NationStates Jolt Archive

For the first nine years of his reign, Emperor Zhang could do no wrong. After averting fears of a bloodbath following the death of Liu and his father shortly before, Zhang's subordinates gracefully removed the remnants of the junta and oversaw a long period of peace and economic growth, instituted elections (how democratic they were was questionable), and invested heavily in education and economic reform to take China to the world's second largest economy again. Instituting elections some 3 years ago, Zhang has let parliament run most of the issues of the country although he has quitely vetoed the laws he didn't like. Nobody seemed to mind - he picked his battles thoughtfully and was populist. Like the great Augustus Caesar, he knew that it was essential to be popular, and like Caesar, he talked, and only talked, about further political reform and restoring true democracy. Under his rule, Chinese foreign policy was assertive but rational - he did not see the communists as the enemy that Liu had made them out to be but kept his eyes on them. With his approval, General Chang pursued a hardline policy against the Roycelandians in the Phillipines and won.

However, his latest decision to suspend trade with the Soviets and to side with what many percieved as "Quintonnian moralist ranting" was one of his most unpopular decisions and he has finally irritated the Social Democrats enough after thwarting their "morally objectionable" bills several dozen times to cause several Social Democrat parliamentarians to organise a rally - one calling for a true Republic and protested China's alignment with Quintonnia. Opinion polls show that perception of the United States is at an all-time low, having fallen since the Filipino incident, took a significant tumble after Quintonnia's declaration of war against Libya. Despite rather biased television coverage of the event with pro-Zhang stations (actually, quite a lot of them since he passed an industry-wide tax break) downplaying the protest, the media did not take into account a major source of news - podcasting and internet blogs, many of them not afraid to lash out against Zhang.

The protest in fact struck a chord throughout the country,from Heilongjiang to Guangdong. After the first day, the protests spread to several more cities in former Xiaguo and a few places in Sino. It appears that divisions from years ago are resurfacing - many elderly men not so forgiving of the Quintonnians who killed their fathers and grandfathers in the first Korean war and the odd factory worker in Xiannese state enterprise who was hard done by when Zhang entered China into the WEC. The protesters burnt US flags and chanted anti-capitalist slogans, with the ever present call for a Republic heard loudly through Tianjin and Liaoning. In Sino, the protests are considerably smaller but take a more sinister anti-Japanese tone, with slogans such as "Nukes saved us from the Japs" being chanted.

It remains to be seen how Zhang will react on his Washington trip, but one thing is clear - his honeymoon with the Chinese public is over.

The Blogsphere also provides the Soviets of the Third Commonwealth with one of their favourite means of communication, and it is largely through this little regulated and largely unofficial medium that southern India reacts to China's internal difficulties.

Raipur was as yet fairly quiet at official levels, though full of smug smiles since the Chinese cut-short the formative trade links between they and the Commonwealth. For now it was thought best not to inflame the issue, despite the opportunity, and to hope that Beijing might be convinced to rebalance its foreign policiy accordingly.

Private citizens, however, rejoiced in learning that the formerly spirited Chinese masses hadn't completely fallen to sleep, and were quick to attempt communication with peers in China. A few universities got involved, preparing letters and petitions of support and leading a resurgence of modern communist theory directed at the Chinese environment.

Few Commonwealthers have much time for Maoism (some isolated exceptions having been absorbed since West Bengal achieved Commonwealth), but equally few would say that the Chinese were wrong, per se, to oppose the USSR in the Sino-Soviet split. Propaganda coming from non-governmental sources in the Third Commonwealth appeals to workers, soldiers, and most especially to students to think of socialism not in terms of the party, but of the people.

Normally, there might have been expected a significant background hum of disapproval for that long-standing Chinese hostility to Japan, but, since Tokyo threw its lot in with the Quinntonians and the hated Roiks over Libya, a huge degree of sympathy for -or indifference towards- the Japanese has fallen away in southern India.

Newsflash : Martial law declared in Northern China

Martial law has been declared in Beijing after pro-Monarchy supporters clashed with Republicans and other leftists calling for an end to absolute monarchy. 77 people have been killed and many more injured after the rioters exchanged gunfire. It took police five hours and water cannons to disperse the riot.

In parliament, the Social Democrats have proposed a binding referendum to decide whether China should become a republic, and have vowed to continue the protests until the time China becomes a free and democratic republic.

In other developments, Emperor Zhang has been forced to cut short his trip to Washington after earlier being reassured by his foreign affairs minister that things were under control. Zhang now returns home to a country split by partisan politics, and where his once stable position as absolute monarch is now looking shakier by the day.

In response to perceived anti-Japanese sentiments, the JRP government in Tokyo decides to simply issue a press release expressing their desire for a peaceful end to China's internal issues; the release also states that Japan will work with any government chosen by the Chinese people.

Of course, the nationalist party Aikoku Toko takes a different approach. Party leader Akira Shigi denounces the Chinese troubles as proof that they are ungrateful swine; Japan apologised for past conduct in China, yet the Chinese still throw it back in their faces. Akira goes on to state that if China should turn to a leftist regime, Japan would be almost encircled by hostile socialists; such a situation would give Japan no choice but to aggressively rearm for its own protection.

Although the Japanese public still retains its faith in the JRP, the words of Aikoku Toko strike a chord with people who would normally vote against them. The actions of Sujava in Southeast Asia, combined with the (overly-hyped) possibility of China turning to 'anti-Nippon leftist bigots', present a situation where socialist and communist states are expanding their influence. A socialist China could begin heavy support of Dra-pol, and such a situation would present a major threat to Japanese sovereingty.

In the political manuvering that was now taking place in parliament, Zhang returned to Beijing to find himself in a sticky situation. The United China Party was weakened with news of Hu Jin Tao's intention to join the Social Democrats at the next election, and now General Chang had followed suit, announcing his intention to form or join a suitable centrist party. This meant the UCP had effectively imploded as Chang was regarded as one of the country's best diplomats and general for decades. While Zhang's policies still had the support of the middle and upper classes, it would be an uphill battle to convince voters that a republic could not offer the same policies while also convincing them Zhang was an independent leader rather than a Quintonnian lackey. Zhang now faced a difficult decision : Veto the republican referendum and cause Tianamen square riot/massacre 2, fight against the huge odds to try and win the referendum (which, if he lost, would damage his credibility enough to destroy the UCP.), or volunteeringly abdicate and contest the snap election as a politician, not a monarch. There was also the threat of a leadership challenge from within the UCP which he kept his eye on.

While it was seemingly impossible that he would retain the head of state, he still believed China could benefit further from his rule. With that in mind, Zhang holds a press conference and makes a shock announcement.

Emperor Zhang will dissolve the monarch in response to "the concerns of the people". Mr Zhang will continue to lead the fractured United China Party for the foreseeable future and will bid for re-election next month.

Strainist involvement in Chinese politics is... cautious. While some might privately support a shift towards a more left-wing government, Spyr wishes to remain a friend of China no matter how things turn out, and so backing of political parties is ruled out entirely.

Spyr does, however, make some attempts to sway public opinion, in the hope of influencing the eventual platform of the next administration in Beijing. Efforts are launched to introduce an advertising campaign which underlines the greatness of friendship and brotherhood between Asian peoples (the war against Bonstock a key element), as well as the need to overcome or contain the rising tide of Imperialism (embodied by not just the Holy League but by most of the Western powers) and Islamic fundamentalism (in Indonesia and central Asia).

[OOC: If that's possible... I know if someone tried to run a political ad campaign in Lyong or Sujava the'yd probably be deported...]

(There are of course, many ways to get past Chinese electoral law such as pamplet drops and door-to-door campaigning. Most of the laws generally apply only to the media.)

With four weeks remaining to the election, Chang has officially announced his resignation from the United China Party and will join a resurgent Chinese Nationalist Party after citing incompatibilities with Zhang's foreign policies. Hu Jin Tao was also officially made a party member by the Social Democrats last week, and the latest news is another blow to the beleaguered UCP. Despite this, Zhang is still publicly upbeat about his re-election chances. Several arrests were made after the riots in Guangzhou, with police arresting the followers of a right-wing organisation with Liuist beliefs.

Unrest continues in the North, with farmer's groups calling for a reversal of China's WEC membership and a restoration of the grain subsidies.

A brief overview of what is essentially a 3-horse race to parliament :

United China Party (UCP) : Lead by Jonathan Zhang, the former Emperor. The party has led the country for the last 5 years and a further 10 years before that on Taiwan. While the UCP's right-wing economic policies have alienated a large portion of the population especially the rural north, the UCP does have a loyal base of middle and upper class voters who would like to see the economy continue its trajectory. However the same voters also percieve Zhang as being weak on foreign policy and a Quintonnian lapdog and it is expected a large portion of the voters will support Chang's KMT. A poll taken after Chang's announcement put the UCP at 15%, a far cry from the 55% they won last election.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) : Having just gained a new leader in Chang, the KMT have come from a few Taiwanese seats to a comfortable 18% at the polls. Chang has promised a more assertive and independent foreign policy. His economic policies are more to the left than those of the UCP and Chang has campaigned on a centrist platform with increased support for the working class.

Social Democrats (SD) : Headed by former UCP foreign affair ministers Hu Jin Tao, the Social Democrats have plenty of momentum heading into the election, recieving a boost from Zhang's abdication. In terms of foreign policy, the Social Democrats would like China to pursue closer ties with the Shining Sphere of Prosperity as well as attempt to establish trade with the Soviet commonwealth. The Social Democrats would support unions and toughen labour laws as well as establish a minimum wage. They have also dropped the unpopular social policies in support of gay rights that cost them many last election. Currently gaining huge support in the north, where several provinces have recorded 60% support for the party. Polling nationwide at 27%.

(Will finish the other smaller parties later)

Minor parties/coalition partners :

Christian China Party (CCP) : Increasingly dominated by Catholics, the CCP follows right-wing political beliefs. The CCP supported Zhang's party in his last term but has shifted to the right on the political spectrum. Currently polling at 4%, but it will not get into parliament on current pollings. The CCP supports in principle the League invasion of "failed socialist states" such as Vietnam and Cambodia, but the ICBM attack on Buenos Aires has forced a rethink.

The Liberal Party (LIB) : Founded only a month ago by one of China's richest businessman Peter Lee, the Liberal Party believes in small government and would eliminate taxes, opting instead for compulsory welfare deductions and medical insurance. The Liberal Party is only liberal in economic policy and is in fact fairly conservative on social policy. It is the richest political party to contest these elections, having recieved more than $300 million in donations in two weeks. The promise of no taxes combined with a media advertising blitzreig has lured a large number of middle and rich businessman to the party with latest pollings indicating it would attract 10% of the voters, mainly the rich. Lee has indicated that the Liberals would not work with the Progressives in a coalition government.

Progressive Coalition (PC) : A loose alliance of environmentalists, unionists, and other leftist campaigners, the Progressive Coalition has campaigned for free healthcare, free education, free housing for the poor, farming subsidies, and other reforms aimed at the poor. The Progressives also support direct democracy - Soviet style, and the payment of compensation to Malaysia and the former Bonstock for war crimes committed by Sino. Unusually, they also support the legalisation of hard drugs and gay rights. Currently enjoying a rise in support, polling at 9%.

Christian Socialism (CS) : Formed by a group of rebel Social Democrat MPs after the last election, the Christian Socialists are part-charity, part-political. They have run several successful literacy and medical programmes in western China. Follows leftist economic policies, but conservative social policy. They are currently in discussion with the Christian China Party about forming a "Christian Alliance" in parliament. Currrently polling at 7%.

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With roughly 10% of voters still undecided, and a further 15% of voters still in "swing mode", the race for parliament appears fairly open at the moment.