ascoobis]

After months of speculation and negotiations, the administration General Supremo Andreo Acero has announced that it has come to an agreement with China's President Ma on a complete restructuring of Chinese-Ascoobian trade to meet the ever-evolving 21st-century demands of both nations. A summit will be held in Honolulu, Ascoobis where both parties propose drafts, negotiate, and approve of a bilateral trade agreement.

[Ascoobis]

Honolulu, Ascoobian Pacific Territories

The plane carrying General Supremo Acero and his staff touched down at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport outside Pearl Harbor. The heavily armored limousine motorcade waiting for them in a secured hanger takes them to the agreed-upon meeting place of Central Tower in Downtown Honolulu and await the Chinese delegation's arrival. It was an older Ascoobian skyscraper dating back to before the Revolution, built in the Art Deco style. It was once the headquarters for the Colonial Administration and now has been converted into an executive suite for diplomatic conferences with Pacific Powers.

[Nordamy]

Honolulu, Ascoobian Pacific Territories

The plane carrying the Chinese team landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport outside Pearl Harbor. They pulled next to the Ascoobian plane. President Ma looked over the talking points of the conference. He was with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically the Office of Trade. With them were memebers of the Chinese Secret Service.

The secure escort made its way to Central Tower in Downtown Honolulu. The entire route was secured and there were no instances. As they pulled up they saw press from Ascoobis and Xinhua News. They stepped inside the old tower and rode the elevator up to the meeting room. President Ma read the talking points a final time before walking in to the meeting room. He first bowed to his hosts before shaking hands. He addressed his hosts in fluent English
"On behalf of the people of the Republic of China I thank you for inviting us to this talk. I hope we can make many agreements on how our nations can cooperate in an ever advancing world"

[Ascoobis]

Honolulu, Ascoobian Pacific Territories

The plane carrying the Chinese team landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport outside Pearl Harbor. They pulled next to the Ascoobian plane. President Ma looked over the talking points of the conference. He was with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically the Office of Trade. With them were members of the Chinese Secret Service.

The secure escort made its way to Central Tower in Downtown Honolulu. The entire route was secured and there were no instances. As they pulled up they saw press from Ascoobis and Xinhua News. They stepped inside the old tower and rode the elevator up to the meeting room. President Ma read the talking points a final time before walking into the meeting room. He first bowed to his hosts before shaking hands. He addressed his hosts in fluent English
"On behalf of the people of the Republic of China I thank you for inviting us to this talk. I hope we can make many agreements on how our nations can cooperate in an ever-advancing world"

Ascoobian and Foreign Press were crowding the lobby below, eager to get a glimpse or comment from the Ascoobian leader on the world-shaking events to take place later that day. The General's security detail swept them aside without difficulty and made their way to the assigned conference room. For security reasons it was decided that the conferences be located on a floor near the top of the structure, far above most other buildings in the city. After reaching the room, the Ascoobian Delegation took their seats at their reserved end of the oval table near the large window which made up the far-side wall of the room. Some followed the signs to the nearby restrooms They continued briefing Acero finalizing preparations for their negotiations with their Chinese guests.

Once they did arrive, the Chinese were the first to offer their greetings. President Ma initiated a friendly exchange and Supreme General Acero went in for the offered handshake with a smile but kept his response curt. He may have some diplomatic coaching and a degree of natural charisma to guide him through politics, but the authoritarian leader was still a blunt military man.

"I couldn't agree more, Mr. President. You show great wisdom in agreeing to come. I hope your flight was satisfactory. We have much to discuss, yes?"

[Nordamy]

The Meeting Room
President Ma replied

"It was satisfactory and yes we have much to discuss"

After the press corps left they all got down to business. The Chinese delegates pulled some folders and binders from their briefcases, documents and statistics. President Ma opened the conversation

"I would like to open this talk up with trade between our nations. I would like to propose free trade between us with either no tariffs or low tariffs. As a former CEO and military man I know the importance of how trade can promote peace between nations. Our world is growing rapidly. I was barely a child when the smartphone came about mind you but look how far the world has come and economic cooperation is key to success. You probably saw the proposed Green Grid, success can only be achieved by economic cooperation. Therefore I propose allowing for the free trade of goods between our nations. You may read over our plans in this binder"

He passes a binder to the Ascoobian team

"What do you all propose to trade? I am open to compromise"
He said leaning forward a bit in interest.

[Ascoobis]

The Meeting Room

"Ah, good." The General politely responded to President's Ma reply of a pleasant arrival. He patiently listened to Ma's first bid in the negotiations.

Andreo pondered the President's proposal for a minute before responding. Evangizining of the Chinaman's economically Liberal values was to be expected. From an Ascoobian perspective, Unrestricted Trade was simply akin to the same sort of revulsion as Social Darwinism, the ultimate result of such a blind ideology no matter the good intentions. Despite midpoint can be reached. After all, Ascoobis is relatively resource-poor compared to the enormity of China, in geography and human capital. Ascoobis' economy, while having a modest agricultural sector and a thriving tourism and service sectors, is largely based on manufacturing and overall the processing of imported raw materials. China itself, thanks to the leadership of Ma and the Kuomintang Party, is a rapidly advancing economy. Meaning that a rapid and constant influx of Chinese finished goods would be potentially disastrous.

General Acero gave his own bid, hoping to steer the conversation towards more concrete topics where there may be some agreement.

"While Ascoobis may not have authority with what happens within China, Mr. President, the fundamental values behind your proposal are potentially damaging to our own. The Free Market, when its goals align with the state and people, is smooth and prosperous, but can easily and swiftly lead to disaster and ruin once the winds turn and greed trumps economic sense. As it will every time if a firm hand is not applied. We won't turn a blind eye to this and we expect you to not as well. Domestic industries will certainly see their share of positives and negatives depending on their economic clout.

Now, it is not my intention for this to devolve into a philosophical debate on the merits of Free Trade versus Protectionism, however, I have my responsibilities to my own citizens who risk losing their livelihoods if protective tariffs aren't in place. I believe we can reach a compromise in order to shelter the most vulnerable sectors of our respective economies? Hardly a fair market if our competing nascent industries our driven out of the marketplace by the other's larger foreign competitors."

[Nordamy]

President Ma and his advisors listened. The panel were not at all by the mixed market and borderline protectionism stances of their western counterparts. President Ma said to his advisor in Cantonese

"Westerners and their protectionism."

His advisor said, also in Cantonese,

"Their economy is almost exclusively manufacturing. Such freedom in the market would not allow them to properly provide for their people"

Ma and his advisors were all staunch Kuomintang supporters. With that came the famed Three Principles. One was to support the livelihood of the people from their Georgist Libertarian roots. Couple with his mostly Confucian stances and Tian Dao upbringing, such a proposal would backfire on himself and the party. Not to mention alienating a nation who simply could not and would not go that route.

He sighed, sounding a tad irritated but not defeated

"Perhaps such an approach would not suit a manufacturing nation. I don't know if you have heard of Mínshēng or Livelihood Of The People. We understand your hesitant stance of not allowing for Chinese goods to come in and while it is a disappointment to us, simply can not be fully agreed on. We can go for a middle of the road approach where both sides walk away disappointed and satisfied..

One of the advisors adds his stance, Ms. Biayu Zhao

"Our economy schools are different with our's being rooted in Georgism and Capitalism. Your plan primarily being mixed if I understand correctly. Likewise it would hardly be fair to our market if Chinese businesses could not sell to overseas buyers. With the actions of those.. desert dwellers in Karthspire, we don't want to fail. I know you understand"

President Ma concluded with a compromise

"How about perhaps a low tariff on imports from both our countries and not allowing the full free trade between nations, we lessen some barriers while also allowing job protection in the sense of not outsourcing jobs between countries."

Despite them making a bit of a sacrifice, the long term would hopefully work out if the Ascoobian economy progressed. They waited for the Ascoobians response.

[Ascoobis]

General Acero pondered President Ma's interesting counter offer. This negotiation was a rather complicated game of Chess in his eyes. Bold proposals, sacrificial compromises, and necessary concessions were a part of the grand strategy for victory, which is defined by mutual agreement. Clearly the President was making concessions despite obvious disagreement on economic theory. Perhaps he should reach out as well? It was essential that he have the Chinese leader in agreement with him early on or further friction would lead to negotiations grinding to a halt as they got into the details.

What would it say of prized and generous "Ascoobian hospitality" if their guests were made to feel unwelcome and talks broke down almost immediately? Even more important, what would be said of his competency and leadership abilities by would-be usurpers? He needed to get the Chinaman's good side now, in this critical moment. He needed to "reach across the aisle" as well, as those corrupt democracies put it. He came up with a crafty solution.

"That is a thought-provoking proposal, Mr. President. However, I have an idea which perhaps you would find more agreeable.

I made perfectly clear that one reason for the tariffs I spoke of was to better shield our younger industries, yes? Well, what if these specific tariffs were temporary, with the explicit purpose of giving infant domestic industries time to further mature before being released into the open market to compete unimpeded against one another. For example, the Ascoobian Aerospace industry has been dominant on the international stage. Forgive me, but it is a fact that the Chinese equivalent is relatively young, inexperienced, and has not had the chance to share the same amount of prosperity. If time and resources were allotted by the appropriate tariffs, your companies will be provided the sustenance to develop the strength to stand on its own in the international marketplace. It would be the same in any other sector of industry where Ascoobis itself is lacking."

[Nordamy]

The panel spoke among themselves in Cantonese for a bit. An interesting offer that seemed to reach the middle ground that was necessary to move forward in the talks. Ma spoke to the Ascoobian panel

"That indeed is a good plan and we accept it"

Another person on the panel spoke up on another topic, education cooperation. The panel member, Mr. Tenzin Sangay, spoke up

"To start, I am the Minister of Education of China and I would like to address the issue of education. For starters, our education is primarily a mixing of systems of religious and charter. By charter we mean it is managed by a board of directors of the Ministry of Education and it is also run under the auspices of a temple. You may have heard about the Confucian values of education where the scholar is prized. This we believe not only pertains to the Chinese but to all scholars in the world. With that we believe that foreign students should be given the opportunity to study abroad in China and likewise Chinese students should be allowed to do the same.

We believe that Ascoobian students like our Chinese students should be allowed to apply for Chinese scholarships from universities in China provided they meet the academic standards set forth by the scholarship. In regards to taking out dreaded loans.. I know we all had to deal with that nightmare of eating Ramen for months while saving up"

The Chinese panel snicker at the joke Mr. Sangay made

"Debt forgiveness and reduction programs are usually granted to students that are in a certain tax bracket upon making a financial hardship request and an audit. We believe the same should be extended to any Ascoobians who come over. Our schools are more than happy to work with students with finances to give the world more scholars. We also would like to propose partnerships between universities. For example Hong Kong Polytechnic University or Mount Tai Divinity can partner with prominent Ascoobian universities such as Berkeley Institute of Physics and Material Sciences or Mazama University. These can entail educational, financial and travel plans that suit the needs of the student"

President Ma sipped his water and added

"I will say our education system is mostly based in a combined Chinese and Western model however I do think many of our brightest students would be happy to study abroad in each other's country. Think of it as a way to enrich each other's cultures and promote a better generation of scholars for both our nations"

[Ascoobis]

"It's a pleasure, Minister. Please proceed with your proposition."

Acero patiently listened. Taking a quick glance at a note on the desk, recalling what he had discussed with his own Director of Education before looking back to the Chinese Education Minister. A fellow from his party, the Deputy Director of Education, gave him a nod as a sign of support.

"Yes, Confucian values. Interesting how the morals behind them are universal and among the core values of most civilizations. Exposing Ascoobian and Chinese students to each other's differences and similarities can only help us further understand one another and our cultures. Perhaps sparking a new of Ascoobian-Chinese cooperation in the next generations. Cooperative research between our universities, as you have suggested, would a great step towards this future. I agree wholeheartedly to these mutually rewarding opportunities."

Momentarily at ease, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle at jab at Ramen as the not-inaccurate stereotype of a university student's diet and made a quick remark about it before continuing.

"Well...In my experience, once the monthly bills are accounted for many students were left in the sort of financial bind where we'd have to get creative with our meals. However, things were made easier by government food subsidies on certain brands, so things weren't as desperate as they may seem. SPAM, boxed pasta, and canned soups were more prevalent and made competitive with imported Ramen.

Speaking of subsidy, the idea of debt from education is...unfamiliar to Ascoobians. Our system of education makes a university education mandatory and is fully tuition-free for all Ascoobians. Meaning that we would be willing to take care of a student's educational costs if they do pursue a degree in China, I presume that is where the scholarship would come in; to address the issues of living quarters for the semester. For a foreigner, it would work similarly, but there is a tax specifically levied on non-citizens to consider. As for the specifics of the scholarships to be offered between us, yes eligibility should primarily revolve around academic excellence. But may the conditions of proficiency in the official language of the host country. Having dealt with foreign peers in my days in the Air Force Academy, an acceptable grasp of English made a noticeable difference and went a long way in influencing their academic success."

[Nordamy]

The panel listened in and nodded among themselves at what the Ascoobians said. Mr. Norgay spoke for the panel

"It seems we've reached an agreement here regarding education"

After a few more hours of discussing the finer details, lunch was ready. Both panels left the conference room and moved over to a dining area. Today's lunch was a fusion of Chinese and local cuisine. Teas and coffee were served to the ambassadors from the strong fermented Kombucha of Manchuria, the herbal Jasmine to black coffee. President Ma was with Mr. Norgay and some Ascoobians, talking about their families. President Ma at 50 was talking about how his youngest son joined the Army and how his oldest son just graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic with a degree in Psychology and how he was going to re enlist in the Marines.

For a moment, all was right in the world. No sense of impending doom or wars. No explosion of urgent text messages about conflicts and how they need to be fixed immediately. All he would get in that moment was a text from his wife in Beijing, checking in on him, saying how much she loves him and misses him. He smiled as he replied to her text.

Midway through lunch as Mr. Norgay was speaking about his husband and how they were making plans to go on holiday to Hainan's beaches for a weekend, the messages started trickling in

"URGENT! Soviet Armed Forces building up near the border. Premiers of Mongolia and Turkestan request permission to activate militias"

"URGENT! Unrest starts in Taiwan!"

"URGENT! Please call the Office of the Prime Minister! Imminent Threat revealed!"

He sighed and called his Prime Minister, Xi Jiping. Xi picked up on the first ring and began speaking in rapid Cantonese

"We have information about the Soviets and Nihonese! They keep building up troops! We think they are readying to attack us! Mongolia and Turkestan are petioning to lockdown and activate their militias! I have the military on standby!"

Ma spoke in a calm manner, also in Cantonese.

"OK calm down Xi. Allow them to lockdown and activate their militias. Move troops to the Soviet border and keep build-up around Korea. The southern border keep open but put more police there. I do not want a neutral country to get any of this drama."

Xi replied

" Yes Mr. President... There's also drama with Taiwan.. The Soviets are promoting that Maoist.. Mao Desheng is acting up with Kim Jong Un.. They want an independent Communist nation there"

Ma then got mad and shot back in Cantonese

"YOU TELL THAT SON OF A BITCH HE WILL BE ARRESTED IF HE DARES SET FOOT IN MY COUNTRY! I WILL NOT HAGE A REPEAT OF THE CIVIL WAR IN MY PRESIDENCY!"

He took a breath

"Tell Premier Tang to increase the police presence in Taipei. If they know where their basement lairs are, arrest them all. We will not tolerate this and what those damn drunkards up North are doing. The same for those Fascist Samurai incels are doing. Get it done.... I'll be back as soon as I can"

They hung up and Ma took a swig of his Jasmine tea. If there were two things he hated the most it was Communism and Fascism. He called them "Beastly bed fellows that have no love". Some of his ancestors were killed by Mao Zedong's Communist thugs during the Civil War. Maoism..the very word would send a shiver down his spine. The horrific offspring of mixing Marxism, Chinese ideas from Legalism and elements of Fascism to form a "Dictatorship of the Workers". Ma being a stancuh Conservative and Free Market Liberal was opposed to such monstrous ideas. As a child, he was told how the Maoists had died out and was just the rantings of deluded mad men and how Fascism was a dead ideology, embraced only by confused young men who had no one. He was proven wrong now.. dead wrong.

He then started fearing for his two boys: Kai and Sun. They were soldiers now and would be deployed. He was thinking of he should call them. To tell them to be safe out there and how he would be home soon. Despite his boys being in their 20s, they were still his boys. He looked up and saw the Ascoobian president looking over. He sighed and went over to him. He explained the situation to him in a calm and stoic way, a sharp contrast to his thoughts of anger and subtle fear.

[Ascoobis]

And with a handshake, nearly 75 years of "Ascoobian Neutrality" was broken. A Chinese-Ascoobian alliance was in the works. Further, careful negotiations led to the drawing up of a framework for a bilateral agreement that favored both parties. Further topics were to be discussed before they were interrupted for lunch. It was agreed that they would continue after the meal, there was hardly any rush. Being the generous hosts that their hospitable culture demands, the Ascoobians strove to not disappoint. The feast was a cheerful occasion between the quick friends and lighthearted conversation was had. Hawaiian Cuisine, which was a fusion of Oriental, Indigenous, and European foods and traditions, was served to both Ascoobians and the Chinese delegation. The parties were served multiple courses including Loco Moco, Kālua Pork, and Laulau.

General Acero had just finished a suspenseful tale of a Japanese Pacific War sea mine washing up and detonating on Hawaiian shores while he was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in his younger years. This had reminded Chinese Education Minister Mr. Norgay of a story about a day with his husband at a Hainan beach that he excitedly began sharing with the undivided attention of their Ascoobian hosts as dessert was being served. It was in the middle of the Malasada dessert when a series of loud rings and blares interrupted the pleasant afternoon. Chinese and Ascoobian aids rushed between their devices and each other. The food lay long forgotten in the pandemonium that ensued. President Ma's calm expression morphed into one of urgency, reaching for his mobile phone and yelling into it intensely in Cantonese. Generalissimo Acero had the sense to rush out of the room into the hall to answer his call, giving both himself and his guests at least the formality of privacy before succumbing to his rage. Not even referring to his colleague by his proper title, he lashed out.

"What is it, Jenarki, this had better be impor--." All color drained from his face. He abruptly hung up the phone and took a moment to recollect. A war between China and the Nihon Regime, Maccas, and the Soviet Union was imminent? How ironic that Ascoobis just happened to sign its decades of neutrality away mere hours before. The revelation left him momentarily conflicted and unresponsive. Thoughts of regretful cowardice raced across his mind before he crushed them. Has he doomed Ascoobis, failed his ancestors? Was the coming conflict their punishment for his breach of age-old Ascoobian wisdom?

"No", he concluded to stamp out any hesitance and push all those nasty feelings aside to regain his nerve. Japanese and Soviet aggression in the Pacific was inevitable. Their systems of government could not tolerate the existence of other nations, it was only a matter of time. There was no going back and neutrality was not going to save Ascoobis this time. Now the battle lines have long been drawn and he must boldly throw himself into the fight with his new allies as only an Ascoobian could. His honor as an Ascoobian demanded that he must follow on his word. With newfound purpose and his head held high, he strode back into the room and gave his Head of the Gold Guard a knowing nod. The gesture returned before the chief Guardsman addressed all in the room, interrupting the chaos with a menacing, booming voice.

"Gentlemen, ladies. Silence! Recent developments have raised credible threats to your safety. For your continued safety, we need to move you all to a more secure location. Your motorcades will be brought downstairs to transport you to a secure site. Let's get ready to move."

Chinese and Ascoobian security quickly hashed out a more-or-less concrete plan, careful that nothing was lost in translation. The party was to be was herded out of the room and down of flights of stairs; Ascoobian Golden Guards and Chinese presidential security to work in professional, coordinated unison until they reached ground level. That is where the plan radically alters: The motorcade serves as a distraction while the VIPs take a less conventional route to safety. That is where Ascoobian agents would open a secret door to a room that would lead them to an underground Maglev system for a faster, more direct route to the airport.

Generalissimo Acero quickly signs off on it and it is [resented to President Ma, still frothing in anger into his phone at whoever was on the other end in China, is consulted for approval. He's likely facing a disaster. Not that approval is actually needed, but it is best to secure his full cooperation.

[Nordamy]

All in the room were quickly rushed out to a secret Maglev train that would take them to the airport. Ma was finishing his call with the Minister of Defense. He was speaking in a calm and almost military like tone. Having done time in the armed forces, even making it to the rank of Corporal, he knew a bit about what to do.

"Ok good.. Yes please have the Navy ready just in case they attack by sea... No do not build up near the Molucas border...yes you may put some police to prevent potential spillover into a neutral power.... Yes... No do not suspend any constitutional rights, you truly are dumb to propose that... Right... Yes... Yes please order citizens to carry guns to work.... Shie Shie"

He took a breath and looked around at those around him. Some Chinese and some Ascoobians. He addressed the room in English

"I should explain what is happening... The Soviet Union and Nihon have built up troops. As of right now, we are only taking preventive build up measures due to their openly hostile stances against the Republic. I am more scared about the fate of Taiwan as there is now talk of Nihon pushing for an election.

What will I do? I have asked the Minister of Defense to order troops to the border zones with the USSR and Nihon in the Korean Peninsula"

The Chinese delegates were silent and stoic on the outside. On the inside, they were anxious as many have children in the military and were in the military in their youths. He finished with

"Intelligence officers have been asked to look into their operations. If possible conduct sabotage but we do not know if that will be possible. We will keep monitoring the situation."

They rode mostly in silence the rest of the way there. At the airport, President Ma bowed to President Acero before shaking his hand. He said his farwell in English

Shie Shie Mr. President. Thank you for hosting us and for keeping us safe in this crisis. I apologize for this inconvenience on behalf of the Chinese people and I hope we can speak again once this issue is resolved."

He makes it halfway up the steps before he turns around and says

"I have a bad feeling about this situation.. I fear ruin may come to the East."

With that, he boarded the jet and returned to Beijing hours later.