Tuvalu's president, Modot, anxiously paced back and forth in the presidential residence. To rule this small country, a country of more than 10,000 people. For other large countries, the number of people this so-called president could manage might not even be as many as a community director.
But a country was a country after all. Tuvalu had complete diplomacy and sovereignty, and was qualified to build a modern army (although the country did not have the money to do so).
When the people pushed Modot to the presidency, a large part of the reason was his statement: I will do everything I can to save this country, save the people of this country!
But now it was his second term, and he had been the president for seven years. In fact, in 2012, he had already given up on saving this country.
Modot originally planned to rely on international banks to obtain a loan and then build a dam for the country, which could help the country resist the continuous rise of sea levels.
However, this was only a temporary solution. And how much would it cost to build such a dam? This was not something this small country could afford. The international banking organization rejected Modot's loan plan without even considering it.
But this stubborn president did not give up. Saving this group of people who were about to be drowned by the sea was his responsibility and obligation. Under his lobbying, the United Nations General Assembly passed a special proposal.
Allowing Tuvalu to reclaim land and expand its territory to resist the rise of sea levels. And Tuvalu was approved to expand the original 26 square kilometers of land to a maximum of 1,500 square kilometers.
It should be known that island countries expanding their territory was a very serious matter, and it was something that could affect international interests. Because according to international law. Every coastal country had a coastline of 13 kilometers and an exclusive economic sea of 200 kilometers.
If island countries arbitrarily expanded their territory, they would encroach on the area of the public economic sea, which was intolerable to other countries.
And Tuvalu's expansion also had conditions. The United Nations gave the following restrictions. First of all, Tuvalu's expansion could only be carried out on its own territory.
Second, after Tuvalu's territory expansion, the area of the exclusive economic sea would not change. It would still follow the size of the territory before the expansion, and the coastline would be calculated according to the new territory's size of 13 kilometers.
Finally, Tuvalu must reclaim land within the scope set by the United Nations, and it must not exceed the size and scope set by the United Nations.
Modot's campaigning in exchange for the special approval of the United Nations, and it seemed that he had won. But Modot felt bitter in his heart. Because the United Nations rejected his most important proposal, which was to ask for help from other countries.
Reclaiming land from the sea was not something a small country could accomplish. Take a look at Asia and you will understand. The Philippines and Vietnam have plans to reclaim their islands and reefs. However, the results of their efforts in the first half of the year could not compare to what China had achieved in three days.
There were only two countries in the world that had the ability to reclaim land on a large scale. One was the United States, and the other was China.
However, it was clear that the five permanent members of the United Nations would not support Tuvalu for free. And Tuvalu really couldn't come up with any attractive resources or capital to ask for help. China, on the other hand, sent 10,000 US dollars in aid. This was the only foreign aid Modot had received in recent years. However, this amount of money was not even enough to replace the parts of the country's electrical equipment.
The representative of the US government even said in private that a country like Tuvalu was not worth their time and that they were pressuring the representatives of the international banks. Because the US did not want to pay for Tuvalu's aid.
It was precisely because of this that Modot used provocative, even insulting, language to attack the US representative at the new round of the United Nations General Assembly.
However, apart from being asked to leave the stage, he did not receive any practical benefits. Oh, no, China's 10,000 US dollars in aid was given to him after this incident. Was this a reward for scolding the US at the United Nations? Modot's heart was filled with sorrow.
Right now, Modot was already at his wit's end. He had no money, no technology, nothing. He could not even see hope. This 60-year-old man was already exhausted. In order to maintain the operation of this weak country, he had exhausted all his efforts.
And when he was at his most desperate, even when he wanted to announce these things to the people and commit suicide to atone for his sins. Roberto, a super-rich man from South America, found him. "I am interested in Tuvalu. I can help you arrange for refugees. I have a lot of farms and plantations in South America, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia. "
Roberto said this on the phone, his tone a little arrogant. It was as if this was a gift to Modot. However, Roberto did have the conditions to be arrogant. Right now, Modot no longer had any bargaining chips. The entire country had less than 13 years left to live.
Right now, how to safely evacuate these people was his most important thing!
"Mr. Roberto's private plane hasn't arrived yet?" Modot anxiously looked through the presidential residence at the airport not far away. The so-called Presidential Residence was just a small villa that was built to look good. This villa was located not far from Tuvalu's airport. Because this was the highest place in the country, and also the safest place.
Just as Modot's secretary was about to answer Modot's question, they already heard the roar of a plane engine in the distance. It was not the old passenger plane, but a high-end private plane produced by Gulfstream.
The Tuvalu government had already made preparations. When Katie and her party got off the plane, a special greeter led them to the President's official residence.
As for sending a car or something, there was no such thing. This country was so small that there was not enough bicycles. Cars and the like were just a waste and decoration here. There were no gas stations in the country.
Modot was already waiting for Katie and the others outside the presidential residence. His suit today had been carefully taken care of, making him look especially energetic.
He saw the Brazilian tycoon Roberto from afar. When he approached, Modot could not wait to shake his hand. "Welcome, Mr. Roberto. If your company is willing to settle Tuvalu's citizens, please feel free to hire workers in your country! "
Hearing Modot say this, Roberto just smiled. He patted Modot on the shoulder and said to him, "Mr. President, I don't have the final say this time. You have to listen to this lady. Please discuss with her how to negotiate and what conditions to use. I'm just here to pay the bill. "
“？” Modot looked in the direction of Roberto's finger in disbelief. It was a young and beautiful girl. Modot swore that this girl was not even as old as his granddaughter.
Katie smiled and said to Modot, "Mr. President, let's go to the conference room first and talk."
It was not until Katie spoke that Modot suddenly realized that the people who came this time were too young. They almost looked like high school students, if not for the fact that Roberto was real. Modot almost suspected that he had met a group of liars.
But what was there to cheat in Tuvalu? Even if it was human trafficking, it would be better than staying on this small island and waiting for death. Modot laughed at himself.
In the meeting room of the President's Mansion, Katie's companions used their mutant abilities to check if there were any monitoring devices or other unsafe devices.
It was not until they confirmed that the entire room was safe that they nodded to Katie. Now, this seventeen-year-old girl had officially become the leader of this group of young mutants. Even the ace Remy was dragged here to hold the fort.
Modot watched the group of young people finish their work before saying, "About the Costa Group's recruitment in our country …" He still thought that Roberto was here to recruit workers.
Modo had already made a lot of records, such as helping the citizens fight for the necessary security conditions for their jobs, and so on. Although it must be hard work and low pay to work as a refugee, Modot, the old president, always wants to fight for a little more welfare.
Katie stretched out her hand to stop Modot. "Mr. President, we're not here to recruit workers. We're here to buy something from you! "
"Buy something? Buy what? " Modot originally picked up the folder to introduce the situation of Tuvalu's population, but he had to put it down. He wondered if these people were really liars.
Because Tuvalu now has nothing of value other than cheap labor. Other than the vast ocean outside, Modot did not know what else this country had to sell.
Did they want to buy some sardines? The old man's wild imagination ran wild.
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