Empire Conquest-Chapter 738 - 42 Suddenly Turning Hostile_2
The main point was to clarify the fundamental stance of the Empire regarding this matter.
There would certainly be no compromise, even if it meant direct conflict with the Tiaoman Empire-led Western Continent group.
As Zhou Yongtao put it, "If there’s room to talk, we’ll continue talking; if they want to fight, we’re ready. Threats and intimidation are useless against the Empire."
When it comes to matters of justice and righteousness, the Empire will never yield!
After a 4-hour rest, Zhou Yongtao convened the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior diplomatic officials to hold a high-level diplomatic meeting.
Clearly, the top priority now was to stabilize diplomacy.
Although there are dozens of allied and friendly nations, the Empire needs to seek the sympathy and support of more countries in the face of Tiaoman Empire’s groundless accusations.
To put it bluntly, it was about gaining the moral high ground through diplomatic endeavors.
However, the Kuwait issue was particularly thorny and complicated.
Historically, Kuwait was indeed a province of Iraq.
During the last global war, after the Liangxia Empire occupied Boss Bay, to strengthen control over Boss Bay and to reduce the Bulan Kingdom’s influence as the former suzerain, the military forcibly carved out Kuwait and supported the current Kuwaiti Royal Family.
For this purpose, the Emperor also conferred the title of King to the head of the Kuwaiti Royal Family and provided security guarantees for them.
This arrangement was also related to the Ter Republic.
A fragmented Mua Clan obviously favored the Ter Republic’s efforts to re-establish colonial dominance, aligning with their interests.
As for the Tiaoman Empire, to maintain a friendly relationship with the Ter Republic, it had not expressed opposition.
After the war, Kuwait gained international recognition thanks to its relationship with the Liangxia Empire.
The discovery of oil fields came later.
When granting independence to Kuwait, the intentions of the Liangxia authorities were simply to secure a firm foothold in the Boss Bay region.
In simple terms, Kuwait was treated as a military fortress for controlling Boss Bay.
And here lies the issue.
Having Kuwait as a base, the Imperial Authority never really cared for Iraq, thereby creating the current situation.
If one were to get to the crux of it, it hinges on a single point.
At the time of its independence, the Iraq authorities recognized Kuwait as an independent nation and established diplomatic relations, effectively forfeiting territorial claims.
As for the current Hussein Regime, it ascended to power through a coup.
This was the main rationale for the Empire’s diplomatic reprisal.
Even if Hussein came to power through a coup, as long as he declared himself the sole legitimate authority of Iraq, he should inherit the mantle of the previous government.
Crucially, when Hussein rose to power, Kuwait had already been globally recognized as an independent nation.
If every new government were to overturn everything upon assuming power, the world would be thrown into total chaos.
Moreover, the Tiaoman Empire and other members of the Western Continent group had recognized Kuwait as well.
Bringing up Kuwait now was clearly fabricating something out of nothing!
Nevertheless, diplomatic efforts were clearly insufficient to resolve the current crisis.
To be honest, no measures seem capable of resolving the current crisis.
It was also in the morning that the Military Intelligence Bureau delivered an absolutely reliable piece of information.
Yesterday night, the Tiaoman Empire had already begun war mobilization; at least 120 trains had started transporting weapons, equipment, and combat supplies to the eastern border regions of the Luosha Democratic Republic, and all active-duty soldiers of the main forces had received orders to return to their units immediately.
The Tiaoman Empire had begun preparing for war!
In addition, several major members of the Western Continent group were also mobilizing.
The 60 Regular Divisions of the Luosha Democratic Republic had entered combat readiness, and the Air Force increased patrolling efforts in the eastern border regions.
Even in the North Sunset Ocean, tensions had escalated dramatically.
Similarly, last night, more than 200 battleships of the Western Continent Joint Fleet, spearheaded by the Tiaoman Navy, nearly all set sail at the same time.
Crucially, these battleships were originally stationed at a dozen naval bases stretching from the East Continent Heart Sea to the Kingdom of Viking.
This is the Navy!
Without prior preparation, there’s no way such a vast number of battleships could have deployed the same night; just mustering officers and soldiers would take several days.
Moreover, in the early hours of today, more than ten Tiaoman Empire long-range reconnaissance aircraft appeared near Scapa Bay.
Scapa Bay is the only military base of the Imperial Navy in the North Sunset Ocean, with the closest other base being Alexandria Port in the eastern Land Heart Sea.
Clearly, this is no coincidence.
As for the source of the intelligence, there is certainly no issue.
The intelligence on the Western Group’s ground troop movements mainly comes from surveillance satellites, including not just photographic ones but electronic reconnaissance satellites as well.
By intercepting radio communication signals, even without being able to decrypt them, one could know that a large number of troops were entering combat readiness.
From the perspective of military intelligence, a sudden surge in radio activity is a precursor to war.
This afternoon, Zhou Yongtao convened an emergency meeting with all Cabinet members.
Faced with undeniable facts and with the exception of three ministers, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs who renounced their voting rights, all other ministers supported Zhou Yongtau’s proposed emergency resolution, to raise the Imperial Army’s readiness level by the same extent, to issue a war alert to the Lusha Federation Republic, and to request all member countries of the Eastern Group to increase their readiness levels in accordance with the obligations stipulated by the "Common Security Treaty."
The crux lies here.
While waging war and engaging in more comprehensive war mobilization requires authorization from both houses of parliament—namely, submitting a war bill—by utilizing the decades-old legally binding "Common Security Alliance Treaty," it is possible to bypass parliamentary discussion, conduct military mobilization, and take necessary military actions within the scope outlined by the treaty, and to submit them for retrospective deliberation by parliament.
Of course, there is a precondition: the enemy targeted by the Eastern Group must have either already increased their alert status or taken military action.
The enemies referred to in the treaty are just two: the Tiaoman Empire’s Western Group and the Northern Solitude Group led by the Newland Republic.
Additionally, the treaty provides a very complete and detailed definition of military mobilization and action.
Overall, this is mainly reflected on the defensive side, meaning both military mobilization and action must ensure the common security of the Eastern Group.
Now, as the Western Group has raised its readiness level and has started war mobilization, with concrete evidence at hand, it is possible to act according to the treaty.
Despite this being the first time facing such a situation, Luo Youbin was very clear that unless a miracle occurred, the third Global War was inevitable.
The last time a similar situation occurred was over 20 years ago when the Empire decided to send troops to partake in the war against Boi Country.
The difference is that the Empire took the initiative that time.
More importantly, before deploying troops, Lian Xusheng, who had once again become the Imperial Chief Minister, performed his diplomatic duties thoroughly. He provided a clear explanation to the Tiaoman Empire, which at the time had the capacity to intervene, and also clarified the situation through an intermediary to the burgeoning and somewhat menacing Newland Republic.
On this foundation, the Liangxia Empire formally sent out troops and suffered its first devastating defeat in the subsequent 8 years of intense warfare.
So, it was clear that there was no potential for a Global War at the time.
Besides, the international situation then didn’t permit a Global War; the Tiaoman Empire was no match for the Liangxia Empire, and the Newland Republic hadn’t yet spread its wings.
In fact, it was after the Boi War that the Eastern Group amended the contents of the "Common Security Treaty," removing the proactive assault section and emphasizing the defensive military philosophy, to prevent the Liangxia Empire from using common security as a pretext to initiate wars.
This time, it’s different.
The sudden provocation by the Tiaoman Empire came without any prior signs, let alone notice!
It’s clear that they’re heading toward war!
Furthermore, the current international situation leaves no other way of de-escalation besides going to war.
After dinner, Zhou Yongtao promptly called a military meeting to discuss combat matters with the Minister of Defense and military leaders.
With a major conflict imminent, there was no time to waste—not even a single night, let alone a few hours.
However, the issues we’re now facing are clearly not ones that can be resolved right after a meeting is convened.
If we can discuss a rationale tonight and move into the action phase, that would be quite an accomplishment.
Luo Youbin wasn’t randomly speculating.
In a specially cleared garden study, a dozen generals were already locked in heated debate without even touching the main topic.
