I built an armada.

This was purely a case of the fox borrowing the tiger's power, but Zhang Zhaoxin preferred to call it a perfect inside-outside collaboration.

Moreover, the timing of this video's release is quite delicate.

Twenty-four hours before the start of the fourth round of negotiations, Long Xia revealed one of his trump cards.

Longxia was telling the Eagle Tribe, and all the countries with interests in the East China Sea: From today onwards, the rules of the game will be redefined by Longxia.

Meanwhile, Longxia's internet was engulfed in a sea of ​​revelry.

However, unlike the previous photo incident, the comments section was no longer just filled with praise like "awesome" and "powerful," but rather a large-scale discussion about the technology emerged.

Countless military bloggers and self-media personalities have watched Long Xia's videos repeatedly.

This scenario isn't limited to Longxia's internet; bloggers all over the world are racking their brains to analyze this video.

The range and power of the electromagnetic railgun, the power of the nuclear reactor, speculation on the type of carrier-based aircraft, and possible deployment locations...

Countless related speculations have become a topic of great interest to people from the general public to the internet.

The reason is simple: this is the world's first ship to apply electromagnetic railguns, a weapon that previously only existed in science fiction, to reality.

No one could have imagined that Longxia was actually the first tribe in the world to militarize this technology.

The emergence of a brand-new technology will attract worldwide attention, let alone the Longxia tribe, which has been portrayed as backward and ignorant by various media in Western countries.

Meanwhile, amidst all this commotion, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, when faced with questions from more than a dozen foreign media outlets, the official's response was extremely official.

"Does the formation of this fleet mean..."

"Isn't Long Xia worried that this will trigger a new arms race?"

"Does this mean that Long Xia is going to..."

……

"This formation is a conventional defense equipment built by our country to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect maritime rights..."

"Sea trials are a normal part of the ship's construction process. Longxia has always adhered to a defensive national defense policy and insisted on following the path of peaceful development. The growth and strengthening of the Longxia military is a growth of the world's peace forces..."

Standards, standards in every sense of the word—this answer contains absolutely no information.

But it is precisely this "lack of information" that makes the reporters who keep asking questions feel an unfathomable pressure.

Long Xia disdained to explain, to appease, or even to play the game of "strategic ambiguity."

They simply presented themselves, then fell silent.

As for what role this fleet will play after it is built, what effect it will have, which tribe it will be aimed at, and whether it will trigger a new round of arms race...

Long Xia had no desire to explain at all.

Presentation itself is the clearest language.

If you want to engage in an arms race with me, Long Xia's attitude has always been one of indifference.

You can compete however you want, develop however you want. Longxia won't pay any attention to your publicity; they'll just develop at their own pace.

No matter how many tricks you have, I will remain unmoved.

Moreover, it's hard to say whether the Eagle Tribe still has the capability to start a new arms race.

The Eagle Tribe had already laid off its skilled workers, and there was no possibility of them resuming work.

This is the consequence of deindustrialization, and it is irreversible.

The fourth round of negotiations was not affected by external factors and started on time as usual.

When Zhang Zhaoxin walked into the conference room, all eyes were on him.

He was wearing a blue suit today, without a tie, and the top button of his shirt was undone.

Harper, the representative of the Eagle Tribe, and Taro Kato, the representative of the Eastern Wilderness, were already seated.

Even though they had been waiting for half an hour, no one showed any dissatisfaction.

Zhang Zhaoxin wasn't late; they were the ones who arrived early.

This shows that things are very different now than they used to be.

If this had happened a few hundred years ago, the only people waiting here would probably be diplomats from Longxia.

“Representative Zhang,” Harper said without any pleasantries, her voice slightly hoarse, “before we begin formal negotiations, I need to confirm one thing.”

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Is your tribe's decision to publicly reveal this formation at this time intended to exert undue pressure on this round of negotiations?"

He leaned forward, trying to put psychological pressure on Zhang Zhaoxin.

Unfortunately, faced with overwhelming power, the psychological tactics employed in this diplomatic situation appear utterly ridiculous.

Zhang Zhaoxin ignored Harper and calmly sat down, gesturing for his assistant to pour tea.

Only when the celadon teacup was placed in front of him did he pick it up, blow on the floating leaves, take a sip, and slowly put it down.

“Director Harper,” Zhang Zhaoxin said calmly.

"All our sea trial arrangements are engineering plans that were formulated long ago."

"Its coincidence with the negotiation schedule is just a coincidence, however..."

Zhang Zhaoxin smiled slightly.

“In international politics, I believe that coincidences sometimes reflect the true situation better than plans. What do you think?”

Harper's lips twitched slightly, then quickly relaxed.

He wanted to laugh, but at that moment, Harper couldn't laugh at all.

"The true situation."

Harper repeated slowly.

“Representative Zhang, the truth is that your tribe’s military buildup is changing the regional balance at an alarming rate.”

"The capabilities represented by this fleet have caused deep concern among many countries. We believe that this fleet may even affect regional peace!"

Regardless of whether it actually has any impact, let's just slap a big label on it first.

"Do we have the right to believe that you intend to start a new arms race and drag the world to the brink of war again?"

Zhang Zhaoxin's gaze swept over each member of the Eagle Tribe delegation: "Director Harper, your country has eleven nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, hundreds of military bases around the world, and an annual defense budget of over eight hundred billion US dollars."

"If we're talking about who started the competition, who came after, who took the initiative, and who was responding... I think I don't need to elaborate, do I?"

"Moreover, we're on the brink of war..."

Zhang Zhaoxin scoffed.

"The war is over, isn't it?"

The conference room was so quiet that you could hear the air conditioning humming.

Harper's face turned ashen, his fingers clenched into fists under the table.

This statement is nothing short of an outright insult to Harper and the Eagle Tribe behind him.

In reality, Zhang Zhaoxin didn't have such thoughts; he simply stated the facts calmly. Sometimes, however, lies don't hurt, but the truth is the sharpest knife.

In this war instigated by the Eagle Tribe, the Eagle Tribe didn't even have time to play a role before Longxia swiftly and decisively cut through the chaos.

Throughout the war, the Eagle Tribe acted like an incompetent husband, playing absolutely no role.

“So the purpose of us sitting here today,” Harper forcefully steered the conversation back on track, “is to discuss how to establish a new balance, to prevent miscalculations and conflicts, rather than to compare whose cannons are bigger.”

"It doesn't make any sense."

Harper tried desperately to save face.

In reality, if Longxia had lost, these people wouldn't be sitting here so calmly negotiating with Zhang Zhaoxin.

Even though he scoffed at it, Zhang Zhaoxin still nodded.

"agree."

"So, shall we start with the issues we were at an impasse last time? Compensation, and the issue of military bases."

“Before that,” Harper said, his expression turning serious.

"We have a new proposal. Considering the recent changes in the situation and new developments in technology, we suggest expanding the scope of the negotiations."

"For example...the code of conduct for military operations in the East China Sea and surrounding waters."

Zhang Zhaoxin raised an eyebrow: "For example?"

"For example, the communication procedures when large ships encounter each other unexpectedly..."

"Finally, there is a notification mechanism before the deployment of key new weapon systems."

"This move is also to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to conflict. I think no one wants to experience the missile crisis of decades ago again."

"You could say that the whole world was on the verge of destruction that time, which was really unwise."

The fox's tail is exposed.

Zhang Zhaoxin sneered inwardly.

Don't be fooled by Harper's long, rambling speech; most of what came before was just the usual rhetoric of international naval practice.

Their real goal is the last one!
If their proposal is agreed to, it means that Longxia will need to inform the Eagle Tribe in advance if it deploys a similar fleet in the future.

If a fight were to break out, Long Xia would definitely not actually reveal his location to the other side; this suggestion was purely for show.

However, the meaning behind it is not simple.

If Longxia agrees to the other party's request, it would mean that he is showing weakness to the Eagle Tribe.

Do I need to report in advance to travel in the waters near my own home? Where did I hear that?!

When did the Eagle Tribe's aircraft carrier fleet notify Longxia when it sailed to the waters near Longxia?
What is the definition of a new type of weapon system?

Zhang Zhaoxin did not rush to refute, but instead continued to ask questions calmly.

"For example, shipborne electromagnetic railguns, directed energy weapons, and hypersonic missile platforms are systems that are capable of significantly altering the regional balance of power. We believe that these systems need to be communicated to us in advance."

Harper's expression remained unchanged, but Zhang Zhaoxin could see a hint of joy in his eyes.

"Advance notification helps us build mutual trust, avoid miscalculations, and prevent war from breaking out."

Zhang Zhaoxin nodded.

"Nice suggestion."

"but……"

He changed the subject.

"Therefore, I think this proposal should be expanded further."

"For example, after your carrier strike group leaves your homeland, are you required to notify us in advance?"

Zhang Zhaoxin grinned.

"Given your military strength, when your combat formations leave your homeland, it is difficult for us not to suspect whether you intend to launch an attack."

"These two are not comparable; they are completely different situations..."

"No, it's the same situation."

Zhang Zhaoxin interrupted him without hesitation.

"Security is mutual, and trust is reciprocal."

"If you demand that we be transparent in the East China Sea, are you also willing to be equally transparent in your military activities throughout the Western Pacific?"

"For example, the cruising routes of nuclear submarines, the flight plans of strategic bombers, and the cyberattacks launched by your side..."

Harper's face darkened.

While other intelligence might still be negotiable, the nuclear submarine was a thorn in the side of the Eagle Tribe.

In other words, information related to nuclear submarines is a taboo subject that no country would allow to be touched.

Because nuclear submarines are the core pillar of strategic nuclear deterrence and a key link in the nuclear triad!
The nuclear triad refers to land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, air-based strategic bombers, and sea-based submarine-launched missiles.

The first two need no further explanation. Whether it is a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile or an air-based strategic bomber, hostile countries have more or less some vague information about them.

Land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles can be intercepted, and air-based strategic bombers can be destroyed by air defense systems.

But nuclear submarines are different.

Because of their outstanding stealth and survivability, even if the enemy launches a preemptive nuclear strike and destroys land-based and air-based nuclear forces, strategic nuclear submarines hidden in the deep ocean can still launch a devastating counterattack!
This nuclear deterrence is absolutely irreversible.

Do not underestimate the deterrent power of nuclear submarines. Even a small country like the Korean Peninsula, if it possesses one or two nuclear submarines, can gain a local advantage in negotiations.

As for why it's during negotiations... believe me, you don't want to see the day when nuclear submarines actually come into play.

A nuclear submarine is like a knife. When I have a knife in my hand, whatever you want to do to me, you need to consider the possibility of being cut down by me.

This is precisely why information about nuclear submarines and their navigation routes in various countries is kept top secret.

Anyone attempting to gather information about nuclear submarines will be treated as a spy and immediately detained!
In addition, cyberattacks are something that cannot be discussed openly.

Although everyone knows that each tribe is conducting espionage activities in other countries, attacking their networks, and manipulating their cyberspace.

But this is something that can't be discussed openly.

If the negotiations really come to this point, will trade between the two sides still continue? Where does the so-called friendship lie then?

Especially when similar news spreads among the public, it's hard to guarantee that no unexpected incidents won't occur under the influence of public opinion.

Tribes like Longxia may not care about such things, but the politicians of the Eagle Tribe, who are controlled by votes, cannot help but be swayed by certain mindless groups.

Harper's expression changed; he had no intention of continuing the discussion.

Whether it's nuclear submarines or cyberattacks, once these things are laid bare, there's no way to stop them!
“Representative Zhang, you are blurring the focus.” Harper’s voice turned cold.

“You’re the one setting double standards.” Zhang Zhaoxin leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed, and clasped his hands together.

"Very well, since you show no sincerity, let's get back to concrete, actionable issues." (End of Chapter)