139. The End of One Country, Two Systems
Deng Xiaoping’s Office.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Korean President and reported the results.
Deng Xiaoping’s reaction was as expected.
“Give up ‘One Country, Two Systems’?”
“Chairman, the UN only stipulates that member states are individual countries, but it doesn’t define the relationships between countries. When a country becomes a superpower, its borders can change as much as it wants.”
“If we become an independent UN member, even if we go to war, it will be considered an international war, not a civil war. Do you know how big this difference is?”
“Chairman, South Korea is expanding rapidly day by day. It is no exaggeration to say that Taiwan is under South Korea’s protection. If we continue to resist as we do now, China will inevitably become isolated. Time is not on our side, Chairman!”
“Hmm….”
Deng Xiaoping was taken aback by the minister’s blunt words.
Deng Xiaoping passed the issue of independent UN membership to the Standing Committee as an agenda item.
*
A heated debate took place in the Standing Committee, the highest advisory body.
“Abandoning ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is effectively abandoning Taiwan!”
“We must face reality. Taiwan is representing China [in international forums]. The harm of not joining the UN will only increase day by day. Taiwan’s economic development is remarkable, and we are still struggling to escape poverty. This is an era where the economy is national power. We must pursue practical benefits.”
The intense confrontation continued.
Unable to reach a conclusion, it was passed on to the National Committee.
There, too, arguments were fierce, so it was passed on to the Two Sessions [Lianghui], as an agenda item, where a decision would be made.
The fact that the agenda was not discarded but transferred to a higher decision-making body meant that the tide was turning.
*
The Two Sessions (兩會) refers to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which are political events held annually in March in China. The operating policies of the Chinese government are determined at the Two Sessions, which are China’s largest political events.
The CPPCC is China’s highest policy advisory body, consisting of a National Committee composed of approximately 2,000 representatives from all walks of life and a Standing Committee composed of power ranking members, including the Chairman.
The NPC consists of approximately 3,000 representatives elected from each province (省), autonomous region, directly administered municipality, special administrative region, and the People’s Liberation Army, as well as representatives from each ethnic minority, and is the highest organ of state power stipulated in the Constitution.
The Two Sessions also saw heated debate over nominal justification versus practical benefits.
And finally, a conclusion was reached at the National People’s Congress.
“Taiwan is still part of Chinese territory, but we will pursue independent UN membership to enhance the country’s status!”
In effect, they chose the practical benefit of abandoning ‘One Country, Two Systems’.
*
UN Security Council meeting.
The Soviet representative, as Chairman of the Security Council, said,
“Does any country object to China’s admission to the UN?”
He looked at the Korean representative.
The Korean representative smiled.
“I approve.”
There were no objections.
“Then I declare that it has been passed to the General Assembly agenda unanimously!”
Before the General Assembly vote, representatives from poor countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, including Bangladesh, visited the Korean representative.
“Do you support this agenda?”
“Korea is in favor.”
“I will take that into consideration.”
As Bangladesh recorded remarkable growth among developing countries due to Korean funds and industrial support, other poor countries were vying for Korean investment.
To get on the investment list, they struggled to avoid falling out of favor with Korea and to vote the same way.
The Chinese accession agenda submitted to the General Assembly was passed with over 90% approval.
It was a place to confirm South Korea’s influence in the UN.
*
Taiwan Presidential Office.
The President received a congratulatory call from the Korean President.
– Congratulations, President! ‘One Country, Two Systems’ has finally come to an end.
“Thank you, Your Excellency! We have finally shed our burdens with a light heart! Korea saved Taiwan. It’s all thanks to Korea!”
– It is the result of cooperation between the two countries.
“I will definitely repay this favor.”
– You have gained wings for independent diplomacy, but there may be maritime territorial disputes with China, so you will need to build up your military.
“We will strive to achieve independent national defense.”
*
South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building.
A South Korea-China diplomatic and trade meeting was held.
The Chinese representative said,
“The UN membership issue, which has been the cause of trade friction between China and South Korea, has been resolved. We hope that both countries will lift regulations and engage in normal trade.”
“Of course. Let’s eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers that have worked visibly and invisibly.”
“In fact, the regulations didn’t have any specific documents. All we had to do was send internal official documents to our administrative agencies. In addition, we hope to resolve the issue of South Korea re-exporting Taiwanese pork to China.”
“If the price is right, we can export enough to China.”
“Are you talking about the market price?”
The price was 50% higher than the previous year.
“The condition is to export at the current price for 9 months.”
“Well, it’s frozen meat and we’re buying it for 9 months, can’t you lower the price a bit?”
“Okay. Instead of lowering it by 10%, we will immediately export 3 months’ worth as frozen meat, and the rest will be exported as chilled carcasses in fixed quantities every month. This is the amount that Taiwan used to export.”
It was an attractive offer because if the three-month stockpile was released at once, it could quell China’s pork crisis.
“I will import under those conditions.”
The working-level officials of both countries documented the trade conditions.
*
The President spoke with President Jung on the phone.
“Isn’t a 40% profit in one year good?”
– Of course, Your Excellency! It’s not just a few pennies, it’s a multi-million dollar bet, so it’s a huge profit.
“As our pork hoarding is released, international pork prices are slipping. China will have to buy it at a higher price than the market price for 9 months, so it will be quite painful for them.”
– It was a great tactic, Your Excellency! China doesn’t even know they’ve been had, and they’re actually thanking us for helping them overcome the pork crisis.
“Hahaha, the most ideal deal is a business that makes each other think they’re winning. The hungry guy is destined to lose.”
– This year, we are expected to record the highest fund returns ever, Your Excellency.
“Put off calculating the rate of return. There’s still more left.”
– What is it….
“Soybeans, soybeans!”
– Ah, soybeans!
“Bet on a drop in soybean futures next month. Full bet.”
– If China imports a large number of piglets, the price will rise, so you’re betting on a drop?”
“We have to strike first.”
*
China.
The Director of the Ministry of Agriculture gathered about 200 leaders of large state-owned pig farming districts across the country and gave instructions.
“As we have experienced this time, we must learn a painful lesson about how much suffering we will endure if we rely on foreign powers for food. To establish pork sovereignty, we will foster large-scale pig farms and import piglets.”
Although it had fallen, international soybean prices were still high.
However, China had no choice but to import soybeans because it had to extract cooking oil.
*
United States.
A salesperson from President Jung’s grain company met with a Chinese buyer and presented trade conditions.
“I will supply it 15% cheaper than other merchants. Instead, you must take over the entire amount.”
The condition was to dispose of the spot goods stockpiled for three months at once.
Soybean prices had already soared by more than 30%, so even with a 15% discount, there was still a 15% profit.
The Chinese merchant agreed.
“That’s exactly what we want. If we ship in large quantities at once, the price will drop further.”
“Then it’s a done deal.”
The two shook hands.
*
LA Harbor.
Kieuk, kieuk~.
A flock of plump seagulls, which had long since given up hunting for fish, hovered around the grain ships.
A huge amount of stockpiled soybeans was loaded onto five large grain carriers from Dubu.
Bbuuung~.
The carriers, having completed loading, headed to Chinese ports across the Pacific Ocean.
Soybean futures prices plummeted.
The reason was that President Jung’s stockpiled goods were released, and the supply of exported soybeans was overflowing.
President Jung called the President from the United States.
“Your Excellency, we made 15% on soybean spot and 15% on futures, for a total of 30%!”
– Hahaha, well done. Now you can do a provisional settlement of the rate of return.
“Roughly speaking, it seems that we will make more than 50% profit on total capital this year.”
– You’re really going to record the highest rate of return this year.
Meanwhile, China had to eat pork, soybeans, and cooking oil that were more expensive than the market price for a year.
All that money went into Korean funds.
The President was planning to use the proceeds for a program to transform poor countries.
* * *
The President’s office rooftop.
The President, wearing a straw hat and rolling up his sleeves, cut branches with pruning shears.
A gardener in work clothes stopped him.
“Your Excellency, leave it to me. I’ll do it. You’ll get hurt.”
“I won’t take away your job, so let’s do it together. Please teach me some landscaping.”
“Aren’t you annoyed?”
“Annoyed? Not at all. My pleasure is to drink tea here in the garden every day and admire the flowers and ponds. The flowers like it better when you touch them rather than just staring at them.”
“That’s true. Flowers recognize the person who takes care of them. Then would you like to learn it as a hobby?”
“Hahaha, I’ll be your assistant. Please take care of me, gardener! What should we do first?”
“Your Excellency, these are the new flowers we will plant today. You must know their names first. Try to guess.”
“Hmm, the fragrance of the flowers is so strong that it wakes me up. I’ve seen this purple, gorgeous flower somewhere….”
“The name is interesting, Your Excellency. It’s called Miss Kim Lilac.”
“Miss Kim? Hey, don’t tease me, and teach me properly if you’re going to teach me. What kind of lilac is it?”
“Hahaha, it’s true, Your Excellency. It’s the official name given in the United States.”
“Those Yankees are really mean. Why did they name the lilac Miss Kim? Were they fascinated by Korean beauties?”
“Your Excellency, the original habitat is Korea.”
“It’s not American made?”
“In 1947, an American plant collector collected seeds of wild hairy lilac (Susukkotdari) from Bukhansan Mountain and took them to the United States to improve them as horticultural varieties. They named it after a female employee in the same office when they were working in Korea.”
“Ah, so Miss Kim!”
“The tree shape is compact, resistant to pests and diseases, and has a strong fragrance, so it is explosively popular for landscaping, accounting for 30% of the American lilac market, and is currently the most popular lilac variety in the world.”
“It seems that Miss Kim Lilac promoted national prestige before Korea did.”
“That’s true, but the problem is that we have to pay expensive royalties to the United States and re-import it.”
“What? You took it from our land and sell it for money?”
“That’s right. It’s not just this flower. Do you see that Korean fir over there?”
“Yes, a conifer that looks like a small pine tree.”
“It is the best-selling Christmas tree in the United States. An American botanist discovered it as a new species on Jeju Island in 1920 and took it away.”
“There are tons of conifers in Alaska in the United States, so why do they take Korean ones?”
“American conifers are huge and have dense branches, making it difficult to attach decorations. They had to use seedlings or cut off the top of the tree. It becomes disposable waste, not a garden tree. However, the Jeju Korean fir has a compact shape and sparse branches, making it easy to attach decorations, and the pine cones are large and unique, making it perfect as a Christmas tree. It is a very expensive variety sold as a garden tree in the United States and Europe.”
“Ah!”
“In addition, Hongdo Hosta and Forsythia saxatilis are all native species, but it is a pity that we have to pay money to buy them from foreign countries. Oil and coal are not the only resources, seeds are also resources, Your Excellency.”
At those words, the President was struck by a flash of insight.
He felt ashamed of himself for only enjoying watching the flowers without knowing such meaning.