February 16th, 2025

Zhongnanhai, Beijing

With all necessary strings had been pulled to create a new narrative about his predecessors being killed by reactionary forces, and while it's certain the intelligence agencies in America and Europe, as well as in South Korea and Japan had their suspicions, by and large it had been a story that had been lapped up by journalists and politicians around the globe especially in the Global South, his new agenda was the next course of action that were going to take shape, and it will not be just Taiwan. 

The first order of the day will be the decision in the name of Central Military Commission, despite the nature on how Jiaxu was elevated into the presidency, he technically can and still be the last word. Dug deep below Zhongnanhai, the president and the other six members of the Central Military Commission were ensconced in a hyper-secure meeting room. Swept regularly for any form of monitoring device (except those placed by the Party, of course), it provided the most secure location for their sensitive discussions. While there were view screens on the wall, and AI-scribes embedded into the tabletop, the room was designed to permit no electronic signal to come in or to emerge from its steel, copper, and timber walls. It was, for all intents and purposes, an electronic black hole virtually invulnerable from any spying from abroad.

The meeting was opened by statements pertaining to military readiness of the entire PLA from theater command level, and into the stockpile of high precision munitions, from guided artillery shells into hypersonic missiles.

Once decision has been taken, it's final say, and everyone in the room knew it with the change of air. 

"Have we attended to concurrent challenges that might impact on what we are going to do?" Jiaxu asked those in the room. General Hu spoke up before others around the table could contribute. 

"Comrade President, the Russians are conducting a large-scale exercise near the borders of Ukraine, Finland and the Baltic states, as well as naval exercises in the Black Sea and in the Baltic. Both open sources and our sources inside Europe tells us that it is keeping them awake. A note to be taken is that Ukrainians had ordered increased readiness for it's security forces in the eastern border as well as in Crimea, recalled some reservists for refreshers, and scrambled some of their fighters to dissuade further "provocations". To our south, the Indians are quiet, but our Western Theater Command is ready for everything while Southern Theater Command are also ready to secure Myanmar for start." 

"What about the Japanese?"

"We will give them an ultimatum, it's past time they learned their place. Same as what we will do about Taiwan before we make our move, Comrade President."

"Very well."

"Even with the SDC, there are many things that remain to be seen, as it can't be understated that despite the speeches of their political leaders and several polls, nearly every measure of their societal capabilities and commitment indicates that the people of America and their key partners have little interest in fighting for a small island that is a very long way away from them. Or to lose thousands of their young people doing so. Especially for Europe with Russia remained the bogeyman while America's attention are mostly internal, with division on belief, and multiple large disasters, typhoons, tornados, forest fires, you name it despite their president..." 

"The Western decline is irreversible" being the correct view both within the halls of Zhongnanhai and the whole 1.4 billion of Mainland Chinese, added with debates overseas. Interpretations vary, but the said decline was indeed a window of opportunity similar to what happened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union when the Western World was distracted in dealing of it's aftermath, coupled with the modernization of the PLA, and ongoing distractions and squabbles within Western politicians and media. However, everyone was also in agreement on how that window is narrow, and despite its impressive progress over the last four decades, China was still reliant on world trade and imports of key necessities.

Jiaxu turned into his immediate left, The Premier of the State Council, also known beyond China as the premier, was traditionally the chairman's most senior civilian advisor. The incumbent was a holdover from Jing's presidency. However, Jiaxu and the military leadership saw no reason to dispense with the experience of the 61 years old woman, particularly in international economics with her record in the World Bank Group. Her experience also means a source of excellent advice on finance, trade, and the Chinese economy. 

The premier was not normally a member of the Central Military Commission. But this was far from a normal meeting. And any military campaign needed input on strategic economic and trade impacts.

"Comrade Premier, please provide us with your insights on the probable impacts to our nation from an economic perspective," Zhang ordered in a quiet but firm tone. The premier, Hua Menguo, turned to her audience. One of the screens displayed charts that presented figures about imports into China.

"As we all know, Comrade President, we are continue our stockpiling of things that are certainly will be sanctioned or interdicted when we took action against Taiwan as well as securing the Nine-dash Line, South Tibet, and the Diaoyu Islands." ... Our focus has been the major import categories, especially crude oil and petroleum products, which represent over 15 percent of total imports. Most of these arrive by sea from the Middle East, and we are assuming that route will be cut off by Americans, Indians, Singaporeans, Indonesians. And in light of Alashankou, I reminded you that we are currently refilling our strategic reserve with land imports via pipes in Eastern Russia, as well as via Central Asia." The premier gazed at the present generals and admirals. "And the PLA continued it's assistance, such as mobile, portable oil storage facilities, here. Furthermore, upon your instruction, Comrade President, we decided to prepare for domestic rationings, with all of it's attendant risk particularly in our manufacturing sector..." 

"...And as we all know, our other major import category is semiconductors. Despite our progress over the year, the best circuits must still be imported from South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Japan and the United States, while the machineries necessary for it are virtually monopolized by the Dutch and the Japanese. We have a small strategic stockpiling of these more sophisticated chips and spare parts for the machinery (for the foundries) that we managed to acquire. But this will only last for three months of normal use, and the Russian offerings are at best, only 75 percent as good as those made in Taiwan or South Korea" There was a soft murmuring around the table. 

The admiral on the screen made to speak but was cut off by Jiaxu. 

"The fabrication facilities in Taiwan will be a priority for our forces. We will be prioritizing their capture so they cannot be destroyed."

"Other than oil, Russia and Central Asia can also fill our needs of food and necessary minerals such as iron ore, in which we have a year worth of strategic stockpile, same as nickel, rare earth..."

The Premier continued upon the conclusion of the data pertaining to raw material stockpile. "On the export front, over 25 percent of our current exports by value go to the US, South Korea, Europe, and Japan. We can assume that these markets will be closed to us if there are hostilities over Taiwan. We earn over 500 billion dollars each year from our exports to America alone. This will hurt us much more than it does the Americans." 

Jiaxu held up his hand. He had heard enough from the premier. The insight was useful, however his intention was to hammer the point home to the generals and admirals, especially in the Eastern Theater Command, that they need a rapid conclusion to their invasion of the rebellious island province. While their nation would be able to continue operating for the next six to twelve months, any prolonged military operations after that would be harmful for the nation in the end. 

And the goal is clear. 

"You must strike rapidly and with great force" Jiaxu informed the military commanders present. "Do not betray trust of our people, and give no mercy on the rebels. And then, we will make the Japanese pay for what they have done to us" There will be further technical meetings in place, but the countdown had started....