[War] Japan: "Matters of Perception"

[Ian]

(OOC: Sorry about spelling etc. My mail program has no spell checker here at work)

"Matters of Perception"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
3 March 2014
----- 

Sato put down the copy of the Asahi Shimbun as the Foriegn Minister entered without knocking. They had been political rivals in the past, but in the last year, the two old men of Japanese politics had become close, even if they disagreed from time to time.

"Prime Minister," said Jonouchi as he sat down. "More about China?" he asked seeing the headline.

Sato nodded. "Yes, a real mess," he lamented.

It had been his hope that buisiness, aid dollars and under the table support would have stabilized North Korea somewhat but it seems that the North Koreans were fully prepared to keep fighting a war that was already over. Though, he had to admit, if it was Japan swarmed over with Chinese troops no matter their intent he would fight too.

Jonouchi nodded. "Yes," he agreed. "And the Russians are ending their support of the medical projects."

Sato made an annoyed sound. "Figures," he said. Nemerenko was never one to take unessissary risks.

"That does leave the question, what do we do?"

Sato nodded sucking in his cheeks for a moment then blowing out a breath of air. "We take up some of the slack."

Jonouchi looked surprised. "Given the complaints about the risk to Japanese lives in Georgia... do you think it is wise to increase our involvement in another volitile situation?"

Sato shook his head. "Wise, I don't claim to know, but it does further our aims, we want the New North Korea to look at us in a positive light, and compared to the Chinese right now we are saints, furthering our involvement in the medical projects will only strengthen our image."

"And our people, what happens to our image in their eyes when footage of Japanese aide workers being killed shows on the 6pm news? Are we prepared to retaliate?"

Sato mulled it over. "I have a thought," he said.

"Yes," Jonouchi replied.

"We ask the Chinese to set up the camps under the auspices of the Red Cross as protection for both the Chinese and international aid workers there. In return we offer the Chinese our help in securing more international participation, and offer as much as a quarter of what the Russians were contributing to the effort before they pulled out."

Jonouchi nodded. "If the camps are attacked..."

"Then they are attacking the Red Cross and not China, and they condem themselves to being seen as savages."

Jonouchi nodded. "Excellent."

It was a serviceable plan at any rate. "And make service in North Korea voluntary. If there is an attack and we lose lives, I want to be able to say that they chose to face the risks and we didn't have a gun to their head."

The Foreign Minister nodded.

"Now about the Olympics?" he prompted.

"How are the peparations coming?" he asked.

"Our team will be leaving soon, and arrangements have been made for your visit to Sochi in time for the Figure Skating and Snowboarding events."

Sato shook his head. Figure skating was far from his favorite sport in the world, and as for snowboarding... he really didn't care for it, but they were both events Japan was expected to do well in this year and as such he was going to be on hand for both. 

"Better you than me," Jonouchi muttered.

Sato gave him a hard look, softened by the hint of a smile on his lips. "There is still room on the plane."

Jonouchi laughed. "Anyhow, after that we will be flying to Georgia where you will visit our peacekeepers, meet with the President, and take a tour of the Capital."

Sato grunted his approval. He had no issues with seeing the troops in the field, in fact, he inisted on it, but the other things, meeting the Georgian President and the tour of the capital he could do without. In his mind the Gerogian President was an idiot, Japan was in Georgia to help Georgia retain the rebel province, not aid in it's departure, yet he railed on about Europe and Asia's betrayal of his country. Sato didn't think the man would be any better to speak to in person. As for the tour, it was the usual political bullshit you had to put up with.

Jonouchi nodded. "On your return trip I will be joining you to meet with our allies in Southeast Asia to dicuss the anti-piracy task force amoung other things."

Sato nodded. That he looked forward to, while it may have been Sakai's plan, the anti-piracy intitiative was reaping benefits for the whole of Asia by making it's primary shipping artery from the Middle East more secure. He was anxious to move ahead and turn the groups attention to terrorisim and particularly it's funding. More than that the meeting and these programs showed Southeast Asia, that Japan was concerend about their wellbeing, and was willing to work with them to secure a better future for themselves and the whole of Asia.

"Good," he said.

"Finally, we're going to need to respond to the US WTO case," Jonouchi said.

They had been prepared for this by the Japanese Ministry of Industry and Trade who kept certain 'contacts' in the US for this sort of thing. Sato had looked into it. 

"Our statement will be what we dicussed in the Cabinet meeting; this is ridiculous accusation, if the US is really concerned about fair practices it would have named more nations in it's case and we'll see them in court. And privately, I'd like you to speak with their Ambassador and ask them just what the hell they are doing. The Chinese are on the brink and they slap us, their only meaningful regional ally, in the face?"

Jonouchi nodded, though Sato could tell he wasn't pleased about the job. Japanese, well, most Japanese, didn't enjoy conflict. Sato did, but he couldn't call the Amabassador onto the carpet and chew him out without this turning into a bigger deal than it was. Honestly, it didn't matter what the WTO decided, these things could be put off indefinately, look at the American's payment of softwood lumber reparations to Canada.

"Also, I'd like you to liase with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in putting togeather a campaign to support our case with the WTO and also contact Beijing, as much as we don't want to be associated with China, we'll do better if we at least coordinate behind the scenes."

"Of course," Jonouchi replied.

Sato smiled. "Good," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "At least things won't be boring for a while, this situation has more drama than daytime television."

Actions:

1. Suggest to China that making the camps Red Cross would provide better protection than leaving them Chinese. Offer to look for additional foreign assistance and pledge to make up 25% of the support lost by the Russians leaving.

2. Arrange a trip to the Olympics, with follow up stops in Georgia to visit the troops and meet the President of Georgia. Then fly down to Jakarta to meet with the leaders of the Anti-Piracy task force.

3. Reply to the US see you in court.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://esteroic.com/pipermail/war_esteroic.com/attachments/20080331/3c75c8c6/attachment.html