Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

Although the escape was extremely humiliating, whether it was the Okinawa Incident, the Ryukyu guerrilla war, the Taiwan Strait crisis, or the various cooperation treaties that Li Xinghe signed with the Russians and North Korea, at least he managed to withdraw in a disheveled manner.

Even if it's hanging by a thread, at least the aircraft carrier didn't sink.

After the US military returns to the United States, they can stay in the Americas and continue their global strategic contraction, while engaging in piracy and causing trouble for others.

But what will happen to the balance of power in Asia after the US leaves?

Who's the boss?

Does it mean India?

Who controls the sea?

Could it be Vietnam?

If a fight doesn't break out and a "monkey king" emerges, this localized conflict for power rebalancing will continue.

For Li Xinghe, 2030 will be the most crucial year of his life.

He had to secure a strategic buffer during the American Civil War while also facing the strategic rebalancing in Southeast Asia after the decline of American hegemony.

He had to control the discontent within Japan while also containing the wave of opposition in South Korea.

So, looking at the lights of the night, the flashes of electricity over Tokyo Bay, and the gradually falling drizzle, he sighed: "Plum blossoms are here, you are singing, you are empty, you are in the forest, you are not here..."

"A wave of epochal change is sweeping in, and you never know whether an earthquake or a volcanic eruption will come tomorrow."

Chapter 841: The Greatest and Most Evil East Asian Bully (5500 words)

2030 October.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, accompanied by the Australian defense team, entered Tokyo and, under the auspices of Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, received a high-ranking audience with Li Xinghe. They were to hold negotiations with Li Xinghe regarding the Darwin port conflict.

"This is Hayashi Yuko, Chief of Staff of the Joint Command."

"This is the Prime Minister of Japan."

Iwaya Takeshi introduced the senior officials from both sides to Hwang Young-hyun.

After sitting down, Huang Yingxian, contrary to Iwaya Takeshi's prior instructions, directly submitted an application on behalf of Australia demanding that Li Xinghe withdraw his troops:

"We hope that Japanese troops will withdraw from Australia."

Iwaya Takeshi immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He had repeatedly warned Huang Yingxian beforehand not to make any harsh requests to Li Xinghe, lest it cause an unpleasant situation.

Li Xinghe refused with a cold face:

"It's impossible. This is our defense agreement with the U.S. military. Unless you first terminate your troop deployment agreement with the Pentagon."

How could that be?

Australia has maintained a mere 3-strong army and enjoyed its vast and fertile continent thanks to its military contracts with the United States, living comfortably to this day. For Australia to demand the withdrawal of US troops would be tantamount to suicide.

However, by not demanding the withdrawal of US troops, Li Xinghe could take the opportunity to stay in Darwin.

This matter wouldn't normally be a big problem, but unfortunately, public sentiment in Australia is currently very heightened, with many people calling for the expulsion of Asians, making them very difficult to deal with.

Huang Yingxian tried to appeal to emotions and reason with people:

Aren't we allies?

But Li Xinghe's eyes widened immediately, and he rebuked the Australian diplomatic representative:

"Precisely because we are allies, most of the 2500 troops stationed in that shitty Darwin port were sent by me to help you defend against Indonesia. And what have you given me in return? Spreading rumors and slanders internationally, saying that I am going to invade Australia. Have you been kicked in the head by a donkey?"

The Australian negotiators couldn't help but sweat.

Not right.

So the idea that the Japanese are easy to talk to, that provoking the Darwin conflict would easily win over the public perception of the Australian Labor Party as tough on foreign policy, is absurd.

But it seems that Li Xinghe is not backing down at all.

He even posed a threat to Australia.

Huang Yingxian glanced at the several white men behind him, then steeled himself and tried to communicate with Li Xinghe in broken Chinese:

"Excuse my bluntness, sir, but we simply want to withdraw these troops from Darwin. After all, it's a Chinese-controlled commercial port with a 99-year lease, and I think it would be too hurtful to the feelings of the Australian people."

The Australian public's anger spiraled out of control, and the other side's reaction was even more incomprehensible.

But the more hesitant she seemed, the less Li Xinghe was willing to continue the conversation.

"Are Australians all rabbits? So prone to stress reactions that they'd be scared to death? I could forgive them if they didn't understand how the world works today, but you all seem to be clueless too. Is it because the US has given you so many benefits that you've forgotten Australia's place in the world?"

Li Xinghe slowly stood up, looking down at the Malaysian Chinese woman:

"Let me tell you this: Australia has only 30,000 troops, 75 M1A2 tanks, and 30 K9 self-propelled howitzers. Its navy has just three guided-missile destroyers, and its air force has only three squadrons of F-35s. Compared to your vast territory, such a weak army is like a little pet dog with a golden collar. In the current climate of American global strategic retrenchment, I really don't believe Australia has any equal standing with me. If you don't realize who you're talking to, then wait for my reinforcements to land."

The Australian army is both incompetent and cruel. Aside from child abuse and murder, they have virtually no combat capability and are considered morally reprehensible trash, almost on par with Israel, within the broader British military system.

The Australian diplomats were taken aback and wanted to continue negotiations:

"We have a mutual defense agreement with the United States!"

But Li Xinghe responded with a cruel smile:

"Then let's launch a non-combat operation. How about we call it Operation Darwin Special Military?"

He waved his hand, telling Iwaya Takeshi to take his men and get out:

"Show them out. What a waste of my time."

The reason they were willing to receive Huang Yingxian was because of her Malaysian Chinese identity. But as it turns out, there's no need to meet with someone like her, a classic example of someone with a yellow skin but a white heart, actively participating in the Christian church while simultaneously following the American lesbian rights movement and piling on all sorts of self-promotional accolades.

Moreover, Australia wanted to use the coalition to boost its political party's hardline image, and Li Xinghe also wanted to use Australia to reinforce his status as the little hegemon of East Asia.

If you're going to try to break a rock with an egg, then at least make it hit the ground.

As Li Xinghe walked out of the meeting room, he said to Lin Youzi, who had remained silent:

"Isn't South Korea always very competitive? We still have hundreds of thousands of debtors and unfortunate souls, as well as arrested cult members. Throw those prolific cults like Unification Church that we've arrested in South Korea and Japan into Darwin. Myanmar is so chaotic, so send all the poor, remote people from Myanmar there. I'd really like to see how Australians react when they find out there are tens of thousands of Asians here in a few months."

This is the soft colonial strategy of modernization.

However, for China and the coalition forces at that time, finding a suitable port foothold to penetrate the waters of Australia and Indonesia was extremely difficult. If Darwin Port could be controlled, it would not only maintain the safety of shipping lanes in the struggle for regional hegemony, but also contain Indonesia to the north and intimidate Australia to the south.

They could even sever ties between Australia and their vital military base on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Darwin is an excellent transshipment port for entering the Indian Ocean, and it also avoids waterways like the Strait of Malacca that are densely populated with ocean-going vessels.

Lin Youzi was astonished by Li Xinghe's audacity:

"Won't this attract international attention?"

Li Xinghe, however, held a different view:

"Why would anyone look askance? We simply need to maintain our large fleet and our own naval port, so we've had to expand the area of ​​the military camps we control, building our own port and civilian/military area. And to serve so many soldiers and their families, it's perfectly reasonable to bring in more Asian residents to open restaurants and businesses, and to continue expanding the military camps. The area around Darwin Harbor is almost entirely wasteland; what's wrong with building more houses?" (The last sentence is a nonsensical string of characters and doesn't translate directly.)

“We can also help develop local natural gas and uranium mines, and ship their gold, aluminum, manganese, and rare earth minerals to where they are needed. According to our long-standing profit agreement, we leave them with 15% of the profits. They should thank me.”

Li Xinghe taking 85% and Australia taking 15% is perfectly reasonable. This is the internationally accepted practice; European and American oil and gas development companies in Africa receive the same quota. In places like Equatorial Guinea, they can only retain up to 12% of the oil development rights.

Lin Youzi remains worried.

Li Xinghe was incredibly audacious to treat Australia as an African colony.

But the US military is still strategically retreating, with only the USS Washington remaining in Asia, barely surviving in Subic Bay, and lacking any decent main combat ground forces in the entire Pacific theater. It seems quite possible.

Li Xinghe said:

"This is how the international situation has been since the United States left. If you don't go out and take a bite, many monkeys will think they're invincible again. In the new international order based on strength, there is no room for the weak to survive."

Just as Lin Youzi was about to say something, she suddenly took out her phone and told Li Xinghe:

"The air battleships Jinhae and Koryo have approached Darwin Port. Accompanying them is the amphibious assault ship Dokdo, which brings with it 3,000 troops."

Li Xinghe gave a firm order:

"attack."

In distant Tokyo, Li Xinghe pressed the attack button.

In Asia, a special military operation that closely resembles Russia's operation against Ukraine has begun.

Further out in the Timor Sea, two aircraft carrier battleships headed headlong toward Darwin Port without hesitation, with the amphibious assault ship Dokdo carrying He Yang and his team following behind, while several destroyers kept watch nearby, searching for any submarines that might appear.

"Charge!"

Wheeled assault vehicles unloaded from the dock were directly landed in the port, and the huge battleships stormed into the deep-water port, standing tall and fearless.

Missiles? Cannons?

If you're so capable, then sink these two iron lumps.

The equipment the Australian military possesses is nothing more than readily available products from the United States and South Korea. During the Taiwan Strait crisis, battleship formations withstood the attack, proving that those outdated small missiles were simply incapable of penetrating the warships' defenses.

If the Australian army fails to quickly relocate after exposing its missile and artillery positions, then the Type 510 and Type 203 naval guns will follow the trajectory of your artillery fire and relentlessly pursue you into your positions.

that's the truth.

The Australian Army stationed in the northwest corner of Australia is the 1st Mechanized Brigade, boasting the best M1A2 tank battalion in the country, two mechanized infantry battalions, one artillery battalion, one engineer battalion, and two logistics battalions. Yet, this army couldn't even capture the local garrison occupying Darwin city; how could it possibly fight against reinforcements supported by heavy artillery?

Their artillery positions were quickly destroyed, and their tanks didn't even dare to come out.

The Allied forces on the ship were still laughing wildly:

"Look! The mighty Australian fleet is here!"

In the distance, eight 300-ton patrol boats of the Royal Australian Navy were struggling to approach in the wind and waves in a small depression. Their main weapon was a 25mm cannon, making it look as if one had returned to World War II.

This hardly qualifies as a military conflict; after the two battleships exchanged a few shots, the Australian forces dispersed.

"Our army has been defeated..."

Australia's 1st Mechanized Brigade, facing constant guidance from satellites and drones, and with massive naval guns covering a 40-kilometer range, was simply unable to muster its M1A2 tank battalion. The constant artillery fire meant that suicide drones could strike at any moment.

The coalition's upgraded air defense missiles and drones deterred Australia's only F-35 squadron near Darwin from approaching, fearing it would be shot down.

They even lack supporting early warning aircraft and have no independent combat capability.

Seeing this, the Australian Department of Defence was furious.

"What kind of bullshit modern battleship toy is this? This is clearly a specialized offensive amphibious assault ship!"

Yes, the Taiwan Strait conflict proved that the ships Li Xinghe built were designed for amphibious assault and were no longer intended for battleships.

……

"Supper G has entered Darwin!"

"The first crisis after the Taiwan Strait crisis has actually broken out in Australia!"

"The Great 'Star River' Empire is back!"

Global media outlets were unanimously shocked by the coalition's southward advance in September, making headlines everywhere.

At least in the view of the American media, the conflict between Australia and Japan is a responsibility that the United States should bear.

Australia is your little brother who paid your blood tax, you know.

They are spectators who are not afraid of things getting out of hand, and they are frantically stirring up emotions against changes in Asia from behind the scenes. Australians are also crying their eyes out, protesting and causing trouble in the United States every day, demanding that the United States expel Li Xinghe from Australia.

Due to the overwhelming public outcry, the Pentagon had to have Defense Secretary Hagersey hold a virtual meeting with Li Xinghe.

However, Li Xinghe's speech at the meeting was more forceful and impactful than that of the Americans.

He dared to mock Hercules from across the vast ocean:

“I’m reminding you again, you internet celebrity kid, you are far inferior to your predecessors, and the United States today also lacks the strength to speak for itself in East Asia.”

Hagers's professional skills are probably only at the level of an internet celebrity. He may be quite good at acting, but he's a complete novice when it comes to war and military affairs.

If he had anything that truly made the American troops below him obey, it was probably his push for a 20% pay raise for the common soldiers.

Li Xinghe also launched a relentless attack on the Pentagon:

"My arsenal has five aircraft carriers, while yours has the USS Enterprise, which is 95% complete after five years, and the Constellation-class corvettes that haven't even been launched yet? Or are you talking about those new Burke-class destroyers that are only 7% complete and lying in the Ulsan shipyard?"

Faced with the aggressive Li Xinghe, the Pentagon actually felt guilty.

There's no other reason than that Li Xinghe and Japan today are exactly what the Pentagon hopes it will return to.

They hoped to see a powerful Japan vie with China for hegemony in Southeast Asia. And indeed, Li Xinghe, after the US military withdrew from Asia, eagerly dispatched his fleet south.

What the Americans didn't expect was that Li Xinghe's first punch didn't land on Malaysia, Indonesia, or Cambodia—countries that were mostly on China's side. Even if it had been the Philippines, the US military wouldn't have been able to tolerate it. Who knew that Li Xinghe would instead strike his vassal state, Australia.