NationStates Jolt Archive

ooc: this is my national news thread, to be used for my national news. Please feel free to post IC responses as appropriate. Xikuangese press is quite open.

http://www.drnightshade.org.uk/images/xikuang/xnnlogo.jpg

Xikuang Shifts Military Policy

Xikuang International Press formally announces the completion of the initial stages of a Xikuangese military programme. The commencement of this project marks a shift in internal policy: since independence, the nation has maintained no standard military of any description, relying instead upon defensive technology developed by neighbouring states for internal defense. Xikuang's standing policy of non-aggression remains unchanged: military technology adopted or developed will be primarily defensive in character and highly mobile, designed to be able to be relocated quickly should the need to defend an allied nation arise.

Though approved by general referendum, the move is not without controversy, with some demilitarisation advocates accusing EGC Chair Dr. Xu Xian of flip-flopping over the issue. During the period of instability Xikuang suffered immediately previous to the Svea Rigan revolution, when the question of whether or not to militarise against potential aggressors was a source of contention, Dr. Xu stalwartly supported Xikuang's demilitarised status, describing militarisation as 'sheer lunacy'. Dr. Xu herself denies the accusations, stating that she has changed her mind in accordance with changes in the nation's standing and changes in international politics. "At the time, Xikuang's economy was only beginning to recover." she says. "It was not realistically affordable to do anything that would make a difference to ours or Aperin's defensibility. It was also, politically, an extremely sensitive time, and we had to think very carefully over the message such a move would send into the international arena. Now, however, we can fund projects which might actually be effective, and we are in a political situation where we can do so without ruffling feathers abroad."

The Xikuangese military service is comprised of citizens voluntarily joining the organisation, and is answerable to the Elected General Council. It is immediately led by the Elected General Committee for National Security, with Commissioner Jye Choden appointed as chief military liaison. Prior to his election to the EGCom for National Security, commissioner Jye, it will be remembered, headed the popular XSCA (Xikuang Security Collective Assembly) party that challenged the established government during the aforementioned period of national instability.

OOC: What culture is Xikuang? The characters appear to be Himalayan.

ooc: close. It's based on Tibet, but otherwise entirely made up.

ooc: close. It's based on Tibet, but otherwise entirely made up.

OOC: Coincidental, considering that Tibet is a part of Sino.

ooc: Oh. Well, Xikuang isn't. We have a well established history and geography extending back several hundred years. We are very much our own nation.

OOC: Coincidental, considering that Tibet is a part of Sino.

OOC: Hey...keep your hands off. You probably wouldn't like Yak milk anyway :p


.

OOC: Hey...keep your hands off. You probably wouldn't like Yak milk anyway :p


.

OOC: Ein Volk! Ein Reich!

Ein nicht.

And here it ends.

Notorious Former Guo Leng Official to Face Supreme High Court Trial

Former national of the Lhai Hsi Kuang Protectorate of Guo Leng and high-ranking military officer Zhi Nyima will soon stand trial in High Supreme Court chambers in Cochen, Lhorong. The former officer stands accused of war crimes committed during the Guo Leng occupation. A precise date for the hearings has not yet been set, but prosecuting and defending justices have been appointed, witnesses have been assembled and a jury has been vetted to hear the case.

Under the Guo Leng administration, Zhi, then a Major in the Guo Leng armed forces, occupied the position of Chief Inquisitor at joint criminal detentions and investigations and delinquent citizens's re-education facility 'Shining Hope'. This facility, among the primary catchments for captured members of various underground civil resistance factions, was notorious for the cruelty and severe treatment experienced by its inmates, and earned the nickname 'Shining Death', as it is now generally remembered. While in his position there, Zhi is understood to have stopped at virtually nothing to extract information in the course of his inquisitions, physical and psychological torture, murder, and complex disinformation procedures routinely used. Conspicuously absent from his regimen is the method of chemical persuasion frequently employed at other facilities.

Information surrounding the capture of the former official has not been made generally available owing to certain aspects of the circumstances under which he was apprehended have been evaluated as sensitive, but it is known that Zhi was identified and taken into custody upon entering the country at the Bodkhe broder platforms airfield. He had been aboard an unmarked aircraft under domestic and Celdonian escort, whose pilots, Xikaungese nationals who had been classed as missing and presumed deceased, had radioed ahead requesting assistance. Their identities are not public knowledge at this time, again owing to potential sensitivity of the information.

If convicted, Zhi is likely to receive a sentence of lifetime imprisonment with rehabilitation.

We own parts of Southern Tibet too, as a matter of fact,our 3rd largest Military base is just south of Lhasa, you know, we just need to keep a tab on our brother nations to confront them in case they try something,
Yeah Sino, we may be friends, but I wont let your military shove their boots straight up our................................you know-Not threatening, just informing-He he he (cough) he he!!

ooc: Oi! Quit it with the claiming Xikuang as a protectorate already! Xikuang is based on an RL country in the RL world, and has a richly defined IC history that, like it or not, does not include you.

I formally request that no further posts/claims/anything of this variety appear in this thread again. If you have any questions for me, you're more than welcome to TG me or PM me through the CACE boards (I have no access to e-mail at the moment). Discussions about the ownership of NS Tibet are inappropriate here. I'd like to keep this thread IC. Thanks.

No RP'er of Tibet has successfully achieved independence from China due to the caring left hand of Sino and the sharpened sword carried in the right.

OOC: LMAO at the idea of a bunch of Tibetan commies!

ooc: in solidarity, let me offer this visual aid in case anyone needs help:

ooc: in solidarity, let me offer this visual aid in case anyone needs help:

Missile launch aborted.

ooc:

(falls about laughing)

Thanks, SeOCC.

(resumes regularly scheduled broadcasting)

Xikuang withdraws IMC Justices

Following a domestic vote of no confidence in the mettle and good faith of the entirety of the International Mediation Council, the Serene Socialist Republic of Xikuang has withdrawn its representative justicesTqeqir Tqodrun and Khali Joijie from the IMC Headquarters in Marshall Island, GMC Military Arms. Speaking through her interpreter, Justice Khali comments:

"The decision was not unanticipated. Though we had high hopes in the IMC, there were serious doubts from the beginning about the weakness of the agreement. Those doubts have been borne out now, as international events have recently shown.* Justice Tqeqir and I are disheartened that the IMC has not lived up to our expectations, but we are not sorry to be withdrawn. We have every expectation that we can serve the agenda of peace through other avenues."

The Justices are due to return to Xikaung within the fortnight.

*ooc: I have nothing, and can have nothing, to do with these international events due to previous statements of RP commitment, but please take it that failures of mediation-related relations have prompted Xikuang's withdrawal from the IMC.

Angst over industry at the heart of electoral debate

Scathing criticism of recent overproductions figures in several sectors coupled with reports of the highest levels of underemployment in recent history have provoked anger and resentment in many districts. Dissatisfaction is being heard in the political arena, where discussions on Xikuang's market socialist economic model are becoming heated. Advocates of the established market socialist system point to the relatively high standard of livinng for Xikuangese citizensamd the steady economic growth the nation has experienced in recent years, but critics insist that Xikuang's economic strength is based on borrowed principal and that it is only a matter of time before the consequences of overinvestment and increased reliance on market forces will crash the economy.

Among the strongest advocates for radical re-structuring of the economy are planning committees is Lhorong, Zhin-Dao, Zhaxizong and Xijin Ulan Hu, whose local economies are structured along communist principles. They argue that greater centralisaton of the management of Xikuang's industry as a whole would benefit industry and society alike, while detractors argue that not only does the current economic strucyure render international trade both more accessible and palatable for IFTA members, to reorganise market structures now would critically destabilise the nation's industry.

Matters are very likely to be decided by popular vote in the upcoming provincial council elections. It is predicted that should a significant number of provinces elect communist councils and/or general council representatives, it will force a national referendum that could prove schismatic.

Only time will tell.

Xikuang Adopts Aperin International Standard Currency

Data collected by the Elected General Committees for Internal Affairs and Economic Affairs and released today indicate that the transition in currency from the Bulldog Lai to the international Aperin Thennat is going smoothly i smost districts. The eventual adoption of an international standard unit has been anticipated for some time, and planning for its evantuality appears to have been effective.

Though the Bulldog Lai will continue to be legal currency for local transactions for the next five years according to current plans, it is projected that the transition in Xikuang's more urban and industrial areas largely will be complete inside of a year's time. The adoption of a standard currency greatly will facilitate the nation's participation in ACEPB regular planning and projects. Some have criticised the move as potentially damaging to Xikuang's future economic prospects, claiming that increased economic entanglement with foreign governments could limit the nation's and individual industries' potential for growth; however,most commentators see the transition as a natural step on Xikuang's progress towards lasting economic stability and infrastructure improvement alongside ACEPB, CACE and IFTA trade partners.

"It should be remembered that Xikuang's current economic strength is a direct result of cementing good international trade relations, several of the most significant of which are now members of the Central Economic Planning Board." notes Commissioner T'ing Cinyen of the EGC for Domestic Harmony. "Anything that makes that trade and planning that trade easier and more cost effective will benefit both ourselves and our trade partners in the long run."

When asked if any problems had been forseen regarding the transition and ultimate phaseout of the Bulldog Lai,Economic Affairs Committee Chair Zhe Xexin noted of the Thennat only that "most of us can't pronounce it correctly."

"But I don't really see that as a serious problem." he added.

In other news, the Provincial Council electoral debate for Tangguo Province had to be stopped when the discussion between the candidates grew exceedingly heated. When conservative candidate Aijin T'quhe received a criticism from opponent Khan Angus that his policies would lead to stagnation, Mr. Aijin declared loudly that Khan "would see this country back to the kind of dictatorial rule we had under Guo Leng", following this up by hurling a paperweight and a pencil at Mr. Khan. Debate organisers moved in quickly to resolvethe situation, but it was determined to postpone the remainder of the debate for another time. Mr. Khan received "a bit of a bruise" from the paperweight, which hit his arm, but has said he will not bring formal charges against his opponent. "We all get a little mad at times." he said. Mr. Khan, a strong supporter of centralisation, earlier praised he adoption of the Thennat, which Mr. Aijin violently opposes.

Scientists are performing extensive environmental testing while agriculture officials make detailed investigations into farming and waste removal practises in rural Cinzhou, Sziqi, after an unusually high number of oddly shaped potatoes were harvested from fields in the area. Nicknamed 'mutant potato pants' by local farmers, the identically anomalous potatoes were reported as soon as they were observed.

http://www.drnightshade.org.uk/images/mutantpotatopants.jpg

"We always get a few funny looking ones." comments farmer Xun Kiarhe, who works fields that produced many of the 'mutant potato pants'. "Just last yea my mate Thabten found one we all reckoned was the very image of that Goran Persson up in Svea Riga, didn't he. But that was just the one, not like we turned up the whole Rigan government in potato, I mean, whereas theres hundreds of these daft looking wee bobbers, and all the same. Kind of makes a person go hmm, so it does."

Preliminary tests show no abnormal qualities in the affected potatoes or in more normally shaped spuds grown alongside them, and so far nothing untoward has been detected in the soil or water. Plant biologist Qÿ Highuri comments: "They seem perfectly normal, but obviously we are concerned to identify the underlying cause of the phenomenon, if there is one. It could simply be a proclivity of this crop to produce bi-lobed tubers." She further commented that there was no reason to suspect that the 'potato pants' are in amy way 'mutant'.

Polls have consistently shown pro-autonomy Aijin T'quhe and communist opponent Khan Angus to be the most popular of the four candidates standing for Chair of the Provincial General Council for Tangguo, leaving the other two candidates Hanh and Lhodrak far behind in the reckoning, and recent polls had shown Aijin and Khan to be very closely tied for the popular vote. However, the surprise result of the final count shows Khan to have taken the majority by 54%, with Hanh placing well ahead of Aijin with 18%. The turnaround in this rather lively election is accredited to Mr. Aijin's losing popular favour when in the recent rescheduled debate he described his primary opponent as a 'traitorous snivelling sycophant of the SeOCC MoE' whose policies would 'no less than murder the successful dynamism that characterises our province's people's fierce independant spirit'. There was no repeat of earlier inclinations towards the use of projectiles, but debate organisers nonetheless were careful to place the leading opponents at some distance from one another.

"I think the result is unfortunate, but deserved." conservative candidate Hanh Lilianh later said. "He was completely out of line, and anyone who resorts to playground politics like that should hardly hold a prominent public office. We'll just have to wait and see what happens now."

What happens next is likely to be very interesting following the recent elections of Bhi Hanqi and Zhi'in Tqoekyal respectively to the Provincial General Councils for Lhai and Qabka. Mr. Khan's election to Chair places provinces whose council policies favour strong centralisation in the majority, and in Khetari, where voting has been extended owing to adverse weather conditions preventing people from getting to the polls, Xÿ Xiliu already appears to be the clear favourite. With Mao-Lu and Sziqi both likely to re-elect their incumbents, the decision whether or not Xikuang may be due for a national referendum that could result in radical restructuring of national economic policy could be decided by Zikudukou. With only four percent of the national electorate, should communist green candidate Li Ji'iunanh take the pluracy, that will shift the provincial councils supportive of such a move to the 2/3 majority that calls for national decision. At present, no clear favourite in Zikudukou has emerged.

With these matters up in the air, proceedings in the ACEPB meetings are likely to be interesting. The rapid and unchecked growth of Xikuang's market socialist economy has already come under indirect criticism from the SeOCC Ministry of Economics, and if Xikuang's ACEPB representatives cannot speak for the nation's continued adherence to market socialism or not for the next five months, let alone the next five years, for which the meeting is to plan, Xikuang's tenability as a viable ACEPB partner for the present time being may be called into question. This could potentially have serious consequences for the Western provinces and Zhin-Dao. ACEPB representatives for those provinces are already discussing potential solutions, but with matters as they stand, no clear course of action is available.

OOC: Gonna mention the ACEPB meet in SeOCC?

ooc: absolutely, DB!

XNN News Release: Meeting of the ACEPB To Be Held in SeOCC

Despite questions over the future structure of Xikuang's intetrnal economic structure given the current climate of political uncertainty, expectations are very positive about the upcoming meeting of the Aperin Central Economic Planning Board to be hosted in SeOCC. Apart from some apprehension regarding criticisms of Xikuang's unchecked economic boom and the ability of the nation's representatives to answer one way or the other at present regarding Xikuang's future ability or lack thereof to come into accordance with recommendations set by the Board, it is hoped that some form of compromise can be made for the present that will benefit the entire membership. The meeting is seen as an opportunity for Xikuang's economy to become more tightly integrated with Aperin economies, and for some of the problems foreseen owing to a perceived over-investment in capital goods and national labour shortfall to be addressed.

OOC note: please feel free to post relevant or related articles, commentaries, satires, comics, or whatever here. Xikuangese press is quite open. I only ask that you keep it in the spirit. Thanks!

Questions as to whether a national referendum potentially initisting radical economic restructuring in Xikuang may have been answered this morning when Jiunh Akuna, one of the two economic conservatives running for the position of Provincial Council Chair for Zikudukou, renounced his candidacy. In his address to his supporters, Mr. Jiunh announced his reversal of opinion on economic reform, citing Celdonia's recent shift from market socialist to a planned economic model as the promary reason for his change of mind. Praising Celdonian leadership past and present, Mr. Jiunh said: "Xikuangese and Celdonian interests have been closely interlinked for years. Their move to a planned economy will have great implications for us and for teh ACEPB. To move forward as a nation, Xikuangese government must think in international terms, and must be willing to change with the times and international conditions to do what is best for our nation and our allies and partners in the international community."

Zikudukou's Provincial Council elections will now likely be decided by the controversial issue of whether to undertake significant works in the Zhiuzhiuxinphanlhai mountain range to improve commerce and reduce the frequency of avalanches which routinely cut much of rural Zikudukou almost entirely off. Advocates of the plan say that the works would open up much of the more inaccessible parts of the province to viable development that would benefit the people's interest. Opponents insist that the Zhiuzhiuxinphanlhai is a natural national treasure which should be protected. Mr. Jiunh, who espoused the latter opinion, encouraged his former supporters to endorse Li Jiunanh, who also opposes the works proposal.

Final counts for Provincial Council Chair elections are in, as are the counts for national primary elections for General Council Chair candidates. Predictions of referendum over Xikuang's economic trajectory have been borne out: whatever the result of the General Council Chair elections, a national referendum is now in order as Li Ji'iunanh's 53% pluracy victory is announced.

With current Chair Dr. Xu Xian standing down, priamry elections have narrowed the candidates standing for Chair of the Elected General Council to four:

Xiang Kalsang
Communist Liberal Democrat, Xijin Ulan Hu Province
Current Chair of the General Committee for International Affairs, Elected General Councillor Xiang Kalsang is Xikuang's premier diplomat and an able and experienced politician with a long history of service in numerous capacities. He favours centralisation of domestic economic planning, but in whatever form Xikuang's economic policy takes, would strive to co-ordinate closely with the ACEPB. Xiang would endeavour to expand Xikuang's diplomatic and exchange relations, particulary with the nations of the Alçaeran continent, and would like to see Xikuang take a stronger role in the CACE.

Qi Ahnliunh
Conservative Green, Mao-Lu
A member of the Provincial Committee for Domestic Harmony for Mao-Lu, Qi has worked extensively with the General Committees for Domestic Harmony and Internal Affairs. Deploring Xikuang's annual expenditure on military productions and maintenance in a nation that never will have a strong military, as Chair, she would work towards restoring Xikuang to its former fully de-militarised status while continuing to provide support for allied military forces. She is a strong advocate of Green interests, and favours a non-centralised market socialist economy based offering incentives to industries willingly adopting greener policies.

Rhulunh T'hadjir
Spiritual Conservative, Khetari Province
A founding brother of the Pure Mind, Pure Heart sect, Rhulunh would work towards restoring temporal leadership of Xikuang to the Incarnate Taqajhila Sangye in accordance with ancient tradition, allowing the nation to stand as an international spiritual beacon. He emphasises that his vision is one of a tolerant theocracy, readily accommodating to non-adherents to the Buddhist faith, yet promoting spiritual well-being for all.

(note: the Incarnate Taqajhila Sangye, Lama Rabten Choden T'sephurkhe, has not endorsed Candidate Rhulunh, nor has the Taqajhila expressed any willingness to act as national temporal leader).

Hei Khinp'harhe
Liberal Progressive, Lhai Province
Believing that Xikuang has become too dependent on international initiatives, Hei would focus on concentrating domestic energy into domestic innovation. She favours centralised economic planning, but advocated withdrawal from the ACEPB in favour of freer interaction with IFTA trade partners. Hei also favours an increased police and military budget as a means towards greater autonomy.

All four candidates will be fielding questions from the press and the populace at regularly scheduled hours. Anyone with even the remotest interest is welcome to post questions for any of the candidates.

General Council Elections Concluded

Elections for the Elected General Council have been concluded, and the successful candidates are all now confirmed. Re-elected to their positions as General Councillors and Chair of the General Committees for National Security and Internal Affairs respectively are Sarekh Djijirin and He Dorje. Former Councillors T'ing, Yng, Kham, Dragne, Tenzin, Zhe and former Chair Xu did not stand for re-election, while former General Councillor and Chair of the General Committee for International Affairs Xiang Kalsang has been elected to General Council Chair.

The successfully elected General Councillors and their General Committee and representative appointments are as follows:

Khun Ÿlinh (Khanla), Chair of the General Committee for Economic Affairs
Xinh Zhayi (Khetari), Liaison to Coalition of Anti-Capitalist Economies
Yi'i Lhyamo (Lhai), Chair of the General Committee for International Affairs
Lhi Yangchen (Lhorong), Chair of the General Committee for Agriculture and Industry
Linh Xian (Mao-Lu), Chair of the General Committee for Social Welfare
Sarekh Djijirin (Qabka), Chair of the General Committee for National Security
Qunh Lhamu (Sziqi), Chair of the General Committee for Education
Songh T'hiet'h (Tangguo), Chair of the General Committee for Science and Technology
He Dorje (Xijin Ulan Hu), Chair of the General Committee for Internal Affairs
Sonam Choeden (Zhaxizong), Chair of the General Committee for Domestic Harmony
Khinhe Khilu (Zhin-Dao), Representative to the Anticapitalist Alliance
T'qo Namhling (Zikudukou), Chair of the General Committee for Environmental Quality
Xiang Kalsang, Chair of the Elected General Council of the SSRX

National Referendum To Commence

Preparations for the national referendum necessitated by the 66% predominance of elected provincial officials favouring centralisation of national economic policy are well underway throughout the nation. Initial presentations and debate are scheduled to take place within the calendar month. Whilst necessarily disruptive, no effort will be made to ensure that there is no interruption of essential services throughout the referendum process. In accordance with national policy, all major presentations and discussion will be recorded and broadcast on national media simultaneously with their release for public availability via the DataHavens.

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Xikuang National News

Several businesses throughout Xikuang have voted to close all relations with Rigan businesses in protest of the actions taken by the Rigan military against citizens of Watfordshire. These announcements are simultaneous with large numbers of Xikuangese citizens publicly pledging to boycott Rigan goods. It is hoped that the move will raise Rigan public awareness of the situation in the Rigan Sea, as many people fear that with the Rigan press fully controlled by the government, citizens may be receiving a distorted report of the facts of the matter.

Officials in Rehochipe have already taken much firmer action, declaring a cessation of all trade relations with Svea Riga and revoking the status of Rigan diplomats. Private citizens in Xikuang are urging their government representatives towards similar actions, but as yet, the government has not announced any intentions beyond the offer of shelter and protection to Shiree citizens. The situation has since escalated as the Rigan government has issued a warning statement to nations both of the Alçaeran Union and the CACE to withdraw condemnations and stand with the Rigan nation against piracy and terrorism.

Protesters have organised peaceful marches on the Svea Rigan embassies in Chiidre and Lhijir, the former to take place on the xxth, the latter on the xxth of this month. Turnout is already expected to be high, and people have already begun wearing red paper horns to express solidarity with the Shiree. Transportation will be provided free of charge for concerned citizens from most major townships. Details will be posted in local libraries, post offices, Council offices and other government establishments, or are available upon request from shireesiungmai@kharkhyunh.xik.gov.

Zikudukou's Provincial Council elections will now likely be decided by the controversial issue of whether to undertake significant works in the Zhiuzhiuxinphanlhai mountain range to improve commerce and reduce the frequency of avalanches which routinely cut much of rural Zikudukou almost entirely off. Advocates of the plan say that the works would open up much of the more inaccessible parts of the province to viable development that would benefit the people's interest. Opponents insist that the Zhiuzhiuxinphanlhai is a natural national treasure which should be protected. Mr. Jiunh, who espoused the latter opinion, encouraged his former supporters to endorse Li Jiunanh, who also opposes the works proposal.
At the time this news broke out...
From the Syskeyian equivalent of The Daily Show

"...And in other news, Xiukang is awash in controversy over the Zhiuzhiuxinphanlhai mountians. Certain people advocate development of this mountain range in order to elevate the conditions of rural Zikudukou, while others insist that the mountians be left untounched by the hand of man.

The issue will go to Xiukangese voters soon, and while the final outcome cannot be known, early polls show that majority of Xiukangese have no freakin' idea how to pronounce the mountains' name."

OOC: Just thought I'd add a little humor to your thread, Xiu.