Reston chose to compromise.
Accurately speaking, it was the Capital that chose to compromise. As the negotiator, Reston called the Capital for the second time before he returned to the negotiation table.
"Celestial Trade must withdraw from MLL Island … We can discuss Moro's independence."
Hearing Reston's words, Tate immediately jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. His neck and face turned red as he cursed at Reston, spittle flying all over his face.
"This is a blatant conspiracy! You betrayed your ally. Don't you feel ashamed?! "
Reston looked at Jiang Chen indifferently and ignored the furious Tate. Eric on the side couldn't stand it anymore. He coughed and acted as the peacemaker to calm Tate's emotions.
"We can withdraw, but we will keep 100 Marine Corps soldiers in City K. We plan to build a rescue station here to fulfill our humanitarian obligation, "Jiang Chen said righteously.
This sentence almost made Eric choke. It was the first time he saw someone use humanitarianism as a cover to build a garrison.
"At most 50 people, and we can't deploy fighters," Reston said.
"100 people. City K is Moro's territory. This is an agreement between us and a third country. Do you have the right to interfere? "Jiang Chen said.
Reston looked at Santos.
Santos smiled, revealing his white teeth and the slyness that didn't match his muscles.
"We have no objections. We welcome Celestial Trade's support for the reconstruction of City K and investment in MLL Island."
"… Okay." Reston reluctantly nodded.
"Next is the negotiation of Moro's territory. Other than the undisputed main island of MLL Island, the Sulu Archipelago —"
"There's no room for discussion," Tate interrupted Jiang Chen.
But Jiang Chen didn't seem to notice him.
"The Sulu Archipelago is currently under the control of Moro's 11th Guerrilla Brigade."
"Actual control is one aspect, sovereignty —" UN observer Eric just opened his mouth but was interrupted by Santos.
"This is the sovereignty document." Santos put a stack of documents on the table.
"… Verifying the legitimacy of the sovereignty document takes time," Reston said in an undertone. "Don't you think that compared to sovereignty, we should pay more attention to the opinions of the people of the Sulu Archipelago? From our perspective, human rights are above sovereignty. "
"Is that so? Your standards always seem to change. For example, in Kane, the western states have more human rights than sovereignty, and the eastern states have more sovereignty than human rights. "
Preston's expression was a little awkward as he coughed lightly.
"We are now discussing the Sulu Islands."
"I propose a full name referendum. It's the fairest way," Jiang Chen said.
"No! Unless all the citizens of Country F vote together, Country F's territory should be decided by all the citizens! "Tate slammed the table and shouted.
What a joke, the unruly people of the Sulu Archipelago had long wanted to separate, how could they allow themselves to vote?
"Just like what Di Tate said. Just like a house, you can't tear down a person's bedroom just because he wants to split up, unless everyone in the house agrees with his choice. "This was the first time Reston agreed with Tate's opinion on the negotiation table.
The Sulu Archipelago was the gateway to the Sulu Sea from the Celebes Sea. In a strategic sense, as long as Moro controlled the area, Celestial Trade's warships could enter the hinterland of Country F at any time and even enter City M Bay. And in an economic sense, the Sulu Archipelago was located on the western island arc of the Pacific Ocean. The nearby waters contained a large amount of rare earth element manganese nodules and other minerals. If Moro controlled it, it would be the same as Celestial Trade controlling it. Therefore, Jiang Chen would not compromise on the ownership of the Sulu Archipelago.
The first day of negotiations collapsed because of the territory issue.
Both sides only took a step back and reached a ceasefire agreement. They then agreed to continue the peace negotiations the next day.
Territorial differences weren't that easy to resolve, especially when the Aquino government wasn't willing to give in no matter what. Jiang Chen's approach was very "insidious." While negotiating, he instructed Santos to open a "family visit" channel in Zamboanga on the western part of MLL Island for the 34,000 family members of the Country F government captives. The family members were allowed to enter the country and stay for a maximum of two days to visit their detained family members under the guidance of Moro soldiers.
Now, when they didn't see their family members, they could still maintain their rationality. But when they saw their sons, husbands, and boyfriends locked up in the prison camp, they couldn't hold back their tears and sadness. Although these prisoners of war did not receive inhuman treatment, they still more or less carried miserable battle injuries.
Facing the pleas to release the captives, Moro's response was firm and tough.
"We desire peace, but we will never compromise with the enemy. If you want your family to go home, then beg your Aquino. The choice has always been in his hands. As long as he is willing to sign the peace agreement, we can also put down our weapons and go home to reunite with our family! "
We are also victims! We also desire peace! The hat of a villain was naturally pinned on Aquino's head.
What happened next could be imagined even with one's toes.
The family members of the soldiers who returned to Country F held protest signs and shouted anti-war slogans. They blocked the Country F Presidential Palace and Aquino's mansion. The experience of the soldiers' families received responses from other anti-war people and citizens who lost their source of income because of the war. The wave of protests came one after another, and each wave was stronger than the last. Jiang Chen played the warm card and achieved extraordinary results in Country F, which was already overwhelmed economically.
Only a small number of nationalists shouted slogans of never compromise, fight to the end, and drag their country down with them. They firmly opposed Aquino's compromise on the territory issue. But these voices were louder than the rain. The people were always fickle. In times of peace, they may clamor for war because of their pride, but in times of war, most of them would change their minds with the decline of their quality of life.
Since the signing of the ceasefire agreement, Celestial Trade participated in the war for a total of seven days, but Country F's currency depreciated by nearly 20% and prices skyrocketed by 50%. The monkeys who clamored to crush Xin and turn Pannu Islands into a colony of Country F suddenly calmed down and began to reflect on their lives and values.
Due to domestic pressure, the Aquino government persisted for half a month before they finally returned to the negotiation table in humiliation.
Country F recognized the independence of Moro. The Sulu Islands, MLL Island, and part of the territorial waters belonged to Moro. Country F's five divisions withdrew from Surigao Province north of MLL Island.
In contrast, Celestial Trade's frigates and submarines withdrew from the Sulu Sea. Moro's two guerrilla divisions withdrew from Bulacas Island and Siakao Island north of MLL Island and returned control of the area to Country F. At the same time, both Moro and Country F unconditionally released their prisoners of war.
As a result, Moro finally completed its decades-long quest for independence and became the 195th sovereign country in the world. And after losing the second largest island after Luzon Island, Country F couldn't recover from the setback.
And Celestial Trade, which facilitated all of this, had become their "sovereign state" and the biggest winner in this war.
Because Celestial Trade intervened in the war on Saturday, and the war ended exactly a week ago, the war was also called the Saturday War by the international community.
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