Empire of the Ring

Chapter 729: A Tooth for a Tooth (1)

There had been various interpretations of the Kazakh royal family’s visit to China.

It was a natural reaction of the global community as the Kazakh royal family had been uncooperative to the Chinese government since the beginning.

Some speculated that if the Kazakh Queen, the head of state of the federal kingdom, made a quick visit, it would be a move to resolve complicated issues between the two countries.

Countries around the world were paying keen attention to the Kazakh royal family. They were nervous as depending on the course of the Kazakh royal family, a resource-rich federal kingdom, the world economy could fluctuate.

Since the reason for the royal visit was unknown to the world, the news of the Kazakh royal family’s visit to China was as much of a concern as the trade war between the U.S. and China.

A section chief from China’s foreign ministry was at the Beijing airport to greet the royal family.

It was not a discourtesy in diplomatic practice because it was not an official visit, but it was an apparent neglect to show respect as it was the visit of the heads of the Kazakh federal kingdom.

Although it was a sudden visit, it was a clear disregard for the royal family to invite them and treat them like this.

In addition, the Chinese president greeted the Queen’s group at the Forbidden City, not at the presidential palace, which was said to be an unconventional protocol, but the general view was that the Kazakh royal family was being treated as an inferior state of China.

Although Youngho hoped for such treatment, he could not help but feel upset. He managed to keep it all inside because if this situation was fully disclosed to the media, anti-Chinese sentiment would rise like wildfire across Central Asia.

The Chinese government’s neglect did not end here.

No high-ranking Chinese officials or economic figures attended the dinner at the presidential palace, and not even diplomats from each country were invited.

Only the president couple and the Kazakh royal couple had a simple meal together.

Returning to the guest house, Youngho talked to Eriksson who accompanied the royal family on this trip.

“They’re openly being condescending.”

“I think they’re determined to embarrass our royal family. I think it’s retaliation against Kazakhstan for holding China back so far and to show off China’s status to the world.”

“Huh, they’re very mistaken if they think we’d be compliant to them if they embarrass us like this.”

“We’ve been waiting for this, but the status of the royal family has become ridiculous.”

“We just have to make them regret it in the future.”

“But I thought there would be at least some talk between the leaders, but there’s nothing to this visit.”

Eriksson, who rarely got angry, was also blushing.

In principle, however, the royal family and the Chinese government had no reason to sit face to face at a meeting.

Working-level visits were not special issues, nor was the royal family a place to hold a meeting between the leaders, as they could not be seen as an official window of Kazakhstan.

Although the royal family had the authority to nominate the prime minister, it was only an internal situation in Kazakhstan.

It was Prime Minister Kasim who represented Kazakhstan externally as he was the leader of the Kazakh government.

Even so, it was very upsetting since the whole world knew who the real power of Kazakhstan was, but the Chinese government completely ignored it.

China’s One Belt One Road seemed to go well in the early days, but it was facing problems everywhere.

The countries that agreed to this project complained that they used up their national power in unnecessary construction projects that had little benefit to their interests.

Since they were processed in the form of a joint venture, China lent the construction cost that they could not pay up. in the form of a loan.

As the principal and interest of the non-essential loans could not be paid, countries that participated in the One Belt One Road project even handed over state-owned industries to China.

Anti-Chinese sentiment rose like wildfire as the economy was subjugated to China and became tougher than before.

At a time like this, the Chinese government seemed to have projected that the countries involved in One Belt One Road would cease their complaints if the Kazakh royal family, which had interfered with China’s One Belt One Road, was neglected at its visit to China.

It was to show that if any country was disliked by China, it might be neglected like the Kazakh royal family.

***

Anti-Chinese rallies began to take place across the country when Youngho returned from China.

It was in the form of a behind-the-scenes control demonstration by the Kasim government, but more people attended voluntarily.

The reason for holding anti-Chinese rallies was that the Chinese government had disregarded the entire federal kingdom of Kazakhstan by disrespecting the royal family.

Those who attended the rallies called for the withdrawal of the nation’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the closure of the border, even calling for an end to diplomatic relations.

Crowds were held not only in Kazakhstan but also in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan.

The rallies in Azerbaijan were especially severe as the people protested in front of the Chinese Embassy.

The Chinese government began to panic when the embassy’s work was paralyzed.

As the public opinion was not something that could be resolved politically, the Chinese government was embarrassed by the situation.

Such a reaction from Kazakh federal states was not expected. If the border was closed as the people requested, imports of raw materials such as oil and gas from Kazakhstan would be blocked, as well as immediate disruptions in import and export activities with Europe.

In addition, a boycott of Chinese goods could make China lose its market in Central Asian and the Caucasus, not to mention the businesses of Chinese overseas in such areas would be damaged.

Soon, Chinese traveling to Central Asia and the Caucasus were also suffering from a tricky immigration process.

In response, the Chinese government, which was in a state of confusion, sent a special envoy to take care of the situation, but only antagonized the people.

This was because the special envoy denied the Chinese government’s mistreatment of the Kazakh royal family.

Prime Minister Kasim, who came to report the results after the envoy’s visit, was sitting face to face with Youngho in the royal office to discuss follow-up measures.

“The Chinese government still hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“It was deeply obsessed with its sense of superiority. It assumed that everything would be okay just because it sent a special envoy. The envoy wanted to meet the royal family, but I didn’t allow it.”

“Good job. Even if he came to the palace in person, I wouldn’t have met him.”

Meeting the envoy itself was tantamount to accepting China’s will.

“It seems the Chinese government thought it could get over this easily.”

“It must have thought so because the neighboring countries accept a humiliating relationship with China every time.”

Only countries that would suffer political and economic damage if they went against China endured humiliating diplomacy, but Kazakhstan was not in such a position.

It might affect the supply and demand of daily necessities immediately, but Kazakhstan could withstand that much.

“This is what the people want, so how can we just ignore it?”

Perhaps, it was natural for the royal family and the government to follow the will of the people.

If the government implemented policies that went against the will of the people, its foundation of existence would be shaken.

“Of course. If the royal family or the government doesn’t understand the people’s will, it’s not worth it. It’s time for the government to come up with measures.”

“Prime Minister, if you have a good idea, let me know.”

“You don’t have to do that. Chinese goods have already lost ground due to the boycott of Chinese goods. We are planning to increase the production of domestic companies while importing the insufficient amount from Russia so that there will be no inconvenience in our people’s daily lives, and we’re going to drastically reduce our exports of oil and mineral resources to China in the future. I’m going to start a show to persuade the public by publishing a national statement.”

“Now it’s not a show, but it’s a national sentiment.”

Kasim would make a public statement saying that there would not be a diplomatic rupture because of this as it would result in increased tensions on the border and fluctuation of Kazakhstan’s economy.

If that happened, there would be a public uproar and more severe rallies as the people could not stand the government’s humiliating diplomatic measures.

Then the Kazakh government would have something to say to China that it was forced to close the border because of the public’s resistance.

“The mass rallies will continue after the national statement is released.”

Kasim meant that the government would continue to conduct secret government-controlled demonstrations in the future to avoid political burden over this issue.

“Please also take care of Chinese merchants’ tax evasion investigations and violations of the Foreign Exchange Control Act.”

The exclusion of Chinese capital must be made.

This was because only short-term investment funds, not long-term investment funds, were coming in, distorting the market.

Kazakhstan’s economy had improved enough to withstand without Chinese capital.

“We’ve already begun an investigation. Sooner or later, the results will come out. I plan to take legal action according to the case. If necessary, we’ll even consider expelling them and stripping them of their permanent residency.”

“That would hurt the Central Asian people living in Xinjiang Uyghur...”

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