[War] China: "News Conference"

[Chazenesq2b at aol.com]

"News Conference"
 
President Xia Hong
The People's Republic of China
==================================
 
(The Executive Residence's Media Conference Room)
 
It was something that just ten years ago would've been thought  impossible.  
Even though the paint and wall paper were still figuratively  drying on the 
young Chinese Executive Residence, the Conference Room was fully  operational, 
and inside of it was more than just the reporters of the State  sanctioned 
Xinhua news agency.  The newly organized, privately owned,  Chinese Independent 
News Agency (which Xia had seen to recently being given a  certificate of 
operations) or CINA, and several 'foreign' news agencies, also  had representatives 
in the auditorium style briefing room.  It was a rare  'open' session from the 
center of Sino power and influence.
 
Xia had prepared thoroughly for this conference, receiving reports on  
'everything' from the respective Chinese agencies, be it emergency preparedness  and 
the progress of response to the eruption, North Korea, the recent British  
condemnation and the prison scandal that brought it about, and the new reform  
program being implemented to disguise the fact that slave labor employment had  
been used while sparing some key members of the party face.  (These same  
members would always be good to have in your pocket after all, and nothing said  
'do what I tell you to' like being able to impeach and kill them legally at a  
whim.)  
 
The questions were fairly predictable, usually.  One adventurous  tabloid 
reporter had the gaul to ask the President of the People's Republic what  color 
her panties were... guess that might have been why the security service  
escorted him promptly from the grounds.  It was a question Xia was all too  willing 
to ignore.
 
"Madam President, Japan has recently announced it will help provide  
significant high-tech assistance to members of the Anti-Piracy coalition,  including 
apparent access to arms and equipment.  Will this include  China?"
 
Xia responded.  "I am hopeful that Japan will see fit to include China  as 
one of it's allies, particularly as we've taken mutually historic steps to  
strengthen our relationship and cooperate internationally on matters of mutual  
interest."  She'd considered commending Japan on the success their police  
enjoyed in staving off the attack, but thought better of it.  Such acclaim  would 
come from Sato when he was ready for it to be known, she was sure.   "As one of 
the leaders in the anti-piracy movement, China would benefit greatly  from 
continued, and increased, cooperation with Japan, as well as the other  members 
of the international coalition.  I've requested that the Ministries  of 
Defense and Security and Intelligence, formally request Japanese assistance  in 
these matters."
 
"Madam President, the Ministry of Defense has announced that you've ordered  
roughly one-third of the 750,000 strong North Korean Stabilization Force to  
depart the Korean peninsula by year's end.  Does this indicate the  beginning 
of the end for Chinese involvement in North Korea?"
 
Xia shook her head.  "The recall order was issued because combat  troops were 
sent to help protect the people of the DPRK from the costs of civil  war and 
fighting among sects within North Korea.  We've been fortunate in  that 
through diplomatic means, we were able to consolidate the sects under the  
responsibility of a new government, and militarily we were able to defeat those  who 
threatened stability within the nation without a significant insurgency  taking 
route, thanks to the support of the people of North Korea.  This  recall 
reflects the fact that many of these security operations are now able to  be turned 
over to North Korea.  Support troops and some combat elements  will remain in 
North Korea to provide technical and logistical assistance,  including 
training and development of North Korean forces, and humanitarian  operations which 
remain a critical necessity in the country.  Chinese  forces will remain in 
North Korea, so long as the North Korean government  believes it necessary to 
maintain the sovereignty of their country."
 
"Has there been any indication by the North Koreans when that  might be?"
 
"North Korea continues to ask for assistance.  They've not given us a  
specific time table for when a complete withdrawal will be expected."
 
"Madam President, the operation in North Korea has cost more than 70  billion 
dollars at this point, including humanitarian and military costs.   Reports 
of misappropriations of financial aid intended to stimulate the North  Korean 
economy have been issued.  How can the Chinese government continue,  and how 
longer should it be expected to continue, to pay for North Korea's  economic 
development?"
 
"First it's important to qualify your question with factual  background.  The 
vast majority of Chinese aid has been focused on  sustainable growth 
programs, which include infrastructure and power  improvements, and construction and 
security development.  These programs  have been particularly well executed, 
and in that light the advances North Korea  has made in a relatively short 
period of time have been dramatic.  In  addition, the monies spent by China and her 
allies in North Korea on medical  treatments and improvements have identified 
and lead to treatments for a variety  of epidemic's the nation's unique 
conditions have given birth to.  It is  important to remember that never before in 
the course of human events has a  humanitarian operation of this scale been 
undertaken.  The Chinese people,  and the people of Russia, America, and Japan, 
and all nations assisting the  rehabilitation of North Korea deserve to be 
proud in the work being done on  their behalf in North Korea.  The funds that 
were supposedly  misappropriated are a small percentage of the business 
stimulation package,  which is one part of the economic stimulus program.  I trust the 
agencies  of North Korea, as should the rest of the world, to conduct their 
legal  investigations and to punish those responsible."
 
"Does that mean China will not pursue those responsible itself?"
 
"The Ministry of Justice will take all actions it decides are required and  
legally feasible.  I can't speculate as to what investigations are  currently 
under way or what measures will be taken at this point for reasons  that it may 
impact any such decisions, but I trust my staff to make the right  decisions."
 
"Madam President, I'd like to ask about the prison labor scandal.  If  it was 
truly a pilot program, why did the Chinese government not immediately say  
so?"
 
"There were many issues behind that decision.  Prisoners do not kindly  treat 
those they perceive as receiving special consideration, and it was simply  a 
testing program that 'if' it failed, we would have preferred to scrap without  
the political work of having to formally eliminate the program.   Fortunately 
preliminary data suggests it may be worthwhile to proceed with a  larger test 
program, and thus you may see volunteer, compensated labor along the  lines 
of those used in western prisons to allow for the rehabilitation of less  
violent criminals.  A formal funding request is now before the PNC, and I  hope 
they will approve it."
 
The bright lights of camera photography and the humming of video cameras  
caused her to take a break for a moment and sip a glass of ice water.   People 
rarely understood just how trying a prolonged Q and A session could  be.
 
"Madam President, what do you make of the United Kingdom's recent  
declaration of a boycott on Chinese goods?"
 
Xia thought of her answer for a moment before responding.  After all,  such a 
policy was likely to hurt the UK more than it was China.  The UK  imported 
more than 5% of it's total imports from China, where as the imports  China took 
in from the UK were nearly imperceptibly small.  UK consumers  would 
definitely be harder hit, in a nation where the cost of living was already  fairly 
high.  Still, diplomacy was the wisest cause.  Niceties could  have unforeseen 
benefits.  "The actions of the United Kingdom's Parliament,  though regrettable, 
are certainly understandable.  Had the British  government sought to attain 
the conditions laid out in their legislation through  diplomatic channels, we 
would have been able to respond more quickly.  This  in mind, I am hopeful the 
Prime Minister, or an authorized member of his  government, will contact us so 
we may discuss the conditions of this legislation  and how best to meet them.  
We have nothing to hide, and wish simply to  prove that this has all been a 
simple misunderstanding which could have been  avoided."
 
"Madam President, when can the people effected by the seismic activity near  
the Chinese border expect to return home?"
 
"Most already have been given the green light to return home.  The  Bureau of 
Emergency Response under the MSI, the Civil Guard under the MoD, and  the 
Bureau of Economic Development under the MoC are working together to assure  that 
the transition is as orderly and successful as possible.  There is  
considerable work to be done in the rebuilding process, including updating  
construction codes which the Ministry of Justice and the Corps of Engineers are  working 
on as we speak, clearing and rebuilding roadways and port facilities,  and 
providing for commercial and residential needs.  We are determined that  these 
projects will be on time, and on budget thanks to the strength and courage  of 
our Emergency Services personnel, and that we will rebuild our cities and  
towns better than they were prior to the incident.  This crisis has  revealed the 
best and worst in China... how we help support each other, be it  directly 
through volunteerism, or indirectly through donations of food,  clothing, and 
shelter.  Likewise it's shown us that vast swaths of our  beloved nation are 
still difficult to access, and are being left behind as the  major urban centers 
prosper.  
 
I call on the PNC therefore to expedite consideration of our rural  
development programs, and equality in education acts.  This is the first  step in 
leveling the playing field between those born in Urban areas and those  in China's 
heartland.  All Chinese deserve the opportunity to pursue their  own form of 
happiness, whatever it may be.  The promise of globalization  offers a way for 
everyone to take advantage of the world economy, and it's about  time our 
countrymen were afforded that opportunity."
 
"Madam President, the PNC, out your government's bequest, just approved a  
150 billion dollar military budget for 2014 and 2015, which include continued  
modernization programs.  Is such an increase in China's military spending  
warranted?"
 
"I can not answer that question precisely on the grounds of National  
Security."  Xia simply moved on, not wanting to disclose anything about  what was 
behind in the increase to China's military budget.
 
The same reporter, of Nordic appearance, asked a follow up question,  writing 
as she did.  "Madam President, the PNC also recently approved an  
environmental conservation package worth approximately 10 billion dollars.   What 
programs will benefit from this budget increase?"
 
"The programs created from the new increase will allow a conversion of many  
of China's coal burning power plants to what's called 'clean coal' technology, 
 drastically reducing air pollution in our nation.  Likewise my government,  
in consultation with experts worldwide, have decided it finally feasible for  
China to begin moving to a multi-fuel economy over the course of the next five 
 to ten years.  This includes the use of ethanol and hydrogen fuel  cells in 
motor vehicles, the development of zero-emission automotive  components and an 
expansion and modernization of the nations nuclear power  plants.  This 
includes importing technology, specifically CANDU reactors  from Canada, and 
developing our own 'clean power' sources domestically to  hopefully meet the 
entirety of our nation's power needs by 2050 without the use  of fossil fuels.  It is 
a broad based, expansive program that will help to  insure China is a leader 
in environmental conversation for the foreseeable  future."  Another sip of 
water.  "Hydrogen power generation will be  increased where possible, and a n
ational arbor day will focus on the 'greening'  of our urban, suburban, and rural 
issues.  I call upon all citizens of  China to place their efforts behind 
conservation, so that we may better our  country for our children."
 
And then, as if on cue, came a long session of tele-conference calls from  
various schools, featuring students ranging in age from kindergartners to  
high-school and university level.  In the end, it was  ironic... where as such 
questions were significantly  choreographed in the democratic west, in the 
'communist' east it was an  honestly open session.
========================================
 
ACTIONS
 
1.  Hold Press Conference where the following items are  addressed...
 
    A.  China to formally request technical  assistance from Japan as a 
member of the Anti-Piracy movement.
    B.  Formally announce 250,000 Combat troops  will be recalled from North 
Korea by the end of the year.
    C.  Let North Korea handle the investigations  into the misallocation of 
reconstruction funds.
    D.  Emphasize the fact that reconstruction in  North Korea IS moving 
forward, and yielding results.
    E.  Downplay the question of whether China  will take action itself 
against those who misallocated money.
    F.  Downplay the prison scandal.  Begin  reforming the 'program' to make 
it more humane.
    G.  Explain the apparent slowness in China's  response to international 
criticism.
    H.  Diplomatically reply to the UK's  boycott.  "We understand, but you 
could've given us a chance."
    I.  Emphasize successes, and the hard work  remaining to be done, in the 
eruption reconstruction effort.
    J.  Applaud the work of the international  response to the eruption, and 
domestic relief workers.
    K.  Call on the PNC to approve legislation  aimed at increasing equality 
in opportunity for all citizens.
    L.  Skip over the question as to why Chinese  military spending has 
increased.
    M.  Publicize China's 'Green Movement' to  massively clean up the country 
by 2020.
 
2.  Flex some political muscle in moving the aforementioned  legislative acts 
to the forefront of the government's agenda.  These are  the issues most 
important to China, and the PNC must (at least seemingly)  address them.  
Naturally Xia retains the right to ignore them if they fuck  up.



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