On a Knife's Edge, a Post Weltkrieg 2 Kaiserreich Japan Game

[Jakarta]

The car rolled into the Hangar of the Airbase in Hyakuri, Japan. You step out of the heavily armored Toyota Century as Ministerial Guards fan out and ensure the crowd stays a good distance away from you. All of them were either wearing slick suits or perhaps just wearing plainclothes within the crowd. Tokyo Metropolitan Police officers are also on the scene to ensure the utmost safety and security as you slowly walk towards the podium readied for you, the red carpet has been rolled out, and behind you stands 4 fighters that the Air Force and the Navy would be using, they represent the best efforts of your country's engineers to manufacture something to beat the upcoming Socialists' new fighter jets, and joy of joys, you've beaten them to the punch, production is set to begin immediately with the first squadrons accepting the Airplane in late 1975.


The 1st Aircraft that caught your eye is the Mitsubishi F-2, a beautiful thing designed as a 'multirole aircraft', capable of high maneuverability and sporting the latest electronics and sensors, production of this Airplane is set to reach some 1000 to 2000 aircraft in total, with the RJAF set to operate around 1000 to 1200 of those aircraft, a highly maneuverable, capable, and deadly aircraft. You've also heard chatter from the engineer that this aircraft is capable of engaging the enemy 'beyond visual range.' Whatever that means.


Then came the 2nd Aircraft that caught your eye, the Shin Meiwa/Kyushu F-3. An interesting aircraft to say the least, with both small aircraft companies, Shin Meiwa and Kyushu Hikoki, teaming up and submitting a joint proposal for a dedicated Air Superiority aircraft, and the Ministry of Defense and Air Force loving the concept. It will be built in smaller batches compared to the F-2, but it will definitely be the tip of the spear when it comes to it's Air to Air performance, definitely a top-tier fighter jet that can rival whatever the Syndietern can throw at it.

Then came the Naval Fighter aircraft, with the interceptor design shown right next to the F-3. The Nakajima F-29 is an interesting design, small, lightweight, highly maneuverable, but definitely designed for long-range naval interception above anything else. You can tell this fighter is designed a bit more ruggedly compared to the Air Force ones you've seen, the wings are thicker, the engines are much more sturdy looking, and the aircraft overall is built to withstand the pressures of Naval Aviation, especially considering carrier landings and how intense they can be (You've landed on a cargo aircraft on the Izumi before, and that was NOT something you want to experience ever again).

And finally, the Mitsubishi F-27. The last aircraft of the bunch, and by far the largest, a bit unusual considering this was made for naval operations, but the pilots of this aircraft will defend to their dying days that this aircraft would be an amazing replacement for the F-1, and the Admiralty decided to listen to their Naval Aviators and adopt the F-27 into it's lineup. An aircraft, that, if word of mouth is to be believed, can do the jobs of 3 aircraft at once, and will be beloved by the Navy as soon as it enters service. And considering you don't know a lot about Naval Aircraft combat, you're willing to trust the word of the pilots on the matter.

The crowd looks at you in anticipation, the mic on the podium is hot, and you have rehearsed your speech a million times at this point, nothing too unusual of a day for you really. Just unveiling to Japan and to the rest of the world some of the most advanced fighter aircraft the planet has ever seen.

[ ] Speak to the public

 

[christopher_sni]

How many aircraft can we choose?

 

[Jakarta]

How many aircraft can we choose?

All 4 Aircraft has been approved for service. Just make a speech inaugurating their production.

 

[christopher_sni]

The Prime Minister's remarks at Hyakuri Air Base
​

Nisiura: Good Morning Everyone, I am glad to see all of you here today regarding this announcement. Behind me you see four aircraft, each of these aircraft represent years, if not decades, of engineering, design, testing and research in a wide array of fields and industries ranging from Aerospace to Chemistry to Electronics and Metallurgy. It also represents the labor of hundreds of thousands of people across the country and the Sphere.

When a recruit passes their entrance exam, they will receive specialized education such as general knowledge and aerodynamics as an aviation student for two years, and after graduation they will actually board a training aircraft and receive flight training. Once they have completed all of the flight training, they will receive the pilot's certification "Wing Mark" and become a pilot. Approximately 60% of the Naval and Air Force's pilots are aviation students, and the fighter planes protect Japan's skies day and night, the transport planes that fly around the world in international emergency relief operations, and the rescue planes that are considered the last line of defense. They fly on a wide range of aircraft types and are active on the front lines of security.
Some people may feel that pilots are from a slightly distant world. It is true that the environment that pilots experience is completely different from the environment that they have lived in up until now. That's why everyone is a beginner with no experience, and it's a profession where everyone can stand on the same starting line and take on the challenge. The important thing is whether you have a "strong will to become a pilot." I thank the Navy and Air Force for providing my office this information.

Now, If each individual pilot is required to undergo such training, from classroom to field experience, before they receive their Wings, would we not subject their equipment to the same strict standards? Each of these aircraft, from blue prints, to models to prototypes have undergone strict testing by experts and veterans in their fields. We do not simply want our pilots and their aircraft to be the best at their missions but to be pioneers and to exceed those standards. Those pilots and their aircraft will be representatives of our community.

Now many of you know my stances on the world situation and my advocation for peace. However I will not allow the defenseless to be bullied and neither would the citizens of the Sphere. Just as the Police Officer, the Firefighter or any profession hopes to not use some of their skills, they must always be trained and ready to spring into action. Their equipment must also be ready at a moment's notice. Now, I shall set aside and let the Representatives from the Aircraft companies and military answer your questions.

Refence:

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/recruit/saiyou/index.html

 

[Alka]

[X] Plan moonbase
Because joint weapons development is always a pain.

 

[Alias]

[X] Plan Moonbase MK2

 

[Jakarta]

Our Partners were NOT pleased with the changes we've made (You rolled a 6)

We tried our best, and we tried accommodating the needs of every partner country, but it seems the phrase 'too many cooks will ruin the pot' is ringing true right now. The tank that we have at the end is an Amalgamation of all the needs of three countries but can do none of the jobs all three armies desired to a satisfactory level. It's a good tank, no doubt, but the people at High Command is confident we would have a great tank if we go at it alone.

Still, at least we have some great shots of the Tank. The Koreans are ready to call it the K1, and the Indians are set on naming it the Arjun. It's a tank nobody desires, but it's a tank nobody hates at the end of the day. Production is set to begin in 1980.


Moonbase Plans are off to a smashing start! (You rolled a 16)

The name for the mission of bringing equipment and astronauts into the moon is going to be called Tsukuyomi, named after the Japanese deity of the moon, and Tsukuyomi 1 and 2 brought all equipment to the moon successfully, with minimal issues from the Astronauts that reported on the progress building the Moonbase, despite the fears of a meltdown from the mini nuclear reactor. It seems the reactor experienced no issues from launch, to travel, and eventually to landing and being set up to power the moonbase. Rotation of crew members into the Moonbase is set to begin in 1985 at the earliest, there's a TON of safety and security testing that needs to be done in the meantime.

New Plans

Renewable Energy funding is off to a great start (You rolled a 17)

Our Scientists are now confident that we could make good progress by the 1980s, with mass commercialization of Green Energy such as Solar Panels and Wind Turbines set to begin in the mid to late 90s, the funding the Diet has given to boost renewable funding has brought forth a litany of interest from both the private and public sectors, with major Zaibatsus and Keiretsus interested in diversifying their energy sources for their commercial operations. The threat of an Oil cutoff is a real possibility should a war between Japan and the West occur, and every single last drop of oil we have should be used as wisely as possible.

Nakajima program off to a set of stumbles, nearly crashes and burns (You rolled a 3)

It appears that the engineers at Nakajima underestimated the task they were being given, and the rollout of the plane was set to start in 1983, a couple of years behind schedule, at that point. The Ginga would most definitely be obsolete, and the US-1 MPA would have to do double duty of long-range patrol and also dropping torpedoes at the same time, a task the US-1A was not designed to do. Still, at least we would have a Supersonic MPA by the 80s, so there is that.

Farming Support law beset by lobbying efforts from Big Agriculture companies (You rolled an 8)

We had expected some resistance from the big agriculture companies, and especially resistance from JA (they don't so much represent farmers as they represent themselves), we didn't expect such widespread resistance from big businesses to the Farming Support Law, even some of our more Right Wing Taishuto members were in on the action, and in the end, the pressure from the big agricultural companies was too much and we have to make some concessions in order to pass the bill through, we are not sure how this will impact our performance in next year's elections, but we have to make an effort to minimize this setback in any way we can.

The JXRNET's Commercialization program has a promising start (You rolled a 12)

At least we have some other good news coming in from this new and emerging technological sector. The JXRNET has attracted the attention of big business and small businesses alike, the thought of 'setting a footprint in the digital frontier' is an appealing concept for any business big and small, and there are thoughts of using this JXRNET, quickly becoming popularly known as the 'Inter-net' for purposes beyond research and commerce, we could connect people over vast distances much easier than any phone line or underwater telegraph, and the public is slowly but surely gaining interest in this new area of potential creative expression, commercial opportunity, and political activism over this new network of networks.

 

[Jakarta]

It seems that the quick rollout of our fighter jets has ruffled some feathers within the Western Socialists, and we are seeing an increased amount of activity from the Western Socialist countries, with notably Britain and France quickly putting feelers to their major aircraft design companies to draft a plan to counter our aircraft. They knew that they are on the backfoot, and are scrambling to develop a counter once they realized just how outclassed they will be in the potential airwar to come.

It took a truly herculean effort from our PSIA agents to obtain these documents, with some notable close calls with our contacts and our agents, but we have discovered that in the coming years, the major aerospace companies in Britain and France will come and form a new company altogether, such projects have been done before so this isn't particularly surprising, the recent production of the Panavia Tornado (Introduced in 1973 and is entering production this year) is a clear example of this. But it seems that both France and Britain are quickly realizing that when it comes to projects like these. Cooperating seems much more beneficial than going at it alone. The fact that it also aligns with the broader European mission of integrating the various European countries into one via the ESU is also a good parallel objective.

We don't know for sure, but it seems they are set on naming this new company Eurofighter, and early drafts obtained by our agents suggests that they are developing an Air Superiority and a Naval Fighter at once.

The Air Superiority Design will be called the Eurofighter Typhoon.

A deadly aircraft capable of besting even our new fighters should the specifications are taken at face value. The fact that the Typhoon will be paired up with new Anti Air Missiles and sporting the latest electronics is also something to be highly considered. Our observers are also noticing a keen resemblance of the Typhoon to the F-2 that we just announced, did the Europeans have a mole within our aerospace companies as well? Perhaps something that we must further investigate.

And the Naval Aircraft will be called the Eurofighter Rafale.

A much more compact aircraft designed for Aircraft Carrier operations, set to replace the current fleet of Mirages and Viggens currently in service in Western Carriers, the fact that this is also a Delta Wing design is also something that we must take into consideration, it also doesn't take a genius to deduce that the weaponry outfitted for the Eurofighter Typhoon will be also outfitted in the Rafale as well. A logical step considering the amount of resources the Western Powers will need to develop these Aircraft into reality.

Our intelligence and military communities are confident that these aircraft will not enter service until the mid-1980s at the earliest, with intermediate designs such as the Typhoon and the upcoming new Mirage series of Aircraft serving as a stopgap, but it should serve as a bit of a wakeup call for all of us, we need to start planning a countermeasure for this once the 1980s roll around. And better plan now considering we have this intelligence rather than plan later.

We will export our fighter models to other countries, that much is pretty obvious, it will keep the factories running at adequate capacity once the domestic order dries up, East Russia, China, India, Central Asia, Australia, and New Zealand are already lining up to be customers for all 4 aircraft types. But beyond that, our planners are thinking that we must develop a truly next generation of Aircraft that will enter production sometime in the late 80s and early 90s, and we do have some ideas.

The first idea is stealth technology, a totally experimental and quite hard-to-believe technology, stealth technology will allow our fighter force to be nigh undetectable towards enemy radars, thus allowing them to have the advantage of surprise once they enter enemy airspace and allowing them more latitude when they shoot down unsuspecting enemy aircraft. Nakajima and Kyushu are currently building dedicated R&D facilities designed specifically to create such aircraft in the future.

While the other is a much more cost-effective solution, but not the one the military recommends, continue developing our current line of aircraft and missiles to overmatch the enemy once blows come to blows. While we are confident in our Airmen's ability to engage and win, we do need to start thinking out of the box when it comes to this. One enemy's bold move in research and development could mean our defeat on the battlefield.

So what areas of research do you think we should put our effort towards in the future? Understand that this is a long-term decision with a lot of potential repercussions in the future.

[ ] Write In

Spoiler

There is also one more thing I will unveil when it comes to this stuff, just get ready for some more planes.

 

[christopher_sni]

I am thinking of improving electronic warfare and avionics along with fly by wire and thrust vectoring. We can update the avionics and electronic warfare on older models and look into developing a next generation multi-role fighter.

 

[Eliar]

Stealth along with improved everything.

It will be pricey but maintaining our tech lead it paramount.

We should be getting our F35/22 equivalent online by the time they bring their own Eurofighters online

 

[christopher_sni]

Stealth along with improved everything.

It will be pricey but maintaining our tech lead it paramount.

We should be getting our F35/22 equivalent online by the time they bring their own Eurofighters online

These may be the first line and used on rare occasions. If these planes show up in a conflict it has gotten SERIOUS.

 

[christopher_sni]

So what areas of research do you think we should put our effort towards in the future? Understand that this is a long-term decision with a lot of potential repercussions in the future.

[ ] Write In

Spoiler

There is also one more thing I will unveil when it comes to this stuff, just get ready for some more planes.

[X] Plan Fourth Generation (4代目)
We should develop the following technologies. For our older and currently serving aircraft we should look into Improved Avionics, Engines and Electronic Warfare and Counter Warfare as a way to upgrade and modernize our aircraft. We should include a way that in the future all aircraft can be updated with new electronics and engines quickly and easily on a regular basis. As for the next generation we must look into improved electronic warfare and counter warfare, improved avionics, fly by wire, thrust vectoring. super cruise and stealth. This will be expensive and will involve technologies and materials just now being researched. It will also a test bed for future developments and tactics.

 

[Jakarta]

And perhaps, the strangest revelation of all awaits you in front of the Airbase located near Komatsu, it is most definitely a secret meeting that the higher-ups from the Air Force requested from you, and while you are interested in the secret things, the sense of gravity associated with the letter from the Air Force higher-ups have definitely get you a bit worried. Will it be something dangerous? Like, civilization-ending dangerous? Like those nuclear weapons your country has in store around Hokkaido and Karafuto? A part of you is a bit uncomfortable at the thought, but nonetheless, the car rolled into the Airbase located on such a small town, a small town that is perfect for testing these kinds of aircraft in the dead of night.

The RJAF officials welcomed you as they bowed and proceeded to guide you throughout the facility, highlighting the collaboration between Nakajima, the manufacturer responsible for making this new aircraft, and the RJAF itself. The official has been telling you how this new aircraft is about to begin live flight testing in the middle of the night, and how this new aircraft will definitely be the end all and be all of interceptor planes when it comes to handling rogue aircraft coming in from North America, or the North Pole, the one thing that keeps repeating in your mind is the RJAF rep calling the Airplane having 'Large Engines'.

How large would those engines be?

You approached the hangar, with the RJAF rep opening a side door, and of course Ministerial Guards walked in to secure the site first, before allowing you to enter, but once you enter the hangar, you are welcomed by an Aircraft the likes of which you have never seen before.


It sports the traditional colours of a test jet, but the design of everything else is truly groundbreaking, and indeed. Those engines are massively oversized for the Aircraft, the RJAF rep didn't lie when he told you this Aircraft is designed for speed first.

Soon after, a bunch of Air Force higher-ups entered the hangar and bowed to you, telling you that this is the next generation of interceptor Aircraft the Air Force has planned, and some 150 of them is set to enter production come the early 1980s, the only thing they need from you is what do you want this Aircraft to be in addition of being an interceptor? The thought of turning this Aircraft into a sort of 'super fighter' is on the table, especially with the quality of avionics and electronics in force.

Perhaps we should even cancel the project altogether? That thought crossed your mind, such an aircraft in mass production could trigger an even bigger chain of events, perhaps leading to something catastrophic down the line?

Regardless a decision has to be made, should this project continue? And what should the aircraft be once it has entered production?

[ ] Write In

Spoiler: Tread Carefully

 

[christopher_sni]

What year is it in the name of the Emperor or era?

 

[Jakarta]

What year is it in the name of the Emperor or era?

The year currently is Showa 50

 

[christopher_sni]

Perhaps we should even cancel the project altogether? That thought crossed your mind, such an aircraft in mass production could trigger an even bigger chain of events, perhaps leading to something catastrophic down the line?

Regardless a decision has to be made, should this project continue? And what should the aircraft be once it has entered production?

[X] Keep this fighter project as a high altitude fast interceptor.

 

[Eliar]

[X] Keep this fighter project as a high altitude fast interceptor.

 

[Ryser]

[X] Keep this fighter project as a high altitude fast interceptor.

 

[christopher_sni]

Do we have a name for the Interceptor? I suggest the Arrow (矢).

 

[Jakarta]

January

• After years of heated debate, Siam formally legalized the dissolution of Lese Majeste as a concept; now, everyone in Siam is free to criticize or talk about the King as he/ she pleases.
• A bomb explosion in Samastipur, Bihar, India, injured the incumbent Minister of Railways
• Tasman Bridge Disaster, the Tasman Bridge in Hobart, Australia, was hit by the Japanese freighter Keiko Maru, killing some 12 people.
• The first Space Flight from Baikonur Cosmodrome sent a Chinese and East Russian astronaut into space, the other nations in the CPS to do so other than Japan. A Central Asian Astronaut is set to go to space by the end of next year.

February

• Work for the Channel Tunnel, connecting Britain and France, begins.
• The Sumitomo Crisis, a group of left-wing terrorists took over the Sumitomo Corporation HQ in Chiyoda, Tokyo. An off-duty cop was visiting his wife there and foiled the terrorist's plans of escape, leading to the capture of their leader and everyone who participated in the plot.
• The Haicheng Earthquake became the first successfully predicted earthquake in history, only 100 people died in the region after authorities issued an early evacuation.

March

• A hearing in the Canadian Congress is being televised for the first time.
• International Women's Day is proclaimed at the United Nations for the first time.
• An extension to the San'yo Shinkansen between Okayama and Hakata station opens, thus connecting the Shinkansen to Kyushu for the first time.
• A fire in the maternity wing in Paris, France, kills some 36 babies, making national news.

April

• The first basketball league in Asia was formed, the Philippine National Basketball Association plays its first game in Araneta Coliseum
• Extensive renovations were done to the Malacanang Palace in the Philippines after the collaboration between Japanese and Filipino intelligence agencies foiled a terrorist attack targeting the Palace.
• The TV Series Himitsu Sentai Gorenger airs on TV Asahi for the first time. it would last some 84 seasons and popularized the Super Sentai genre throughout Japan.

May

• Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest.
• A race in the Japanese Super GT Series became famous after a Toyota driver, having his car broken down, ran towards the finish line, the picture taken of him would be famous throughout the Japanese racing world.

June

• The F-3, F-2, F-29, and F-27 series of Fighter Jets were unveiled to the world in a simultaneous announcement. This sudden announcement of the first-ever 4th generation fighter jets shocked the Western world and put Western airforces into overdrive.
• Construction of the Kourou Space Station by a joint French-British consortium in the Guyanese Jungle marks the first time the two countries cooperated in the Space Race.
• For the first time in history, the Order of the Rising Sun was awarded to a non-Japanese national, in recognition for 'Meritorious Service', the order was awarded to an Filipino who helped Japanese troops corner Australian soldiers in the New Guinea campaign.

July

• Insulindian elections. A battle between the PSI-supported Sutan Sjahrir and the nationalist PNI led by Hoegeng Iman Santoso resulted in Hoegeng's victory, his tenure as National Police Chief was enough to win voters over compared to Sjahrir's fiery rhetoric.
• The Tsukuyomi 1 Moon Mission begins, with astronauts bringing in construction equipment to create the moonbase that will be the habitation quarters for Japanese astronauts.
• The Kingdom of Korea is set to start a referendum on whether it should keep or abolish its monarchy, the results will be closely followed throughout the CPS.
• The American Congress in Washington DC begins ratifying a series of laws that will make the American military simultaneously more opaque in their operations yet more accountable to the civilian government. Known as the 'Flim-Flam' laws, the reaction by the American public is largely one of incredulity.

August

• Drafting for a Tohoku and Kyushu Shinkansen begins, as well as increasing the average speed of Japanese Bullet Trains to ensure faster service throughout the system.
• American planners began drafting for a High-speed rail service from San Diego to Seattle, called the Pacific Speedliner. Construction is set to begin in the late 1980s.
• The Solomon Islands prefecture, one of many 'Pacific Island Prefectures' in Japan, has reached an economic standard roughly comparable to Okinawa, the first prefecture in southern Japan to reach such a status.

September

• Maori leader Whina Cooper leads a march of some 5000 Maori people in support of claims over their land.
• The French region of Corse (Corsica) is divided into Northern and Southern Corsica regions respectively.
• The Isle of Man TT racing series in 1976 ended abruptly when tragedy struck, as 5 motorcycles racing throughout the course collided into each other, killing 4 out of the 5 total drivers.
• The prototype of the Kawasaki AH-2 Helicopter begins its first test flights.

October

• A British Vulcan Bomber crashes and burns in RAF Doncaster. Killing every single member of the crew, the Republican Air Force would seriously review the safety features and measures of its bomber command and would begin tendering new contracts for a new British strategic bomber.
• The European Socialist Union would begin forming plans to merge the various currencies of its member states into one common 'credit'. Names range from the Euro to the EC, or European Credit, to the European Workers Permit, to even complete decommodification.

November

• The first real trials of the joint tank between Japan, Korea, and India are set to begin in the Thar Desert, India
• The Racial Discrimination Act of 1975 takes effect in Australia
• A vapour cloud explosion at a Petroleum Cracking Facility in Geleen, Batavian Commune, leaves 14 dead and 109 injured.
• The Commune of France begins a process of upgrading its ICBMs, in full compliance with the provisions of the San Francisco treaty. The new ICBMs would have a much longer range and be significantly more reliable, but plans for a MIRV warhead were scrapped once news of the treaty broke into French military command.

December

• A bomb explosion by American socialists killed some 11 people at Laguardia Airport, New York.
• In a speech to the nation, Insulindian President Hoegeng Iman Santoso vows that he would make the country become 'as rich as your wildest imaginations', but political commentators are confused as to how he would reach his stated goal.
• The Formosa Semiconductor Company, better known as FSC, was founded by a group of Japanese businessmen, appointing Yuji Kurokawa as its CEO. The company aims to become a 'leading manufacturer in semiconductors'. The company has already partnered with Tokyo Electron and Sony to facilitate the manufacturing of advanced chips.

 

[Jakarta]

The time has come for yet another General Election throughout the Japanese Empire, as voters from all across the island's north and south flock to the ballot boxes, we shall see if the Rikken Minseito, Shakai Taishuto, or perhaps some other wild contender will win the seats within the National Diet of Japan.

Monarch Points: 3

Crises that needed addressing

The General Election of 1976
It is that time of year again, a year to decide on which party will be the decider of Japanese policy for the next 4 years, and in the ballot box, we have a series of parties vying for the votes of the populace. We have the Shakai Taishuto, a Social Democratic party with a solid track record for the last 8 years, presiding over an era of unprecedented growth in the Japanese economy. Also, perhaps ensuring that the Japanese populace could never face economic calamity with the creation of the Strategic Savings Fund and Sovereign Wealth Fund, it is a party of reformers, thinkers, and most of all. These people cared for the common Japanese person.

On the other hand, we have the Market Liberal Rikken Minseito, a party advocating for big business interests primarily. Equally as powerful as the Shakai Taishuto, the Rikken Minseito has a plan for a complete transformation of the Japanese economy, with the expansion of infrastructure projects throughout the Japanese islands, as well as providing grants and subsidies to Zaibatsus to facilitate an increased era of economic growth. Overall a very sensible proposal for the time, and most economists agree that giving more opportunities for Japanese corporations to explore and innovate will certainly lead to better economic growth. Any Japanese individual with a slight conservative bent in them will find Rikken Minseito's proposal for a 'strong Japan' very appealing.

What party would you choose for the General Election of 1976? Only you can decide.

[ ] Write In

The Vancouver Protocol
The city of Vancouver has become the site where years' worth of scientific research and lobbying is about to bear fruit. This protocol would effectively put stringent regulations on over 100 ozone-damaging chemicals and also step down their usage within the global economic system. This is a protocol that is incredibly valuable, since UV radiation as a result of a weakening of the ozone layer could lead to an increase in cancers and a host of other medical problems, in essence? an unnecessary burden on our medical system should we let it go unnoticed. This is a protocol that we are a party to, since some of our scientists have corroborated the research shown in the scientific papers arguing for a worldwide protocol.

This should be something that we must sign, the medical and quality of life arguments is undebatable, and we could put whatever goodwill we have in the global community in jeopardy should we not sign this protocol.

[ ] Write in

Action Points
[X] Occupied with Port Klang and Tanjung Priok expansion (will be done in 1978)
[X] Occupied with MBT Project (Will be done in 1980)
[X] Occupied with Naval Bomber program (Will be done in 1982)
[X] Occupied with JXRNET commercialization (Will be done in 1978)
[X] Occupied with Renewable R&D Funding (Will be done in 1988)
[ ] Write In
[ ] Write in

Spoiler

The Pacific Free Trade Zone
With the formation of the European Socialist Union. Japanese economists are now advocating that Japan could not feasibly compete against a united Europe alone, with some political thinkers and strategists arguing that unification with some nations might be necessary in the future. Still, most intellectuals want to take some baby steps before jumping into such an ambitious program, and they are advocating for a Free Trade Zone between us, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Where tariffs would be reduced to 0, and with some provisions for the free movement of peoples among the three countries.

It is certainly an ambitious proposal, should we go for it?

GIDC Project: Pearl River Delta economic region
This is a unique project to say the least, considering that it is limited to only a certain region of China, but nonetheless it would be a great project in terms of lifting a significant amount of people from poverty. In short, this is a project mainly spearheaded by the Chinese government, aiming to create an economic region in Southern China, think Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou, by amending the tax laws in that region to be much more lax, and the permitting process much more faster. Already they are aiming for the village of Shenzhen to be a sort of manufacturing hub for the world's companies, and they are asking the GIDC for investments in Railways, Airports, and Highways that will criss-cross the region, bringing even more interconnectivity and increasing economic output in the region.

The dividends should this project succeed is massive, and we will have a grateful China as a bonus as well.

GIDC Project: The Caucasus Chains
With the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty, our caucasus members are proposing a series of road and rail networks that can criss-cross the caucasus mountains, perhaps bringing travel times down to a matter of hours in some areas. This project does have a military angle to it, allowing the rapid deployment of Middle Eastern CPS members into Russia, and Vice Versa should the big war happen. But it also serves a purpose of further linking the Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia into the wider CPS economic network, boosting their economies as a result.

Shall we do it?

The Fukuoka-Busan connector
This is not a GIDC Project, but it could very well would be in terms of scale and scope. A bridge spanning from Fukuoka into the sea, before dropping down into the ocean, ending up in a tunnel reaching Busan, a physical connector between Japan and Korea. And for that matter, Japan and Greater asia. The engineering for this project would be something else, but it is within the realm of possibility.

It would also connect the islands of Tsushima and Iki, which would bring increased economic development into both isles, with also the possibility of making a Rapid Train line from Fukuoka into Busan. A promising project, but who will fund it?

Reevaluate the Iron Triangle
A political concept popularized by the German Elite during the era of the Kaiserreich. It generally states that Big Business Conglomerates, the Bureaucracy, and the Government all have an overriding interest in reinforcing their power structures at the expense of everyone not inside of it. The practice of this concept was refined to a T during the glory days of the Kaiserreich, but was shattered when French tanks broke through the Siegfried line and outflanked the Germans in Alsace-Lorraine.

And we don't wanna end up like the Germans now do we?

This will be a gigantic effort, and will take years, if not decades, you're not even sure if you wanna go forward with this. But should you want it, passing a series of labour reforms, strengthening workers rights, create antitrust legislation (will be a first in Japan), and make Japan more Democratic is a surefire way to prevent the self-reinforcing power structures in the Triangle from going too far.

The Seikan Tunnel Project
This is a pretty straightforward infrastructure project, the Seikan tunnel will effectively connect the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido together, and will ensure a faster travel time from the capital of Tokyo to the northern cities of Hakodate and Sapporo. And while preliminary work has been done with local prefectural-level governments, the timeline for such a project will be completed effectively in the 2020s if left to their own devices, we will fund this project with Central Government money, and hopefully boost the timeline to the 1980s at the earliest. There are also plans to connect this tunnel with the planned Tohoku Shinkansen, effectively creating a Shinkansen line and a tunnel connecting Honshu and Hokkaido in one move.

GIDC Project: Trans Russia-China-Korea Pipeline
This is a GIDC project that is very special and backed by a LOT of commercial interests in Japan, Korea, China and East Russia. The project is straightforward enough, create a series of pipelines that will transfer gas and oil from the Ural oilfields into the ports of Northern China, Northern Korea, and the Russian Far East, and then it could be used for export into Japan proper, or used to power up the domestic economies of Korea, China, or East Russia. All three countries are all in for this project, since the economic benefits are incredibly massive, and the economies of China and Korea, in particular, need a lot of energy to grow and develop. The thing is, should we get our share of the pie as well? While we are busy in the process of diversifying our energy sources, this is not necessarily a project that we can just ignore, considering it involves all three of our closest neighbors.

Fusion Research Fund
A long-term project, and definitely more into science fiction by the short description of it. Creating and harnessing the power of the sun in our own backyard? It is definitely something that will be highly enticing for a lot of individuals throughout Japan, and the sheer energy output from such a power plant could essentially power the entirety of the home isles from just one power plant, but the barriers to creating a strong enough chain reaction is monumental, and we should essentially give up on seeing any foreseeable benefits since the real results will be probably down the line into the 2050s by some estimates. Still, the prospect of effectively limitless, clean, energy, is something that we should definitely consider.

 

[Eliar]

Placeholder for after the holidays.

Thse holidays were shit since I caught all the fking colds, flus, Covids in a fucking row.

 

[christopher_sni]

[X] Plan: A New Vision

Crises that needed addressing

What party would you choose for the General Election of 1976? Only you can decide.

[X] Rikken Minseito

The Vancouver Protocol
[X] We shall sign the Protocol

Action Points
[X] Occupied with Port Klang and Tanjung Priok expansion (will be done in 1978)
[X] Occupied with MBT Project (Will be done in 1980)
[X] Occupied with Naval Bomber program (Will be done in 1982)
[X] Occupied with JXRNET commercialization (Will be done in 1978)
[X] Occupied with Renewable R&D Funding (Will be done in 1988)
[X] The Pacific Free Trade Zone
[X] GIDC Project: Pearl River Delta economic region

 

[Jakarta]

Oh yeah, BTW, I think I need to say this, but you can vote for whatever party you want regardless of plans. Wanna make this election as competitive as possible.

 

[Eliar]

[X] Plan: A New Vision

Crises that needed addressing

What party would you choose for the General Election of 1976? Only you can decide.

[X] Rikken Minseito

The Vancouver Protocol
[X] We shall sign the Protocol

Action Points
[X] Occupied with Port Klang and Tanjung Priok expansion (will be done in 1978)
[X] Occupied with MBT Project (Will be done in 1980)
[X] Occupied with Naval Bomber program (Will be done in 1982)
[X] Occupied with JXRNET commercialization (Will be done in 1978)
[X] Occupied with Renewable R&D Funding (Will be done in 1988)
[X] The Pacific Free Trade Zone
[X] GIDC Project: Pearl River Delta economic region

Overall Shakai Taishuto has a pretty good track record but they have simply been to power too long.

Like the poet said, we should change diapers and politicians ofter and for the same reason.