.June 2, Sunday is definitely the darkest day in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces, and even the darkest day in modern Japanese history.

On this day, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, which once claimed to be able to destroy the Chinese Navy within 24 hours, lost four guard groups and forty-two large warships. If the battle in the early morning of May 29th was included, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force lost a total of forty-six ships.

After the first guard group was wiped out, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force lost all its assets.

Although there are two "Osumi"-class amphibious landing ships, more than 20 frigates and more than ten submarines, there are no large warships, especially air defense destroyers that act as the core of the fleet. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force has no ability to enter the East China Sea, let alone seize the power of sea control.

On the morning of June 3, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense took the lead in releasing the latest battle report.

Because Teng Yaohui submitted a detailed combat report, especially the combat report of the "Sea Dragon", in the released news, the Ministry of Defense claimed that the Chinese naval submarine ambushed the Japanese fleet entering the East China Sea and the battle was carried out in the high seas.

Fortunately, the Japanese authorities did not bother with this issue.

According to the post-war on-site survey, the battle report of the "Hailong" was correct. The three destroyers were indeed hit by torpedoes outside the territorial waters and drifted into the Japanese territorial waters with the ocean currents. The most important evidence is that in the thunder sea area of ​​the Japanese destroyer provided by the "Hailong", several steel plates on Japanese destroyers were found. The warships can drift with the ocean currents, but the steel plates sinking to the bottom of the sea will never move.

In fact, the key is not the location where the destroyer was hit by torpedoes, but whether the "Sea Dragon" has entered the Japanese territorial waters.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense has not announced the details of the operation of the "Sea Dragon" submarine in this battle. According to the post-war simulation of the combat process, it is very likely that the "Sea Dragon" entered the Japanese territorial waters when it maneuvered before ambushing the first guard group.

Of course, these are all topics of post-war debate.

After the first guard group was finished, Japan lost the capital to win the war, so whether the United States provides comprehensive assistance will determine Japan's basic position.

Without the assistance of the United States, Japan will have to seek peace from China.

The question is, how much aid can the United States provide?

Affected by the attack of the first guard group, after Kida Taichiro arrived at the White House, he did not immediately discuss the purchase of arms with Macmillan, but waited patiently for several hours.

It was not until the Ministry of Defense sent the latest news that Taichiro Kida followed Chandler to the Oval Office.

"We have also received the news that I am deeply sorry for the misfortune encountered by the Maritime Self-Defense Force." Macmillan was very polite to ask Taichiro Kida to sit down, and then personally made a cup of coffee for the Minister of Defense. "But the facts cannot be changed, we must look forward."

"His Excellency President, I came here for this reason."

Macmillan nodded and said, "You can discuss the specific matter with Minister Chandler. I ask you to come over, just want to figure out one thing."

Kida Taichiro frowned and waited for Macmillan to continue.

"Obviously, this war is different from what we expected before. The Chinese army has a very strong combat power, especially its offensive ability." Macmillan paused for a moment and said, "So, I want to know if your country is confident of winning the next battle."

"The President is doubting our will to war?"

"Of course not. I just want to know whether the help we provide can help your country get out of the predicament and produce the value it deserves."

"The key is not whether we can persevere, but whether your country can provide more help."

McMillan smiled and said, "There is no doubt that Japan is our ally, and our most important ally in the Western Pacific. As long as we can help Japan get out of the predicament, we will do everything we can. But you also need to understand that we must figure out the situation to ensure that we can provide the most important and valuable assistance to your country. After all, this war has nothing to do with us."

Hearing the last sentence, Kida Taichiro's expression immediately dimmed.

"Kun Kitan, the president means that we will make a plan that is most suitable for the reality, so we need to have more information." Chandler quickly came forward to smooth things over. "We have always been helping your country and providing you with advanced fighter jets, advanced ammunition, and more important intelligence. However, your country's performance on the battlefield really makes it difficult for us to explain to Congress and the people."

Taichiro Kida breathed a sigh of relief and said, "His Excellency President, Mr. Minister, I am here on the order of the Prime Minister. The battle that just ended has caused us to lose the last fleet. Without your country's assistance, we will have to truce in the most unfavorable situation. Perhaps, this is the worst result, for our country and for your country. But we cannot fight without fleets, nor can we let soldiers die without hope. As for whether we have enough confidence, time will prove everything."

Chandler sighed secretly and glanced at Macmillan.

McMillan also heard that Kida Taichiro's attitude was very tough, and he directly used the interests of the United States in the Western Pacific as bargaining chips.

Obviously, this is not the meaning of the Minister of Defense, but the meaning of the Prime Minister of Japan.

After pondering for a moment, Macmillan said: "Your Excellency, please feel free to rest. After you have obtained enough information, I will try to convince Congress. Minister Chandler will solve other things for you. If you have any questions, you can contact me and I will also call the Prime Minister as soon as possible. I believe that with the joint efforts of both of us, we will definitely be able to defeat China and help your country get out of the predicament."

At this point, Chandler knew that the president did not want to continue talking to Taichiro Kida, so he stood up and said goodbye.

Taichiro Kida was not long-winded. After all, many things were not his turn to negotiate with Macmillan, and Kobayashi Koichi had to come forward in person.

After the two went out, McMillan and Kobayashi Kwangi spoke to the hotline.

Of course, it was just a symbolic communication. Through Kida Taichiro, Macmillan had noticed that Kobayashi Koichi's position had changed.

Perhaps, Japan will seek peace from China soon.

For Macmillan, the key is not whether Japan can win, because before the war began, Chandler predicted that Japan would end in a crushing defeat.

Whether to continue to support Japan depends on the national interests of the United States.

To put it simply, whether it is in line with the national interests of the United States to provide warships to Japan and how many benefits can it bring to the United States?

At one pm, Macmillan held a ministerial meeting at the White House.

For the United States, this war is indeed not very harmful.

On the economic level, large arms orders from Japan have provided huge profits for American arms companies. Although the arms purchased by Japan are in stock and are not produced according to the order, after selling fighter jets and ammunition to Japan, the US military will definitely purchase weapons and equipment from arms dealers.

It is not only arms companies that benefit, but also many related industries.

Conservatively estimated that this war created at least one million and a half million jobs for the United States, and the impact will continue for several years.

In the long run, the benefits the United States has gained are more obvious.

After the war, Japan will definitely rebuild its military power and expand its military power. Although Japan has strong industrial power and can produce most weapons and equipment, many key technologies are in the hands of American companies, and Japan does not have the strategic resources necessary to expand its military power.

It can be imagined that when Japan vigorously expands its arms, American companies will dominate the Japanese arms market.

In addition to the arms industry, with China and Japan's deficit, Japan will rely more on the United States economically, requiring both the American market and the resources of the United States.

Of course, the benefits are not just economic.

From a political perspective, the worse Japan loses, the higher China's hegemony status in the Western Pacific region, and those countries that have disputes with China need more support and assistance from the United States.

Just after Kida Taichiro visited the United States for the second time, Philippine President Aquino III visited Washington urgently.

The president, who once received high popularity in China and received tens of billions of aid through several visits to China is not pro-China, but is full of fear of China's rapid rise.

In order to show support for the Philippines, Macmillan had to send out several frigates that were about to be retired.

The Philippines is just a microcosm of China's neighboring countries. Like the Philippines, there are many countries that have conflicts with China, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even India in South Asia. When China's rapid rise, these countries felt unprecedented pressure and were worried that they would become the next stepping stone on China's path forward and would sooner or later fall into the arms of the United States.

In fact, many countries are already moving closer to the United States.

Not to mention, Vietnam, which was incompatible with the United States, was very active. After the Second Korean War, it signed the first arms trade with the United States and purchased twelve C-130j transport aircraft. Although Vietnam has not sent envoys to Washington, it will not take long before Vietnam will ask the United States for help like the Philippines, hoping to compete with China by strengthening cooperation with the United States.

These are the benefits that the United States has already obtained.

During the discussion, McMillan emphasized one thing, that is, whether continuing to support Japan can bring more benefits.

From an economic perspective, we will definitely get more benefits. After all, the US military has a large number of warships that need to be replaced. If Japan is willing to spend money to buy these warships, the US Navy will get enough funds to order new warships from arms dealers, leading thousands of companies.

However, in politics and diplomacy, the United States is getting deeper and deeper, but it is not necessarily a good thing.

The reason is very simple. If the United States is too active, it will inevitably make other countries realize that the leader behind this war is not Japan or China, but repeatedly claiming to defend Japan's United States. At that time, the United States will have no choice but to help Japan win with all its might. If Japan loses the war, many countries will definitely no longer trust the United States so much, at least they will not be willing to act as a pawn to encircle and suppress China.

Now, the problem has become simple.
Chapter completed!