KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Right, I've added a splash of color, so it is easier to tell the various parties apart
The Jade Revolution - China 2001
- Thread starter KarvokaQueen
- Start date
- Original
Appreciated!
In other news, I've noticed that there are 3 security ministries (Public, State and Supervision). It this carried over from the One Party days or this development recent? I can only dread at the amount of infighting that goes on between these three.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
It's a carry over from the One Party days. Things have been so chaotic that ministires haven't been consolidated when they really should be.
Think FBI/CIA fighting on steroids.
[X] Counting numbers. One of the very interesting things that the Communist Party did was keep an active record of all staff working on a permanent basis at MOFCOM, and at all other ministries, you assume. While the Jade Revolution proved that such a system was imperfect, it could be useful for keeping track of any CPC hardliners, that might try to subvert you (Gain basic knowledge of Department heads political affiliation (Circa 2000))
[X] Internal Improvements. If working at the People's Bank for nearly twenty years taught you anything it was that China, more than most countries, is choking to death thanks to excessive bureaucracy. As Minister for Commerce, you are in a unique position to help fix this problem. (Gain basic knowledge of situation regarding regulation of commerce in China)
Really should get our house in order first.
[X] Internal Improvements. If working at the People's Bank for nearly twenty years taught you anything it was that China, more than most countries, is choking to death thanks to excessive bureaucracy. As Minister for Commerce, you are in a unique position to help fix this problem. (Gain basic knowledge of situation regarding regulation of commerce in China)
Really should get our house in order first.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Alright. I'm going to shutter the vote. Going to get to work on the update for this. Want to get it done and then fall asleep.
More information: List of political parties in the People's Republic of China - Wikipedia - apparently they've got their own Kuomintang, and it's the second most important party.
Snow
Doka
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This looks like an interesting alt-history quest. 
tachi kyouko (go! princess precure and precure) drawn by amawa kazuhiro - Safebooru
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/mystic-messenger/images/f/f8/Jaehee_render.png
Hmm... I found two that could maybe fit.
tachi kyouko (go! princess precure and precure) drawn by amawa kazuhiro - Safebooru
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/mystic-messenger/images/f/f8/Jaehee_render.png
This one is better IMO.
BTW, it's important to know whether our character has an established repution or known views on international trade. Were we chosen because we're relative nobodies, so that the IMF can roll-in and preemptively dismantle China's potential to challenge Bretton Woods? Were we some sort of compromise candidate with no clear views, because no one else gathered enough support to force their chosen Commerce Minister? Or perhaps we're an advocate of Free Trade and the Prime Minister wishes to reap the benefits of the markets opening suddenly. Or perhaps we're protectionists and our boss wishes us to focus on safeguarding China's manufacturing potential?
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Alright. Finally finished the goddamn cabinet.
So many rolls. So many rolls you wouldn't believe me if I told you how many.
Go have a look.
Wen has little interest in such matters, and no public statements either way. Making her a perfect choice to keep the incredibly broad Chinese Democracy Association satisfied.
So many rolls. So many rolls you wouldn't believe me if I told you how many.
Go have a look.
Wen Hao was selected as a compromise between the radical free-market DNCA, the Protectionist DLC, and the mixed DPC, on the urging of the Governor of the People's Bank.
Wen has little interest in such matters, and no public statements either way. Making her a perfect choice to keep the incredibly broad Chinese Democracy Association satisfied.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
And with the MOFCOM logo finally done how I like, that's everything. My OCD is now satisfied, and I can resume work on the update
Now you're just making me curious.
Plus, she's female. Her boss might expect her to be lower maintance and accept lesser rewards since the position alone is prestigious, not to mention she'll need to devote more time to fight off internal challengers. In other words we are the stop-gag that lets our Boss sort out the more important ministries first, namely National Defense and Finance. Especially the fact that Finance is not controlled by one of the coalition parties, but merely an affiliate, speaks volumes about President's weakness.
- Location
- Europe
I don't know if it's just me but these two colours make the writing barely legible, particularly when it's in bold.
Image doesn't show up for me.MOFCOM
(Ministry of Commerce)
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Now, not that I'm a complete incompotent, but how would I insert an image off my computer into the thread? I've modified the official MOFCOM logo.
Also, is it more readable now?
Upload it to imgur first.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Tried, It's mostly transparent, so uploading to imgur wrecks it.
Or maybe it doesn't, and I just suck at this.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Done.
Can someone verify it works for them?
Can someone verify it works for them?
Snow
Doka
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It shows up for me.
I notice that it says 中华人民共和国. Is the country still officially called the People's Republic of China?
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Formally, yes.
The state of MOFCOM
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
[X] Counting numbers. One of the very interesting things that the Communist Party did was keep an active record of all staff working on a permanent basis at MOFCOM, and at all other ministries, you assume. While the Jade Revolution proved that such a system was imperfect, it could be useful for keeping track of any CPC hardliners, that might try to subvert you (Gain basic knowledge of Department heads political affiliation (Circa 2000))
[X] Internal Improvements. If working at the People's Bank for nearly twenty years taught you anything it was that China, more than most countries, is choking to death thanks to excessive bureaucracy. As Minister for Commerce, you are in a unique position to help fix this problem. (Gain basic knowledge of situation regarding regulation of commerce in China)
Sitting down at your desk, Gao flits back and forth between your office and his, carrying the truly giant number of print-outs you command him to bring you. You have been going through more and more documents. WHile you made a good crack on your first day, skimming info on the department heads that work under you. It would appear Gao was correct. There is little to no real presence of the Communist Party, many of the department heads only joined upon promotion, which does worry you a bit.
Patronage? In your Ministry? That wouldn't do. Not at all. You'd have to deal with that at another junction, though. As several of your department heads are clearly compromised. Communist Party members practically from birth! You'll have to get rid of them somehow. Until then, though, you know who you can't trust with anything. As opposed to simply most things.
After several days of expanding on your first day of research into the members of MOFCOM, you decide to shift focus, onto the internal improvements of China. You've long argued that the barriers to internal trade in China are starting to strangle the countries economic potential. Foreign markets are good, of course, but if you are only exporting to one market, you've needlessly crippled yourself.
Reforming the internal tariff system would allow much greater growth and an expansion of the market into more rural regions, where it is frankly pointless to export goods. Why pay the massive regional tariffs if you could just export your goods to Indonesia, Japan, Korea, or the United States? In many cases they have fewer tariffs. Obviously, this cannot be allowed to stand.
Armed with this knowledge, you have begun the slow and arduous work of drawing up ambitious plans to massively overhaul the internal tariff structure of china. The huge number of barriers must be torn down if China is to stand any real chance of long term growth. Foreign trade can only grow so much, but internal trade grows as fast at the population, and with the 'One child policy' looking to be rescinded soon, there will be an explosion of people to fuel the new internal economy.
You may need to form a new department just to handle the huge uptick in money being tossed around, and the corruption that would unleash, but that is the job of the NAO.
You'll deal with that once you've got a chance of ramming this reform package through state legislatures, and the National People's Congress. It's…..how would the DNCA put it? 'A badly needed shot of free market capitalism'. Hopefully the DCL can be brought on side, though. How hard could that be? This would help farmers, being able to sell their goods across the country! Though, Populist parties have historically proven almost completely unpredictable historically, especially Chinese populist movements.
"Gao? Is everyone ready?" You pour out some rice wine, the extremely potent aroma filling the room as you do. Gao looks at it disdainfully, likely because the only time you went drinking with him, he nearly passed out from alcohol poisoning. Not your fault he can't hold his alcohol.
Gao looks from your third bottle of rice wine today, and then looks outside. You've decided to keep all the department heads waiting until they were all here. A simple test, to see just how seriously they take you.
To his credit, Gao passed. He was early, and brought you the second bottle of rice wine. None of the other people who are supposed to answer to you bothered to be punctual. So you had Gao lock them out. Checking the clock, they've been waiting half an hour. That's about right. You down your drink, and gesture to the door.
"Gao, the door. Bring them in." You stash the wine under the table, and get comfortable, drawing up a bit to your full height, as much as you can in your chair. Gao nods and walks to the door, opening it. The frustrated looking men of the Ministry of Commerce filter in. They look as upset.
Good.
"Gentlemen, take your seats. I trust you were all late due to getting your reports ready?" They grumble, and the oldest, who you recognise from your research on who is loyal, and who isn't, to be the head of the GEA (General Economic Affairs). An old, old communist, who only kept his job due to party loyalty, steps up from his seat.
"What was the meaning of this little charade? I had expected these…." You raise your eyebrows at him, curious to hear what he has to say. "...so called revolutionaries to be a bit more organised, and respectful! Who do you think you are, keeping us all waiting half an hour!" He is clearly incensed, a feeling shared by his contemporaries, even if they don't express it in such obvious ways. You give him a grin in response, which puts him off a bit.
"I was merely making you wait as long as you kept me waiting. Maybe, under your old boss, being half an hour late to an important meeting was tolerated. I'm not going to tolerate that, though. From here on out, you will all be on time. Anyone who isn't, will find themselves subject to a visit from the National Auditor's Office. Understood?" Opening with a threat is a risky gamble, but it seems to get your point across. For these bankers, economists and party men, almost all of whom line their pockets with graft and bribes, the threat of a visit from the increasingly powerful NAO is a grave threat indeed. One that won't affect you but will end their careers.
The aging communist sits back down, the others around him glaring at him for inciting you. Excellent, that is one threat neutralized. With the department heads mollified for now, they begin to give you the status of their own departments. Though you doubt you can trust all of them.
After the meeting is adjourned, you and Gao head back to your office, and he sits down across from you. You pour out another drink, for the both of you. You've got your list in front of you, and he's got his own lists. You aren't sure you can trust Gao, not yet, but he's been loyal enough as of late. Granted, you've only been here two weeks, but still.
You slowly pour through all the hard copy information that you've been given by your department heads. They might lie, but in your experience, numbers tend not to. As you read, you start to take notes. Each department is largely autonamous, you merely oversee them, and intervene as necessary. Given the number of highly active Communist Party members within MOFCOM right now, it is clearly important that you get to work overseeing them properly. Gao suggests moving quickly, as the Discipline Group, and the Bureau of Discipline Supervision are overseen by CPC members, hopefully they were just playing at loyalty, but as Gao points out, you can't count on that.
Gao strongly advises you to start to do some personal digging into the activities of both organisations before they can marshal the strength to move against you, hopefully you can have them replaced by more.....idealogically suitable candidates. Gao has some ideas in mind, for suitable candidates. You are truly blessed to have such a useful vice-minister. You'd almost be suspicious, but after getting him drunk, the only thing that changes is his stutter starts to decline. Beyond that, nothing.
As the cab you got to pick up Gao and take him home leaves the MOFCOM building, you begin to plan out your own strategy, going forward. You need to deal with the communist loyalists in your cabinet, and you need to do it soon. But how?
[] Form a 'Corruption Investigations Comittee'. Led by Gao, he could begin to root out disloyal elements in MOFCOM, starting with the GEA Department head.
[] Continue to dig for information. The subtle knife, to Gao's sledgehammer, continuing to dig for a bit would leave you vulnerable, but could also be a major boon.
[] Call in the NAO. The Nuclear option, this could put potential allies in MOFCOM at risk, and while certainly a popular move with the public, many within MOFCOM would view you with disdain.
[] Write in. By the time you are back in your office, you have another idea, a better idea!
Alright. After this, we will finally get into proper turns. Just had to outline all the departments, complete with loyalty. Don't worry, you'll be able to look into it a bit more later.
Anyway, I'm going to work on some other quests, and then I'll be gone for a few hours.
[X] Internal Improvements. If working at the People's Bank for nearly twenty years taught you anything it was that China, more than most countries, is choking to death thanks to excessive bureaucracy. As Minister for Commerce, you are in a unique position to help fix this problem. (Gain basic knowledge of situation regarding regulation of commerce in China)
Sitting down at your desk, Gao flits back and forth between your office and his, carrying the truly giant number of print-outs you command him to bring you. You have been going through more and more documents. WHile you made a good crack on your first day, skimming info on the department heads that work under you. It would appear Gao was correct. There is little to no real presence of the Communist Party, many of the department heads only joined upon promotion, which does worry you a bit.
Patronage? In your Ministry? That wouldn't do. Not at all. You'd have to deal with that at another junction, though. As several of your department heads are clearly compromised. Communist Party members practically from birth! You'll have to get rid of them somehow. Until then, though, you know who you can't trust with anything. As opposed to simply most things.
After several days of expanding on your first day of research into the members of MOFCOM, you decide to shift focus, onto the internal improvements of China. You've long argued that the barriers to internal trade in China are starting to strangle the countries economic potential. Foreign markets are good, of course, but if you are only exporting to one market, you've needlessly crippled yourself.
Reforming the internal tariff system would allow much greater growth and an expansion of the market into more rural regions, where it is frankly pointless to export goods. Why pay the massive regional tariffs if you could just export your goods to Indonesia, Japan, Korea, or the United States? In many cases they have fewer tariffs. Obviously, this cannot be allowed to stand.
Armed with this knowledge, you have begun the slow and arduous work of drawing up ambitious plans to massively overhaul the internal tariff structure of china. The huge number of barriers must be torn down if China is to stand any real chance of long term growth. Foreign trade can only grow so much, but internal trade grows as fast at the population, and with the 'One child policy' looking to be rescinded soon, there will be an explosion of people to fuel the new internal economy.
You may need to form a new department just to handle the huge uptick in money being tossed around, and the corruption that would unleash, but that is the job of the NAO.
You'll deal with that once you've got a chance of ramming this reform package through state legislatures, and the National People's Congress. It's…..how would the DNCA put it? 'A badly needed shot of free market capitalism'. Hopefully the DCL can be brought on side, though. How hard could that be? This would help farmers, being able to sell their goods across the country! Though, Populist parties have historically proven almost completely unpredictable historically, especially Chinese populist movements.
"Gao? Is everyone ready?" You pour out some rice wine, the extremely potent aroma filling the room as you do. Gao looks at it disdainfully, likely because the only time you went drinking with him, he nearly passed out from alcohol poisoning. Not your fault he can't hold his alcohol.
Gao looks from your third bottle of rice wine today, and then looks outside. You've decided to keep all the department heads waiting until they were all here. A simple test, to see just how seriously they take you.
To his credit, Gao passed. He was early, and brought you the second bottle of rice wine. None of the other people who are supposed to answer to you bothered to be punctual. So you had Gao lock them out. Checking the clock, they've been waiting half an hour. That's about right. You down your drink, and gesture to the door.
"Gao, the door. Bring them in." You stash the wine under the table, and get comfortable, drawing up a bit to your full height, as much as you can in your chair. Gao nods and walks to the door, opening it. The frustrated looking men of the Ministry of Commerce filter in. They look as upset.
Good.
"Gentlemen, take your seats. I trust you were all late due to getting your reports ready?" They grumble, and the oldest, who you recognise from your research on who is loyal, and who isn't, to be the head of the GEA (General Economic Affairs). An old, old communist, who only kept his job due to party loyalty, steps up from his seat.
"What was the meaning of this little charade? I had expected these…." You raise your eyebrows at him, curious to hear what he has to say. "...so called revolutionaries to be a bit more organised, and respectful! Who do you think you are, keeping us all waiting half an hour!" He is clearly incensed, a feeling shared by his contemporaries, even if they don't express it in such obvious ways. You give him a grin in response, which puts him off a bit.
"I was merely making you wait as long as you kept me waiting. Maybe, under your old boss, being half an hour late to an important meeting was tolerated. I'm not going to tolerate that, though. From here on out, you will all be on time. Anyone who isn't, will find themselves subject to a visit from the National Auditor's Office. Understood?" Opening with a threat is a risky gamble, but it seems to get your point across. For these bankers, economists and party men, almost all of whom line their pockets with graft and bribes, the threat of a visit from the increasingly powerful NAO is a grave threat indeed. One that won't affect you but will end their careers.
The aging communist sits back down, the others around him glaring at him for inciting you. Excellent, that is one threat neutralized. With the department heads mollified for now, they begin to give you the status of their own departments. Though you doubt you can trust all of them.
|
Departments
|
Deparment Head
|
Loyalty
|
|
Foreign Economic Cooperation |
Hu Yeh | Left CPC 1989. Likely Loyal. |
|
Fair Trade for Import and Export |
Qiang Sung | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Market Economic Order |
Guang Yü | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
Foreign Investment Administration |
Yuang Ts'ui | Active CAPD (Precursor to the DPC) member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Market Operation |
Lian Hsiao | Active DNCA member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Aid to Foreign Countries |
Ye Feng | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Treaty and Law |
Yuan Meng | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
WTO Affairs |
Peng Chang | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
Trade in Services |
Tain Ch'ien | Active CDL (Precursor to the DLC)member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Market System |
Peng Pai | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Specialized
|
||
|
Commercial Reform |
Sheng Ni | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Asian Affairs |
Jie Pai | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Western Asian & African Affairs |
Shen Feng | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
American & Oceanian Affairs |
Long Shao | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
International Trade and Economic Affairs |
Deng Mao | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao |
Jin Chiu | Active DNCA member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
General Economic Affairs |
Shing Chao | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
Foreign Trade |
Kong Hsueh | Active DNCA member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Electromechanical Products & Science and Technology Industry |
Jie Tang | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Administrative / Corporate Services
|
||
|
General Office |
Tian Wan | Active CAPD (Precursor to the DPC) member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Human Resources |
Qing Yüan | Active CAPD (Precursor to the DPC) member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Policy Research |
Yuo Mai | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Finance |
Wen Kuo | Left CPC 1996. Likely Loyal. |
|
Injury Investigation |
Shing Lu | Active CDL (Precursor to the DLC)member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Negotiation Office |
Yue Wan Yen | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Retired Officials |
Hong Chin | Lapsed CPC member, 2000. Likely Loyal. |
|
Congressional Liasion |
Shen Li | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
Discipline Supervision & Investigation Group |
Yul Hsia | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
|
Bureau of Discipline Supervision |
Jiang Yü | Active CPC member, 2000. Loyalty Questionable. |
After the meeting is adjourned, you and Gao head back to your office, and he sits down across from you. You pour out another drink, for the both of you. You've got your list in front of you, and he's got his own lists. You aren't sure you can trust Gao, not yet, but he's been loyal enough as of late. Granted, you've only been here two weeks, but still.
You slowly pour through all the hard copy information that you've been given by your department heads. They might lie, but in your experience, numbers tend not to. As you read, you start to take notes. Each department is largely autonamous, you merely oversee them, and intervene as necessary. Given the number of highly active Communist Party members within MOFCOM right now, it is clearly important that you get to work overseeing them properly. Gao suggests moving quickly, as the Discipline Group, and the Bureau of Discipline Supervision are overseen by CPC members, hopefully they were just playing at loyalty, but as Gao points out, you can't count on that.
Gao strongly advises you to start to do some personal digging into the activities of both organisations before they can marshal the strength to move against you, hopefully you can have them replaced by more.....idealogically suitable candidates. Gao has some ideas in mind, for suitable candidates. You are truly blessed to have such a useful vice-minister. You'd almost be suspicious, but after getting him drunk, the only thing that changes is his stutter starts to decline. Beyond that, nothing.
As the cab you got to pick up Gao and take him home leaves the MOFCOM building, you begin to plan out your own strategy, going forward. You need to deal with the communist loyalists in your cabinet, and you need to do it soon. But how?
[] Form a 'Corruption Investigations Comittee'. Led by Gao, he could begin to root out disloyal elements in MOFCOM, starting with the GEA Department head.
[] Continue to dig for information. The subtle knife, to Gao's sledgehammer, continuing to dig for a bit would leave you vulnerable, but could also be a major boon.
[] Call in the NAO. The Nuclear option, this could put potential allies in MOFCOM at risk, and while certainly a popular move with the public, many within MOFCOM would view you with disdain.
[] Write in. By the time you are back in your office, you have another idea, a better idea!
Alright. After this, we will finally get into proper turns. Just had to outline all the departments, complete with loyalty. Don't worry, you'll be able to look into it a bit more later.
Anyway, I'm going to work on some other quests, and then I'll be gone for a few hours.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Alright. Character page is done! Any questions?
- Location
- Mists of Albion
[x] Call in the NAO. The Nuclear option, this could put potential allies in MOFCOM at risk, and while certainly a popular move with the public, many within MOFCOM would view you with disdain.
We are the Dragon Lady, let's act like it and burn this corrupt house down
We are the Dragon Lady, let's act like it and burn this corrupt house down
[X] Continue to dig for information. The subtle knife, to Gao's sledgehammer, continuing to dig for a bit would leave you vulnerable, but could also be a major boon.
I get the feeling that when we start cutting we need to be DECISIVE. We'd just have to endure the initial sabotage, before they cotton on.
I get the feeling that when we start cutting we need to be DECISIVE. We'd just have to endure the initial sabotage, before they cotton on.
Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
[X] Form a 'Corruption Investigations Comittee'. Led by Gao, he could begin to root out disloyal elements in MOFCOM, starting with the GEA Department head.