.The first meeting between Li Pingko and Shizuo Hasegawa was not a success or a failure.

After making a statement, both sides agreed with the importance of negotiating and resolving the dispute, and realized the value of peace. However, on some crucial issues, neither side made concessions. For example, Li Pingko proposed to set up a radio navigation station jointly managed by both parties on the Diaoyu Islands, and the maritime patrol ships of both sides jointly managed the surrounding waters, allowing Chinese fishing boats to operate freely nearby. However, Shizuhiro Hasegawa believed that both sides should shelve the dispute, maintain the status quo, and discuss these issues in formal sovereignty negotiations between territorial and territorial waters.

Obviously, there is a big gap in the positions of both sides.

What Li Pingko wanted was the actual benefit, that is, Japan had to make concessions, and it was a comprehensive concession, paving the way for China to gradually restore the administrative jurisdiction of the Diaoyu Islands. Hasegawa Shizuo wanted to delay time, making big things smaller, and making small things smaller, and only solving the current problems.

It is undeniable that after the high-level contact between the two sides, the situation showed signs of easing.

Li Pingko had agreed to hold his first formal meeting with Shizuhiro Hasegawa on the morning of the 20th, and re-establish the sovereignty and jurisdictional claims of China's disputed areas. Shizuhiro Hasegawa also agreed to ask the Prime Minister for instructions to propose negotiation conditions that are more in line with bilateral interests.

Given the circumstances at that time, even if the two sides could not reach an agreement on the disputed issue, the situation could still subside.

Neither China nor Japan want military conflicts to occur at this time.

However, another bilateral meeting came to an end to this possibility.

In front of Kobayashi Mitsui, Chandler seemed very calm and showed no dissatisfaction. Instead, he expressed his affirmation of the decision made by the Japanese authorities.

After leaving the Prime Minister's Office, Chandler immediately went to the airport and boarded a special plane to return home.

As soon as the plane left Japanese airspace, Chandler connected to a confidential line with the White House.

"General, what's going on?"

"It's just the worst one, just as I expected."

"Is that?" Macmillan was not surprised.

"The Japanese government has not made a war decision and still hopes to resolve the dispute through consultation."

"So, have you received the message?"

Chandler nodded, saying that he knew what the president meant. Before going to meet Kobayashi Koichi, he received a message from the Ministry of Defense that Japanese Foreign Minister Shizuhiro Hasegawa left Kuala Lumpur and flew to Beijing on a special plane to prepare for a meeting with Chinese leaders.

"Now, what are you going to do?"

"We have known for a long time that Kobayashi Kwangichi would not submit easily, and most cabinet members also have some concerns, so we have prepared for it."

"Yeah?"

Chandler paused for a moment and said, "The specific matters are arranged by Cia. If there is no other way, this is our only choice."

"You mean, I need my authorization?"

Chandler nodded, saying that's what it means.

Macmillan pondered for a while and said, "General, how likely do you think the Sino-Japanese dispute is to be settled on a negotiated basis?"

"It depends on whether both sides are willing to make substantial concessions."

Macmillan nodded and asked Chandler to continue speaking.

"From the current situation, China is more active. It is expected that in a few hours, the Chinese Navy's fleet will reach the waters of the Diaoyu Islands. Whether out of restraint or fear, Japan's military deployment is not active enough. Only the Second Fleet rushed to the Diaoyu Islands, the Third Fleet and the Fourth Fleet remained near the homeland, and the First Fleet also returned to Tokyo Bay. Under China's strong military pressure, Japan is likely to make concessions in some unrelated situations, such as fishing operations, ship passages, etc., in order to calm the situation and get time."

“Will this satisfy China?”

"Unless China really intends to fight Japan and pay for direct confrontation in the next few decades, this is the best choice now."

"According to your opinion, China will stop when it comes to meeting?"

"If I were the leader of China, I would move forward steadily, rather than using a war to create an enemy that cannot be defeated in a short period of time."

McMillan thought for a while and said, "In this case, it will be difficult for us to gain a foothold in the Western Pacific."

"This is a question that we must consider and must first consider," Chandler paused for a moment and said, "Although Kobayashi Koichi has not made much achievements in foreign policy and is not a shrewd diplomat, as a politician, he has shown enough talent. If China and Japan compromise on the Diaoyu Islands issue, what we need to worry most is that China and Japan take this opportunity to improve bilateral relations."

"To be precise, Japan is turning to China."

Chandler smiled, that's what he was going to say.

"It's just that from the moment, there is no basis for an alliance between China and Japan."

“This does not mean there will be no future.”

"At least for a long time, this possibility does not exist." Macmillan smiled and said, "General, China is not the United States. A country with a population of 1.4 billion will not only require massive resources, but also an extremely broad overseas market. If we are the ones, even if China dominates the global market, it will be difficult for all citizens to reach our living and consumption levels. In the long run, unless an industrial revolution occurs, China will sooner or later embark on the road of expansion, and will not allow any situation of competition in countries, or gradually defeat all competitors on the road ahead. First of all, what we encounter with China is definitely not us, but countries like Japan that rely heavily on import and export trade. The fundamental contradiction between China and Japan is not a territorial and territorial waters dispute, but at the economic level, that is, Japan cannot obtain enough development opportunities from the global economic system dominated by China."

"Even so, it will not have an impact on Japan's current policies."

"Yeah?"

"If Japan wants to survive in the cracks, it can only be good at everything, avoid offending either side, and even avoid direct confrontation with China." Chandler paused for a moment and said, "This is Japan's basic national policy, and it will not change for a long time in the future."

Macmillan nodded thoughtfully, as if he had been persuaded by Chandler.

"The only way to change this situation is to have a war."

"The problem is that our basic policy is not to directly intervene in the Sino-Japanese conflict."

"President, we have stepped in and ignited the fuse."

Macmillan was silent again, after all, his reasons were untenable.

"Time is very precious. If China and Japan reach an agreement on basic issues, it will be too late for us to do anything."

"How confident are you?"

"This is not a matter of grasping, but whether we should do it."

McMillan vented his breath and said, "General, you make sense. We should indeed make a difference, rather than watching China grow and grow."

"President, is this your authorization?"

"Yes, this is my official authorization."

Chandler nodded and said nothing more.

At this time, Li Pingko was reporting to Fu Xiubo the results of his first meeting with Shizuhiro Hasegawa.

"Although the Japanese Foreign Minister has not made a clear statement on several crucial issues, he is willing to come here and discuss these issues with me, indicating that Japan's position has been loosened." Li Pingko sighed and said, "No matter what, as long as it can be negotiated, it is easy to do."

"So, do you think it should be negotiated with Japan?"

"First of the People's Republic of China, I am not afraid of war. At the decision-making meeting, I always thought it was necessary to take military action. After all, many things cannot be resolved through negotiation. In my opinion, even if we want to talk, we should talk after the fight. Let's talk after we have the initiative."

Fu Xiubo smiled and said nothing.

"The problem is that the situation is very complicated now, and the United States has put a huge pressure on Japan. Kobayashi Koichi was able to withstand the pressure and send Shizuhiro Hasegawa to contact us, indicating that Japan is willing to make concessions on some key issues. If the goal can be achieved without bleeding, why should military action be taken?"

"Xiao Li, you have to understand one thing."

"What?"

"For thousands of years, there has never been no interest in national competition. In the past, now, and in the future. As long as there are countries, nations, and ideological differences, the struggle between countries will have gains and losses, and every strategic interest is exchanged for blood. Negotiation and negotiation are just slow-tracking strategies, or accumulating contradictions, and breaking out in full swing at some point, and eventually, blood will still be used to exchange for benefits. If we are not strong enough, we have to endure. Just forbearance will only cost us a greater price."

If Fu Xiubo said this four years ago, Li Pingko would be extremely shocked.

Now, he was not surprised at all.

The Second Korean War has proved that Fu Xiubo was an absolute hardliner country leader and would never make concessions on the major interests of the country.

In addition, Fu Xiubo is also a very proactive leader.

No matter what problems he encounters, the first thing he thinks of is not to avoid or compromise, but to face it with a positive attitude and find solutions.

On the issue of Japan, Fu Xiubo's position is also clear-cut.

Li Pingko did not try to convince Fu Xiubo, after all, he also advocated military action.

"But we cannot turn others out. Negotiations must be carried out. We must be proactive and make concessions on some major issues."

"First of the People..."

"This is just a formality, irrelevant." Fu Xiubo smiled and said, "This incident was directed by the American director. If we reconcile with Japan, the most urgent thing is not us, but the United States. The more sincere we act in the negotiations, the more worried the United States will be about us reconcile with Japan. Believe me, as long as you do it well at the negotiating table and don't have to come forward, the United States will try to worsen the situation."

Li Pingko's brows jumped a few times and said, "Borrow the hands of the United States to start a war?"

Fu Xiubo nodded and said nothing more.

Li Pingko didn't ask any more, because diplomatically, if China takes the initiative to provoke a war, it will definitely worsen the already less favorable international situation.
Chapter completed!