[War] Japan: "Back on the Brink"

[Ian Martell]

"Back on the Brink"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
3 August 2014
-------------------

Sato was quite frankly stunned and surprised by the news that CNN and now 
most recently his top man at Koancho had just told him, the Canadians had 
just rescued over forty people from China.

Hong was going to be pissed. He knew he was, not for the rescue but because 
they brought their freshly rescued prisoners through Japan, which dragged 
the land of the rising sun into this matter.

"The Americans have to be involved," Inukai said. "No way this was the 
Canadians alone."

The usual crisis crowd was in the Prime Minister's office, Inukai, Mura, 
Akira, and Director Yoshida were all seated around the Prime Minister's 
desk. Jonouchi had been there too, but left the room to take a call from the 
Chinese Embassy.

"Likely," Yoshida agreed. "I don't see the Canadians doing this on their 
own, CSIS isn't exactly the CIA, and even the CIA would have trouble doing 
this."

Mura nodded. "Definitely the US, but why didn't they or the Canadians tell 
us? Aren't we supposed to be the front line against China?"

Sato was pretty sure why they weren't told, and it had a little something to 
do with the confession of Japanese involvement in the American support of 
the North Korean insurgency he had made to Hong. Japan was out of the loop.

"Guess they don't trust us," Inukai said, he sounded a bit hurt by that. He 
had a good relationship with the American forces in Japan.

"Let get all the facts before we start jumping to unreasonable conclusions," 
Sato warned the men around the room.

And then as if on cue, the doors of the office opened to admit Jonouchi.

"Ah, what's the word from Beijing?" Sato asked.

Jonouchi told them.

Sato ran his hands over his face and leaned back in his chair. He needed a 
drink. Didn't Vladivostok count for anything? We just clawed ourselves back 
from this last year!

Everyone was talking, except Akira, who was just trying sitting there. 
Jonouchi was calling for balance, Inukai, for siding with the Chinese, 
Yoshida was asking for time to investigate.

He held up his hand and the room fell silent.

He let out a breath. "Jonouchi, is the Chinese ambassador on his way?"

"Yes," he said.

"Akira, get the staff to get a bottle of his favorite whiskey up here, I'll 
see him for a drink as soon as he arrives."

His aide rose and left the room.

"What's our position going to be?" Jonouchi asked.

"If I knew that I'd be a much better politician. Right now I think we'll 
surprise him and tell him the truth, we knew nothing and what we know right 
now can be seen on CNN. but we are investigating?" the last was directed to 
Yoshida.

"Yes sir, we are, but we're fairly sure we know how it was done, US and 
Canadian citizens don't need an entry Visa for stays under three months, all 
they'd need is a valid passport from either country."

"Perhaps we should review that policy?" Jonouchi suggested. "At least for 
the sake of sending a message."

Sato nodded. "Agreed."

"What's our stance to the media?" asked Mura.

"Same as what we'll tell the Chinese, we weren't informed and we're 
investigating the situation."

"And if they ask about the Chinese resolution?"

"We'll say we're investigating, we will not vote without all the facts."

The men in the room nodded. "Okay, anything else?"

"Do we bring the Japanese forces to heightened alert?" asked Inukai.

Sato thought about it and shook his head. "Keep up our end of the defense 
treaty with the Americans, but nothing more, Hong's still in control, and we'd 
only be making things difficult by raising tensions."

They nodded.

"And the Azerbaijan trip?" asked Inukai.

"Still on until we know more," Sato said.
The Defense Minister made a sound of agreement and Jonouchi asked.

"Do we want to call Ottawa and Washington?"

"Yes, and Moscow, Nemerenko wants stability in the region and so do we, 
perhaps we can coordinate our efforts to keep things under control."

"Beijing?"

"I'll bring it up with the Ambassador."

With that, and Akira returning with the whiskey and the news that the 
Ambassador's car was pulling up, the meeting broke up and alone the Prime 
Minister opened the bottle and poured himself a drink.

Actions:

1>	Surprise and speculation abounds.
2>	Japan's official response to China is, we don't know what happened, but 
we're looking into it. Complete cooperation is given to the Chinese in so 
far as investigation goes, Japan has nothing to hide.
3>	The governement's response to questions from the press is the same as it 
is for the Chinese, however adding we're looking at reviewing our 
immigration laws in regards to Canadian and US visitors entering without a 
visa.
4>	Start making phone calls. US and Ottawa first: WTF guys? A little 
warning, we're walking a tightrope with China as it is. Moscow: Offer to 
coordinate any diplomatic efforts with them to keep things sane. Beijing: If 
it's the right time, and only to reiterate the position of the Japanese 
government.