744: Express your own views

After hearing these words, the high-ranking officials had very solemn expressions.

Everyone had received intelligence in advance that this sudden outbreak of violent conflict was indeed closely related to them.

The main reason was that at last year's exhibition, forces in that region spent huge sums to purchase many new Equalizer devices, greatly enhancing their strength and emboldening them.

Upon delivery, these forces became complacent and began to openly challenge each other from afar, unlike their previous timid behavior, which angered the West and led to public accusations, further escalating the tension in the region.

If it were just this, there would be no need to pay attention.

However, not long ago, a ridiculous scene occurred.

Because the corruption issues within some forces in that region were too severe, just three months after the goods from the exhibition were officially delivered, a large quantity surprisingly flowed into the black market!

Most of it even fell into the hands of violent elements.

Faced with this situation, the various official forces in that region, realizing it belatedly, were directly dumbfounded.

Of course, they would not sit idly by.

They took swift action, especially by first eliminating all corrupt officials within their own country, and then, leading several neighboring allies, launched an active military strike against this violence.

All told, the violent conflict had been ongoing for a full week.

“Everyone!”

“Although international media previously praised us, due to this sudden outbreak of violent conflict, there have been many voices unfavorable to us in recent days!”

Commander Wu said with a solemn expression.

“Some military experts are even turning the tables!”

“They claim that the equipment that ended up in the black market was intentionally placed there by us!”

“The purpose is to provoke conflict and profit from it!”

Before Commander Wu could finish his sentence, the Air Force Commander directly laughed.

“Do they really think that?”

“Then it’s a deal, double happiness!”

Looking at Commander Wu, he was helpless.

“We are in a meeting!”

“Comrade, please be serious!”

The Air Force Commander laughed heartily and said nothing more.

Ever since he possessed countless Avenger Space Fighterss, which were practically science fiction, the Air Force Commander’s confidence had reached its peak.

If there were still conservatives now, he would definitely be the most conservative one!

“We must bear responsibility for this violent conflict!”

At this moment, the leader set the tone for the meeting.

“This discussion focuses on two aspects!”

“First!”

“Recall all overseas Chinese in that region!”

“With the assistance of local diplomatic missions, over two thousand of our citizens have already evacuated from the violent conflict zone!”

“However, according to intelligence, there are still over three hundred citizens and overseas Chinese trapped in the core area of the violent conflict!”

“Because the conflict situation escalated rapidly, all major road transport routes in that region have been cut off, preventing these People from being evacuated in time!”

“Ensuring these citizens are safe from life-threatening danger is our top priority!”

After the leader finished the first point, he paused and then continued.

“Second!”

“Appropriate intervention!”

“Regardless of whether this conflict is related to us, based on humanitarianism, we should take action.”

“Forces around the World are waiting to see our moves. In the past, we have no precedent of unilaterally intervening in other forces’ conflicts!”

“Usually, the United Nations participates in regional peacekeeping through peacekeeping forces!”

“Now we face the choice: whether to conduct peacekeeping intervention in this violent conflict?”

“If we are to intervene, to what extent should we intervene?”

After the leader finished speaking, the high-ranking officials immediately fell into discussion.

First, the evacuation of citizens is a must, and it must be done quickly.

Secondly, relying on others might not be dependable; not to mention whether some ill-intentioned forces would interfere, even if peacekeeping forces were dispatched, by the time various forces finished their prevarication and wrangling, the conflict would probably already be over.

A few minutes later, as the discussions gradually ceased, the leader summarized:

“Evacuate citizens!”

“Military intervention!”

“But international implications must be considered!”

His words made many high-ranking officials nod in agreement.

Just then, the Air Force Commander, who had not participated in the discussion, spoke up.

“International implications?”

“Whose implications?”

“Who else can have implications?”

As soon as the Air Force Commander spoke, the Northern Commander knew what he meant.

“The implications I speak of are not the implications of other forces on us!”

“Today, we are not influenced by any force or forces!”

“But you must know!”

“We have our own path of development!”

“Independence, peaceful development, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, and unswervingly pursuing a national defense policy of a defensive nature!”

“Moreover, it is our fundamental national policy and self-positioning!”

“If it weren’t for this conflict having some relevance to us!”

“I wouldn’t even suggest intervention!”

The Air Force Commander snorted in response.

“Times have changed!”

“Can’t everyone see whose new era this is?!”

“How many military bases have other forces built in that region, but what about it…?”

“Facing this conflict, what are they doing?”

“Sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight, watching the fire from across the river!”

“Since they can’t manage it, then we will!”

“This conflict started because of us, and the civilians in that region are suffering deeply; we must provide assistance!”

“Talking about this implication and that implication, in the face of absolute strength, it’s all nonsense!”

Upon hearing this, the Northern Commander’s eyes turned cold.

“You mean, you also want to build overseas bases like those forces?”

Faced with the questioning, the Air Force Commander got agitated.

“You really twist my words!”

“Fine!”

“Even if we build peacekeeping bases overseas, what’s wrong with that?”

The Air Force Commander’s words instantly ignited the entire venue, and the radicals and “conservatives” began to argue.

“Both of you, stop arguing. We definitely need to intervene, but only for our own compatriots!”

“As for what happens to others, we cannot interfere!!”

“Forcibly interfering in the internal affairs of others is inconsistent with our consistent principle!”

“If we help resolve this conflict now, what about later?”

“Then the security issues of other forces will all depend on us, wouldn’t that exhaust us to death?”

“Yes! We should just follow our own path!”

“If you ask me, just bring back our safe compatriots, and don’t bother with anything else!”

Facing the radical’s remarks, the “conservatives” also spoke out.

“When poor, be virtuous alone; when prosperous, benefit the World!”

“Today, we are no longer who we were years ago!”

“The conflict has only been going on for a few days, and there have already been many civilian casualties in that region, and the casualties are continuously expanding!”

“Ordinary People are facing deep suffering, and we, who have also endured hardships, empathize deeply!”

“When prosperous, the People suffer; when fallen, the People suffer!”

“With our military, it’s easy to quell a violent conflict, so why must we let the situation continue to escalate?”

“Right!”

“Defining our foreign policy as self-defense is too narrow!”

“We are a force where the People are the masters!”

“Our self-defense policy should be understood as fighting for all unarmed common People in the World!”

“Including the original Great Bear was like this!”

“Through this direct intervention, we can also show a new stance to the World, laying our People-oriented foundation in the World!”

As the debate deepened, the radicals and the “conservatives” who felt the radicals were too conservative argued more intensely.

Regarding the idea of intervention, both factions had no disagreement.

The main divergence was still on the extent of intervention and the means of intervention.

The radicals, led by Commander Wu of the Northern Military Region, believed that as long as the evacuation of citizens was completed and the safety of their own People was ensured, the mission was accomplished.

Adhering to the fundamental national policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, if one rashly and deeply intervened in the violent conflicts of other countries or regions, the scope of involvement would be too broad and the impact too profound.

First, it is highly likely to be a thankless task, and even easily exploited by some forces with ulterior motives!

The outbreak of violent conflict in that region usually has deeper historical reasons that cannot be explained in a few words.

Moreover, each side has its own valid arguments, and trying to mediate, how can it be that simple?

If forced intervention directly stops the violent conflict, the result is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause, and may even lead to deeper accumulated contradictions between the two sides, which could erupt more fiercely at some future point.

If it is just normal humanitarian intervention, that is even more troublesome!

You are being so kind, you like to meddle, right?

Alright then!

Anyway, with humanitarianism as a safety net, those People will fight even more recklessly!

The resulting negative consequences are even more far-reaching, and the risk of violent conflicts breaking out in some regions will sharply increase.

Secondly, there is the economic aspect.

To engage in humanitarian aid, one must spend money, and it’s not something that can be solved with a small amount.

For the current domestic situation, economic issues are easy to talk about.

The basis of economy is productivity; the essence of economics is actually studying how to allocate money and resources to where they should be allocated, thereby maximizing productivity and resource utilization.

However, as the social revolution triggered by infinite energy continues to evolve, social productivity will soon experience an unprecedented surge.

Talking about economics in this situation, what’s the difference from playing a hooligan?

However, the economic differences between the two factions are not here.

The radicals mainly believe that even if one is wealthy, one cannot just throw money around, right?!

You know, there are still many People who haven’t escaped poverty yet; if you take the nation’s money and go abroad to engage in humanitarianism, what about the People?

Can they agree?

Thirdly, it’s a thankless task.

As the saying goes, a grain of rice is kindness, a bushel of rice is enmity.

If one interferes too deeply in others’ grievances, not only might one not receive their praise, but one might also be scrutinized with a magnifying glass by those with ulterior motives.

Once some details are not handled properly, it will only produce greater negative effects, and may even be perceived as previous actions being merely “a show.”