May 30, 2020, 10:00

  Cabinet meeting room in the Blue House, Jongro-ku, Seoul.

  This cabinet meeting was held to discuss China’s trade war, which had started after the arrests of the illegal Chinese fishing ships, and to determine what countermeasures Korea would take.

  “Starting on the 26th, China banned all Korean celebrities from making appearances in China, and they’ve restricted imports of the main items we export to China, such as medicine, materials, chemical fibers, metal, and non-metal alloys. They’ve also imposed stricter restrictions and inspections on food imports, which account for 30% of our total exports. LED displays and semiconductors are expected to be China’s next target. Lastly, everyone must remember China’s restriction on Japan’s rare earth metals exports, which made the Japanese helpless during the Sengaku archipelago dispute. I believe China will do the same to our nation.”


  Minister of Economy and Finance Yoo Won-jin read the document he had prepared out loud and continued. “The most urgent matter at hand is the Korean corporations and small businesses in China. China’s anti-Korea protests are stepping over the line and getting worse by the day. Factory workers are organizing strikes and protests, and small business owners are taking financial losses from the rioting. Moreover, Chinese corporations are breaking contracts and trades, causing serious legal problems.”


  “Please go into more detail.”


  “I can tell you more about that, sir.” At the president’s order, NIS Secretary Na Bong-il showed him something on a tablet.

  “There are 52 corporations stationed in China, which currently operate 18 factories and 30 large shops, and 2,520 small business owners, who operate 3,190 places of business. Since yesterday, the 18 factories have shut down due to illegal strikes. One of the factory’s facilities was destroyed, and three of the large shops have closed. Additionally, the small businesses have been forced to close due to looting, and many have had their shop windows broken.”


  “What’s China’s government or police doing?” the president said angrily, frowning at China’s unusual actions.

  “They pretend that they’re cracking down on the riots, but it seems they’re the ones instigating them.”


  The president bit down on his lower lip and called the minister of foreign affairs. “Minister Kim!”


  “Yes, sir!”


  “File a strong formal complaint to the Chinese ambassador as soon as our meeting is over, and make sure they promise to protect our Chinese citizens. You have my permission to make a strong threat. Tell them if China doesn’t keep their promise, Korea will also sternly retaliate.

  “Understood. I expected as much, but I didn’t think they would use the trade war card this early. I predicted they would threaten us politically, but they might have a different motive than what I thought.” Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jae-hak spoke in response to China’s actions, which went against his own predictions.

  In response, NIS Secretary Na Bong-il got on the microphone and spoke.

  “The intention is obvious. The truth is that China already had this trade war in the works. China is merely using this fishing incident as an excuse to start an economic trade war they were already preparing to wage against our nation. They got their chance while waiting for an opportunity.”


  Curious, the president asked NIS Secretary Na Bong-il, “They prepared this in advance? What would be the reason?”


  NIS Secretary Na Bong-il explained the true reasons for the trade war, which the Department of Foreign Intelligence had analyzed. “According to the NIS Foreign Intelligence Department’s investigations, what China is most concerned about is its influence over North Korea. These days, South and North Korea’s peaceful relationship, and their large-scale economic aid projects, which are larger than ever before, have lessened China’s influence over North Korea. China was waiting for the chance to disrupt Korea’s economy in order to regain its influence.”


  “I see. As expected, there doesn’t seem to be any neighboring nations that support our cause,” Minister Kim Jae-hak lamented, sighing.

  The president must have wanted to steer the meeting back on course, because he dragged his seat closer to the table before saying, “Then let’s discuss strategies for dealing with China’s trade war.”


  “As we have reported before, we are planning to drastically lower prices on the goods we expect China to restrict imports on, and aim toward secondary markets overseas. Honestly, China is the largest purchasing power in the world, but if our corporations and nations put in a little effort, we can increase our exports to many countries, starting with India, which has a population as large as China’s. We can then export to other South East Asian nations, along with South America and Africa. We can’t expect our export amount to recover to 100%, but I believe this is our best choice.”


  “Yes. There’s no other way, is there? Please cooperate with the corporations and fix the prices, and Minister Youn, please take diplomatic measures against the nations mentioned by the minister of foreign Affairs.”


  “Yes, it will get done,” the two ministers answered at the same time.

  “Then let’s continue.”


  “The next topic is the import restrictions on LED displays and semiconductors,” Minister Youn Won-jin continued.

  “Actually, China’s attempt to retaliate by raising tariffs on LED displays and semiconductors is a foolish move that will critically hurt their economy.”


  “Why is that?”


  “68% of Chinese electronics corporations rely on Korea displays, while 85% rely on various Korean semiconductors. If China raises their tariffs, then all we have to do is make one of two choices: raise the prices of Korean products to account for the increase in tariffs, or ban all exports to China. China knows this. They will try to meet the demand for those products with their own manufacturing capabilities. If they do this, the finished products will not be able to meet the standards of consumers across the world. Their exports will drop, and they will only be able to sell their products to Chinese nationalists.”


  “But that’s not enough. We can’t ignore the size of China’s market,” Prime Minister Lee Young-ho said.

  “Yes, Prime Minister! We can’t ignore China’s domestic market. Until now, Chinese companies have been able to succeed due to China’s large population and market. However, at present, the Chinese people’s confidence in their products is at an all time low, and the standards of Chinese consumers are too high for them to buy products that are even poorer in quality than they are now. I’m sure the products will sell at first, but in the long run, the products in their warehouses will go to waste.”


  Minister of Science, ICT, and Future Planning Yoo Seung-woo spoke up to agree with Minister Youn Won-jin. “I think it’s an accurate assessment.”


  “In recent years, China’s middle class has broken free from China’s nationalism and no longer feel compelled to use domestic products over foreign ones. People who become rich quickly are typically selfish, and they tend to treat money lightly. Will the middle-class citizens buy their nation’s lower-quality products when there are better products out there? This was the case in the early 2000s, but not now.”


  “That’s quite persuasive, especially after hearing the full reasoning. If the trade war spreads to displays and semiconductors, then let’s ban all exports to China. Please notify the corporations in advance so they can prepare.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  “Then is the last item left rare earth minerals?”


  “I will give a briefing about those.”


  Minister of Unification Oh Seung-tae got on the microphone.

  “There is no need to worry about rare earth minerals. At our last South-North representative staff meeting, we agreed on a natural resources collection project that includes minerals, and the Korean Mineral Public Corporation has been mining North Korea’s rare earth metals and importing them once they’re processed. The amount now being imported is more than enough to meet the demands of our nation without needing to import them from China at all.”


  “That’s great. I was worried about the time China even got the petty Japanese to bend to their knees, but I guess we have no need to be worried. Good.”


  The president seemed to like the strategies and methods suggested at the meeting, because he hit the meeting table lightly with both his hands and then began speaking in a confident tone.

  “Good. Make sure all the solutions we came up with go through without any issues, and make sure to do your best in matters related to China. Ah, you know the Coastguard that arrested the illegal fishing ships?”


  “Yes, they are from the Taeguk 552 ship under the Incheon Coastguard. The captain is Superintendant Oh Kyung-joon,” Prime Minister Lee Young-ho answered.

  “Have every Taeguk 552 crew member promoted a rank, and have it publicly announced to the media.”


  “Sir? But the captain of the Taeguk 552 ignored headquarters’ orders and used a Vulcan against the Chinese fishing ships, leading to the involvement of the Chinese destroyers, so the crew is under suspension.”


  “Cancel their suspension, and do as I say.”


  “But……”‘


  “Prime Minister Lee, how many times must I tell you?”


  “I’m sorry, sir. I will do as you said.”


  The president, who cut off the prime minister, stood up from his seat and moved his gaze to Minister of National Defense Kang Hyun-soo, then spoke in a determined and serious tone. “Minister Kang, please have the Navy and the Coastguard firmly crackdown on illegal fishing by Chinese ships. If you lack the equipment or people, just say the word. No matter what happens, I will get it ready and make it a top priority. We cannot show a nation that fires missiles at a sentry ship any signs of weakness, do you understand?”


  “Yes, sir. The Navy will carry out your orders.”


  The two nations had begun to escalate the current situation from a diplomatic war to a trade war, ignoring the FTA they had made together. This confrontation between the two nations halted both nation’s economic growth, but China had its own reasons for this, and so did Korea: to show China that they were no longer a small, weak nation that could do nothing but cower under an economic trade war. There was another nation that stood to benefit from this trade war, and that was the neighboring nation of Japan. The Abe government was trying to use this trade war as an opportunity to grow its own economy and extend its influence over both nations.

  * * *

  June 12, 2020, 10:00

  th Flight Training Wing Airforce Base (command center), Muju-kun, Junbook.

  Standing at the podium was Brigadier General Kim Gi-tae, who was delivering a speech with a satisfied look on his face.

  “Great work, everyone. As the Korean air force’s elite, all eighty of you have passed, and I am very glad. It’s hard to believe that sly Captain Choi took first place, but I have no choice but to believe it because that’s what the record says. Congratulations, Captain Choi.”


  “Thank you, sir! I would be more grateful if you excluded the word sly, sir!”


  All the trainees seated in the briefing room all laughed as Choi Young-ho stood up and spoke loudly.

  “Once sly, always sly. Sorry, Captain Choi. Take a seat.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  Captain Choi scratched his head, and his cohort from the academy, Jeon Chang-bin, hit his side slightly with his fist and gave him a thumbs-up.

  “When the graduation ceremony is over this afternoon, have a good time during your fourteen days of leave. We will see again those who will serve the 99th Fighting Wing as instructors, but for the sixty of you who are going to the 3rd Flight Training Wing instead, remember to take pride in the fact that you are now the instructors for the world’s most powerful fighter jets, and teach responsibly. Once again, great work. Dismissed.”


  “A-ten hut! Salute!”


  “Loyalty!”


  “Loyalty”


  When Brigadier General Kim Gi-tae saluted back and exited the stage, the training officer, Colonel Ryu Jae-shin, came up to the podium.

  “Great work. I’m also happy the six months of training went smoothly. I will tell you about the schedule for today. Everyone rest up until lunchtime, because the graduation ceremony will be at 1:00 p.m. sharp. When the ceremony is over, the vehicles we prepared will take you to downtown Chungju. When leave is over, the people deployed to the 3rd Flight Training Wing must return there. Understood?”


  “Yes, sir.”


  “Everyone, use the time until lunch as you see fit. Captain Choi and Jeon, come meet me in my office.”


  “Yes sir!”


  * * *

  June 12, 2020, 10:30

  th Flight Training Wing Air Force Base (Training Officer’s office), Jeonbook, Muju-kun.

  On the sofa were Captain Choi Young-ho and Jeon Chang-bin, who sat across from Colonel Ryu Jae-shin.

  “Are you both sure you want to be sent to a fighter wing?”


  “Yes, sir,” Choi Young-ho and Jeon Chang-bin answered at the same time.

  “It would be easier being stationed at the flight training wings, you know?”


  “Wouldn’t it be cooler to fly the jets than be a pilot instructor, sir? Especially when they’re the world’s most powerful jets.”


  Choi Young-ho stiffened his upper body and spoke loudly. “Captain Jeon, do you have the same reasons?”


  “No. It’s my sense of duty and honor to protect the nation with my own hands rather than being cool, sir.”


  Choi Young-ho frowned slightly at his answer, then glared at him.

  “You’re both putting on a great show. Just return back to the 3rd Flight Training Wing after your leave, and you’ll both be ordered to transfer within a few days.”


  Captain Choi Young-ho raised his hand and spoke up. “I have a question, sir.”


  “What is it? Speak.”


  “You’re not going to send us to a KF-16 or FA-50 flight wing, are you, sir?”


  “My god, would I send you somewhere like that after you both worked so hard for six months? Don’t worry about it, and just wait. I think the 38th Flight Wing is the best candidate, since the Phoenix and Black Phoenix will be stationed there first.

  “Really? Thank you, sir.”