Chinese Reconciliation Negotiations

[Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger]

Day 1: ROC

The ROC reminds everyone of its red lines:

1. The people currently under ROC governance must retain such privileges as the right to make their own economic decisions, which they have enjoyed thus far.
2. To protect these rights politically, the territories must be governed by an autonomous entity, with authority over all domestic matters.
3. To ensure the autonomy's integrity, it must be allowed to maintain its own self-defense forces.

ROC reminds the Communist delegation that declining to demand the KMT's reimposition as the supreme authority in all of China is already a tremendous concession. That the Communists continue to demand more and more after that is simply outlandish! The Commies should be thankful that this unification will give them international legitimacy, and stop making silly demands if they want the summit to continue.


Kindly reply below, Carlos III and Tolbethessar

[Carlos III]

Zhou Enlai's immediate response is to politely, but firmly, remind the Taiwanese delegation that the PRC controls all of mainland China and has a much larger population than Taiwan, thus, in any case, the PRC is the rightful representative of the Chinese people.
After some discussion, Zhou Enlai says that the PRC will accept the three demands, as long as ROC agrees that the PRC is the only China and that Taiwan is part of China.

[Tolbethessar]

OOC note: FYI, I was definitely disappointed in Carlos III.

Before the previous turn, I told him that I wouldn't try to make things problematic for him in that negotiations. That was before he made his ridiculous demands. Now? Forget it, I will make his life hell in this meeting.

---

IC: America reminds PRC that the concept of recognition would've naturally occurring in the event of a parital unification, specifically this kind. If ROC had been recognized beforehand, and then is peacefully transfered to PRC as an autonomous region, it would follow that the umbrella sovereignty over the ROC is maintained, and an official recognition would follow.

Perhaps Zhou needs some legal advisement brought in before he says something else that might jeopardize country's chances of sucess here?

(Can I roll for a faux pas backfiring on PRC here, Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger?)

[Carlos III]

Zhou simply smiles. "Good to know that we don't have to spell it out for you. Very well, we can save time that way."
Zhou then states that the PRC wants all American forces to leave Taiwan within a year of this agreement.

[Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger]

Yeh Kung-ch'ao (Chiang Kai-Shek's foreign minister, also known as George Yeh) is incensed first of all that Zhou is speaking out of turn, and secondly by the enduring outrageous demands.

"If international recognition is not enough for you, what is?" he asks. "Why must you dishonor us with these outrageous demands? Surely you are not blind to the benefits you may have from this deal, even if you do let us keep our dignity."

Yeh looks Zhou straight in the eyes, staring daggers at the Communist.

"If you do not begin to talk sense, we will break off the negotiation."

He passes a note to Johnson, suggesting a loose confederation between ROC, South Korea, and (gasp) Japan. America's allies in the region must be strong against these madmen, Yeh reckons, and there is strength in unity. The ROC would sooner forgive the atrocities of the Japanese than lay exposed afore the Red Menace.

[Carlos III]

OOC: Oops sorry. I didn't notice the turns rule.

"You're one to talk about dignity, after what Chiang had unlawfully done to our comrades after Sun Yat-sen's death." Zhou Enlai says.
A Chinese official enters and whispers into Zhou's ear.
Zhou nods. "The Politburo says that they are willing to allow the KMT to form a faction with the Politburo with equal representation if Taiwan acknowledges that Taiwan is territory of China. Finer details are negotiable."
Zhou goes on, "We have decided to forgive the past few decades. All we want is to ensure the resilience of the Chinese nation. If you choose to betray Sun Yat-sen's revolution, side with foreign powers, and seperate the Chinese people, you can do so."

[Tolbethessar]

Sept 23, 2019 15:19:01 GMT Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger said:

Yeh Kung-ch'ao (Chiang Kai-Shek's foreign minister, also known as George Yeh) is incensed first of all that Zhou is speaking out of turn, and secondly by the enduring outrageous demands.

"If international recognition is not enough for you, what is?" he asks. "Why must you dishonor us with these outrageous demands? Surely you are not blind to the benefits you may have from this deal, even if you do let us keep our dignity."

Yeh looks Zhou straight in the eyes, staring daggers at the Communist.

"If you do not begin to talk sense, we will break off the negotiation."

He passes a note to Johnson, suggesting a loose confederation between ROC, South Korea, and (gasp) Japan. America's allies in the region must be strong against these madmen, Yeh reckons, and there is strength in unity. The ROC would sooner forgive the atrocities of the Japanese than lay exposed afore the Red Menace.

Johnson took the note and scrawled under Yeh's words, saying: "Initial thoughts - tricky to work with Formosa being an autonomous region and others as nation-states - But maybe can work out details one way or other! - We're still long-term allies of ROC. - However... Do have some serious concerns about ROC being crushed within PRC as a political entity. - Best to think twice about becoming an autonomous region of a Communist country - Caution is advised." Johnson passes the note back to Yeh.

After the exchange of the note, Johnson remarked to Zhou, "Zhou, Zhou, hmmm... have I told you that I think you have beautiful blue eyes? No? You don't have blue eyes? Well, I was wrong on both counts, I suppose." He snickered quietly, implying that the compliment was intended as an obscured insult.

"Anyway, I'm not going to argue political lineage with you regarding Sun, being it none of my purview. It is a matter between Chinese, mano a mano and I respect that." Turning to Yeh, "Should we retire for the day before our so-called 'esteemed colleague' decide to shower me with compliments in return?"

[Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger]

"Yes, let us adjourn," Yeh replies.

The next day, he returns with more hard-line positions than before.

"In light of the situation, I have been told that reunification is no longer on the table. The Republic of China's stance is now for mutual recognition and independence, with borders on the basis of January 1st, 1950. In terms of international law, the Republic of China will inherit all treaty obligations dating to 1949 or before."

This was a prominent shift, caused by Zhou's silly conduct. Now, Yeh made clear that he wanted half the crown - not just Formosa, but also Hainan, the UN Security Council seat, and the rights to the British lease on Hong Kong. He wasn't going to get it all, but he made clear now that there was no more Mr. Nice Guy.

[Tolbethessar]

OOC: I really prefer to not screw this up but this is pretty much what he would've done in RL.

"Take that up your *bleep* Zhou and suck it in!" Johnson chortled on the subject of the changes. After making even more lewd comments, Johnson walked up and got into Zhou's face and farted in his presence, then commenting "Eww, the stench of *bleep bleepity* Communism is getting to my head, I should do none but vomit in your *bleep* face!"
Walking out of the room with his head held up arrogantly, "Later aligator" Johnson winked to Everett Drumright who was sitting relatively close to the doorway.

Drumright, the ambassador who would have to deal with the ramifications of what had just transpired here, sighed in hopeless depression and got up to his feet, "Fine fine, just go. Sheesh, you didn't have to do that."

Taking the seat for the American represenative, Drumright insists to Sam Rayburn that the man who would have to deal with it for years to come ought be the one who determine the fate of his office rather than the one sitting back comfortably in Washington DC. Drumright made a profound, desperately-felt apology and also begged that the negotiations move forward without holding onto what Johnson had done a moment ago in everybody's minds. "The United States of America does not forget the 1954 treaty it made with the Republic of China, no retaliation against it on the part of the People's Republic of China would be tolerated," Drumright asserted that USA would maintain its solid support of ROC's demands. He whispered a second apology to George Yeh to the side.

After everything was said and done, he visibly put his hand up to his face in humiliation.

[Carlos III]

Zhou, bemused, shrugs off Johnson's "performance" and nods at Drumright's apology. "Let us not waste time."
Addressing the ROC's demands, Zhou says, "We reject all demands on territory under PRC control. Why should we give up our land, when you yourself refuse to give up yours? And have you forgotten Spratly and Paracel Islands? How did that go?
"Treaty obligations... I will simply reiterate the fact that the PRC controls most of China and represents far more Chinese people than the ROC.
"On recognition and independence, we will agree if you accept the possibility of future negotiations on reunification." Zhou again points to the Constitution of the PRC and to Sun Yat-sen's dream.
Zhou also tells Drumright on the 1954 Treaty, "Very well, it is no longer relevant anyway."
Finally, Zhou states, "But let us not allow petty squabbles to get in the way of the people's interests. So, let us first reach an agreement on this...."
He proposes that travel between China and Taiwan be allowed so that "families may reunite" and also trade between the two.

[Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger]

Yeh wrinkles his nose at Johnson's antics, but only wrinkles it further at Zhou's demands.

"What we offer you is recognition, an end to the international boycott. This is more precious than any plot of land, any bit of ego, and any empty words about Sun Yat-sen that you, who have removed the system he established, can throw around. If you can't see that, Mr. Zhou, you would do well to visit an ophthalmologist." 

Yeh then turns his attention to the stench.

"Can someone open a window here? That smell is quite foul."

[Tolbethessar]

Waving his hand in the air, Drumright calls out to a junior diplomat to handle the business of ventilating the air, "Please do see to it that the air remains a breathable quality, that is, unless Johnson returns...In that case, most likely lose it again, anyway." (OOC: reference to Eeyore)

Drumright then pointed unhappily at Zhou next. He felt rather insulted by Zhou's insinuation that somehow a treaty between USA and ROC stopped having any relevance when it's clearly untrue. Drumright fired back with a harrumph and retorted in such. The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty doesn't have an expiration date nor would it simply cease to function during a round of negotiations, certainly not without a new full-on legally binding international treaty overwriting the present one, and only after the newer treaty comes into full effect. "Until then, every clause of this treaty is sticking around, irrespective of your opinion or preference, Mr. Zhou."

A sidelong comment was made to Yeh, "Let suppose even if it’s not much of a treaty, but I’m sort of attached to it." (OOC: another reference to Eeyore)

"You know what? If you really wanted official recognition, how come you're still associating yourself with a gang of international criminals lacking official recognition in the first place?" Drumright returned his attention to Zhou, ratcheting up the pressure, "Do you realize whom you have given support to? The vandals, thugs and self-appointed executors led by a wanted man, Ho Chi Minh, has been persecuting Catholic Vietnamese heavily and murdering landlords & intellectuals and we aren't even mentioning the wanton violence & vandalism on the top of that. Ho Chi Minh relies entirely on his organization to perpetuate the myth of legitimate governance and press down on all peoples to comply. I'm hearing plenty of reports and documented evidence sent over from General Thomas Trapnell. Not only that, there's other reports from international charity organisations that does correlates to those same crimes happening in Laos as well. You choose your friends rather poorly!"

"Perhaps it's about time that you disassociate your nation from the Vietnamese version of the Mafia," Drumright said, "I don't know if it's considered as an outrageous demand, but it's certainly worthwhile to propose that request. Give up Ho Chi Minh and his men to the Vietnamese people and let justice be served for their crimes. It's hardly outrageous for me to only suggest, especially when you have made so many demands, one after another. It’s all for naught I suppose." (OOC: last reference to Eeyore in the post, I promise )

[Carlos III]

Looking at Drumright, Zhou says, "Ah, my mistake. Let me restate that: the 1954 Treaty is no longer relevant to the current negotiations."
"You know, if you wanted to make demands here, at least make it so that it applies to everyone at the table. I will not entertain any requests regarding either Vietnams. If you have a problem concerning Indochina, tell your President to write a letter to the Chairman.
"You think I have made too many "demands"? Well then, how about I cut it all down to the original two demands? Do you have a problem with that?"
Zhou then turns to Yeh. "I stand by all my points. No more, no less. The PRC will not give up any territory under our control since 7 August 1950. We may agree on treaty obligations.
"I will point out that the ROC is no more helpful in Sun's visions, but there's that."

[Dr. Hendrei Gromsinger]

Yeh notes Zhou's offer, but he also notes that despite it all, America seems to have the ROC's back. He makes a strategic calculation.

"If you intend to do nothing but insult us, Mr. Zhou, you shouldn't expect anything better in return," he says.

To punctuate his angry sentiments, he stands up and turns to leave the room.

As he steps out the door, he is still listening for Zhou's reaction. A tempting offer, and he'd reconsider. But if not, he'd put up with Johnson.

[Carlos III]

As Yeh approaches the door, Zhou replies, "Fine. We will support ceding of Macau and Hong Kong to the ROC, as well as any claims by the ROC outside of the PRC territory. Control of the waters of the Taiwan Strait will be shared by both.
We will open to discussions of civil war reparations to the ROC.
This is on top of mutual recognition and the previous offers, of course."
Zhou pauses, "But if you rather leave, do as you please."