Canton Confederation
The Canton Confederation is one of the four major splinter states resulting from the former People's Republic of China. Consisting of the former provinces of Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian, as well as the city-state of Macao, the Confederation is the most economically powerful of the former Chinese states, but its weak-confederation system often leads to political infighting, resulting in an incoherent and sometimes self-contradicting foreign policy.
For decades after the collapse of communist China, it prospered despite it's rivalry with Wuxing and a weaker than normal megacorp presence. Crash 2.0 forced the Confederation to contract Wuxing to help them upgrade to the Wireless Matrix. Which gave them the opening to expand on the mainland. Today, the Canton Confederation is now for all intents and purposes a puppet of Wuxing.[1]
History[]
The Confederation originated from a trade alliance between the southeastern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Zhejiang, calling itself the Greater Canton Economic Development Council. Nominally the Council was responsible for dealing with the increased foreign investment and economic boom caused by the Resource Rush, allowing the member provinces to coordinate economic deals with Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as their connections through Chinese emigrants to southeast Asia, Hawai’i and the United States. Although it paid lip service to the People's Republic, the Council effectively took charge of all day-to-day responsibilities, effectively weakening Beijing's influence over the region. Since the Council was bringing in money and at least appearing to show loyalty, the Chinese government turned a blind eye to all this, so that they could focus on more immediate problems in the western provinces.
After the secession of Hong Kong and the earthquake that buried the majority of China's arsenal in the Taihang Mountains, the Council saw its opportunity and declared its independence from China, renaming itself as the Canton Confederation. The Confederation extended invitations to both Taiwan and Macao to join; Macao accepted the invitation, while Taiwan rebuffed them. Nevertheless, trade had made both the Confederation and Taiwan co-dependent on each other, so an uneasy truce formed between the two.
The Nationalist War[]
That truce fell apart in 2040, however, when the resurgent Nationalist Party seized power in Taiwan, as well as the provinces of coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian, and certain micro-states in the Coastal Provinces. The Taiwan-based party had been secretly sponsoring reunification policlubs in the Confederation, and its electoral success in 2040 represented its attempt to seize power.
The Confederation declared war on this breakaway alliance, and the civil war erupted mostly on the Nationalists’ turf. After two years the Confederation recaptured Fujian and began massing forces to invade the rest. Two assaults against Taiwan failed. Meanwhile, to the west, Liang Hong had seized power in Sichuan, and the new regime threatened the Confederation’s western borders.
Caught in a tight place, the Confederation negotiated a truce with Taiwan. Under its terms, Fujian returned to the Confederation fold, while the Confederation relinquished territory seized from Zhejiang. Taiwan was recognized as an independent state, while Shanghai owed reparations to the Confederation.
The war cost plenty for all involved. Zhejiang fractured under war reparations, and its remnant states became yet more micro-nations in the coastal region. Meanwhile, the Confederation economy sagged under reconstruction, forcing Canton to abandon its regional presence and allowing the Imperial Japanese Navy to move into Southeast Asia.
Recent Events[]
Between 2044 and 2061 the Canton Confederation shrank from the limelight as the Japanacorps, backed by the Japanese Imperial Navy, exerted control over southeast Asia. However, after Wuxing's ascension to the Corporate Court and the recall of Japanese troops back to Japan after a massive earthquake wiped out most of Japan, the balance of power shifted in the Confederation's favor, which it used to start building up its fleet. Canton is attempting to fill the power vacuum in Southeast Asia. Recently, the Confederation had a chance to show off its strength in 2062, when an underwater mining dispute between Wuxing and Shiawase resulted in an international incident that brought both the Confederation and Vietnam into involvement. As of 2064 this dispute has not yet been resolved.[2][3]
Post Crash 2.0[]
No new information has yet emerged about the Confederation after the Matrix Crash 2.0, or of its current status as of 2070.
Timeline[]
2006: The provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Zhejiang form the Greater Canton Economic Development Council, to deal with the increased foreign investment and economic boom caused by the Resource Rush.
2015: Hong Kong secedes from China and declares itself the Hong Kong Free Enterprise Zone. Great Britain is duped into using its influence to aid Hong Kong, but corporate interests swiftly take over.
2017: A major earthquake hits the Taihang mountain range, which also serves as China’s main nuclear weapons stockpile. The quake triggers several underground nuclear detonations, which collapse the entire underground arsenal. Aftershocks reverberate throughout northern China; one creates deep crevasses in Tiananmen Square and topples several monuments.
2018: The member provinces of the Greater Canton Economic Development Council secede from China, and the Council transforms into the Canton Confederation. Sichuan, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia also withdraw, effectively cutting off western China from Beijing and prompting the western regions to secede. These sudden losses force a coup in Beijing, as reformers throw the Communist Party out of power.
2041 to 2044: The Nationalist War. Fujian and Zhejiang declare independence and break away from the Confederation to join Taiwan. The Confederation wages war and reclaims Fujian. Zhejiang fragments into multiple microstates that are subsequently lumped into the Coastal Provinces.
2064: The Confederation grants permission to Wuxing to conduct undersea exploration offshore from the Paracel Islands. While there, Wuxing discovers that Shiawase is present conducting undersea mining of manganese nodules, with rights granted from Vietnam. Wuxing files a grievance in Admiralty Court. The Confederation deploys warships into the area as a show of intimidation against Shiawase and the Vietnamese.
Culture[]
Connections[]
Guanxi (connections) is what is most important in China when it comes to doing business. The strongest guanxi is of course, family. Not just your immediate family (parents and siblings) but also your grandparents, their siblings, the in-laws, and even cousins thrice removed. Make an enemy and you may end up with over a 100 people after you.
Hierarchy[]
In China, hierarchy in society is important as in knowing who is your better. Confucianism strongly influenced Chinese civilization and it was big on every individual knowing their place in society. People keep a virtual social scorecard and maintain a tally in their head as to who scores higher.
Etiquette[]
Among the Chinese, etiquette is important, as in how polite this or that person acts. The Chinese learn pretty early that they are supposed to be courteous to each other. As in being courteous to others even when your ripping them off. There is also the concept of "face" which deals with your honor, reputation, street credibility, and so on. If you screw someone over, it's advisable to give that individual the opportunity to restore his reputation, otherwise you will make an enemy.[4]
Sixth World in Canton[]
Metahumans[]
Though things were not all roses for metahumans when they appeared in China (e.g. parents abandoning ork and troll children), due to cultural factors the Han Chinese were more easily able to accept the emergence of metahumans than people in Japan, India, the Middle East, or some of the more conservative regions and nations in the West (e.g. the Confederation of American States or Spain). The treatment of metahumans is generally likewise better than in most of the world, especially compared to the CAS, Japan, or the Middle East. This is reflected in the Chinese megacorp Wuxing, Inc., their criminal syndicates (Triads), and in both Daoism and Buddhism.[5][6][7][8][9]
Awakened[]
Magic was embraced by the Chinese relatively easily due to it's acceptance in Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism and therefore its reintegration into Chinese society was far easier than it was in the Islamic nations or in most of the Catholic world. The Awakened are favored in Chinese society and the use of magic in society is greater than in the West as demonstrated by Wuxing, Inc., states such as Sichuan and Manchuria, the respect and reverence for dragons, the Triads, or the city of Hong Kong.[10][11][12][13][14]
The State of Canton[]
Government[]
As the name implies, the Confederation is a decentralized coalition of its member provinces. The central confederation government still maintains control over the military, legislature and infrastructure (roads, power grids and such). However, the member provinces still possess the right to govern their own economic policies and trade regulation. The confederation may arbitrate to smooth out differences in policy between member provinces, but the final right still remains with the province.
As expected, this type of decentralized confederation often leads to political gridlock, as the member provinces bicker with the central government, along with each other. The megacorps often use this arrangement to strike separate deals with provincial governments, so as to undercut the Confederation’s power.
Military[]
The Canton Confederation is one of 4 Chinese successor states that inherited nuclear weapons.[15] They have a standing navy unlike most of the other successor states.[16] Due to the withdrawal of Japan from Southeast Asia, they are attempting to fill the power vacuum, starting with the South China Sea. The Cantonese navy is increasing its naval patrols in the SCS due to "piracy" and Canton is challenging the activities of Vietnam and the Shiawase Corporation.[17] Wuxing is building the growing Cantonese navy.[18] In 2061, they contracted to build six Soohong-class destroyers for the Canton Confederation [19]
Foreign Relations[]
Following a dispute over docks, Wuxing lobbied the Corporate Court to regime change the Canton Confederation's government in 2045 [20][21] The Canton Confederation has recently had border skirmishes with Guangxi [22] Wuxing mining ships control most of the manganese beds in the South China Sea and it is sending out increasingly larger mining fleets to the SCS[18]
Geography[]
| File:Map Canton.jpg |
| Canton [23] |
Notable Locations[]
- Macao
- Zhurong Peak
- South China Sea (not shown)
Economy[]
Canton is the home of facilities from both the national corporations and foreign tripe-AAA megacorporations. They lead the rest of China when it comes to research and technological innovation. It's technology is comparable to that of Europe and the CAS, but not quite at the level of Japan, the UCAS, or Pueblo.[24]
Corporate presence[]
Population Centers[]
Capital[]
Guangzhou:
In Guangzhou the capital, Wuxing and Triads are the real powers. Triads control the suburban belts, via a facade of legitimacy through business fronts and corporate security contracts. Multi-story shantytowns on are on the hills overlooking the skyscrapers of downtown. It is also the primary base of the Cantonese navy, has their largest shipyard, and is the logistical center for their maritime support services.[26][27]
Major Cities[]
Changsha:
The city of Changsha is the manufacturing center for both Tan Tien and Wuxing. Citizens mostly work for the megacorps or are out augmenting the Sichuan border defenses.[28]
Fuzhou:
The city of Fuzhou is the site of a major naval station, and beneficiary of foreign and domestic corps investing in the city.[29]
Nanchang:
The city of Nanchang is the vacation spot for the wealthy of the Confederation, which has a pleasure industry that imports "professionals" from around the world. In the city is a strong Triad presence.[30]
Macao:
The city of Macao is a haven for mercenaries and gunrunners. It is a major Triad stronghold.[31]
References[]
This page forked from Wordman's The Sixth World: A geographical index to the world of Shadowrun.
- ↑ The Neo-Anarchist Streetpedia p.36
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.24
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.28
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.25
- ↑ Corporate Download p.108
- ↑ The Complete Trog p.78-79
- ↑ Vice p.66
- ↑ Vice p.68
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.207-208
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.45
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.207-208
- ↑ Runner Havens p.9-10
- ↑ Shadowrun Fifth Edition Core Rulebook p.34
- ↑ Vice p.68
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.46
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.47
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.28
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Sixth World Almanac p.117
- ↑ Rigger 3 p.21
- ↑ Corporate Download p.10
- ↑ Shadowrun Third Edition p.29
- ↑ State of the Art: 2063 p.64
- ↑ Excerpted from Shadows of Asia p.25
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.25
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.8
- ↑ Sixth World Almanac p.116-117
- ↑ Shadows of Asia p.26
- ↑ Sixth World Almanac p.116-117
- ↑ Sixth World Almanac p.116-117
- ↑ Sixth World Almanac p.116-117
- ↑ Sixth World Almanac p.116-117
Index[]
- Corporate Download, 10
- Corporate Enclaves, 102
- Corporate Guide
- Dragons of the Sixth World, 52, 108, 114, 118
- Ghost Cartels, 101
- Parazoology, 7
- Runner Havens
- Runner's Companion, 64
- Rigger 3, 21, 107
- Shadowrun Third Edition, 29
Shadows of Asia- Sixth World Almanac, 116-117
- State of the Art: 2063, 64
- State of the Art: 2064, 15, 28
- Target: Awakened Lands, 92
- Shadows of Asia, 8, 25, 28, 46-47
- The Neo-Anarchist Streetpedia, 36
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| The Splinter States of China |
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Beijing | Canton Confederation | Coastal Provinces | Gansu | Hainan | Henan | Hong Kong | Manchuria | Ningxia | Shaanxi | Sichuan | Taiwan |