Message no. 1

From:	flakjacket@***********.com (FlakJacket)
Subject:	Update - Re: China in 2060??? [Long]
Date:	Tue, 6 Jan 2004 20:19:49 -0000

Well I seem to be having great luck with e-mail today. Tried this before and
the thing crashed, so if two versions turn up my apologies. These are just a
couple extra bits that I forgot to add before sending the original e-mail
off.

Pakistan

They're a nuclear and power and it's un-stated what their relationship with
India is concerning Kashmir. They don't seem to be screaming fundamentalists
since YotC has them being 'worried' about Ibn Eisa's New Islamic Jihad.
Pretty much like today with it swinging between the military and politicians
for power.

Guangxi

Smuggling-wise, has a similar relationship with Macao that Hong Kong does
with the Canton Confederation. Border clashes with the CC after shortly
after independence although they're still around so they seem to have held
their own well enough. Since it's a major smuggling pipeline I figure it's
also useful for the CC since they get somewhere they can do their shady
business in a relaxed setting, right next door but not their own territory.
The southern provinces have always had an independent streak when dealing
with the north and been a lot more entrepreneurial in comparison, so like
the CCI figure the place is more about making money than being squeaky
clean.

Shandong

Is where the mountain T'ai Shan that Lung lairs atop. As he's publicly moved
into the area I could see the local government becoming more and more under
his control, either openly or behind the scenes. Since he also controls one
of the largest groups of Triads in China, he's also got his talons into a
lot of other pies and governments as well. Place is fairly well
industrialised and with a corporate presence so that'd give him a good
central base.

Shanghai

Shanghai is currently the largest and richest city in China. Along with
Beijing, Chongqing and Tianjin, it's one of four cities that aren't part of
any of the provinces but separate administrative areas classed as
municipalities. Sited on the mouth of the Pearl river, its always been a
major trading centre and gateway to northern China, much like Hong Kong and
Macao were to the south.

Situated right between and bordered by both the Jiangsu and Zhejiang
provinces, when China came apart I could see both wanting the place and
fighting breaking out between the two for it. Since it's just a province,
Shanghai doesn't have much in the way of local military to defend itself so
to begin with they'd get trampled on.

Either they'd get absorbed by one of the two neighbouring provinces or they
could pull a reversal and take them over themselves. Like Hong Kong, it has
the possibility of becoming a corp. town. Maybe they hire in some
mercenaries and keep their independence. Or use their corporate/financial
links to take over the other two provinces.

Gamewise, I'd probably place it as an independent commercial city-state like
Hong Kong only less secure. Jiangsu and Zhejiang are constantly circling,
trying to get influence in the place and deny it to the other. Would make
for a more interesting game setting IMO.