Commonwealth of Liberty

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_{^{REPUBLIC OF CHINA | 中華民國}}


𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙴𝙶𝙰𝙲𝚈 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝙷𝙸𝚃𝙴 𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁 𝙸𝙸: 𝙻𝙰𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙾𝚄𝚃 𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙸𝙽𝚂𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚆𝙴𝙸
白色恐怖的遗产 2：
毀滅黨外

A_{midst a shift in the geopolitical position of Taiwan, no longer considered the only China by most of the world, especially their so-called 'allies' in Asia such as Korea. It has become more critical than ever that the ideals of Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT must be upheld under all circumstances, the once tolerated idea of young Benshengren (native) Taiwanese and their aspirations for 'democracy' could no longer be tolerated amongst an increased crackdown by the government and a desire - no a need - to pursue an iron grip on the island.}

_{Empowered by the hardliners in the KMT who have all but overtaken most important positions despite the moderate presence of Chiang Ching-kuo, the military apparatus has began an aggressive offensive against dissenting voices, especially targeting those pesky Benshengren Taiwanese political collective known as the Tangwei movement. Hand in hand with the shadowy and feared National Security Bureau (NSB), the military government under General Hua has begun to wield a sword that aims to cut whatever it finds on its path. Officially under the excuse of 'suppressing Red dissent and stamping out the Communist threat', the McCarthyist attitude has hidden what has been an indiscriminate attack against any non hardline KMT nationalist.}

_{With no choice but to accept the desires of the KMT, Chiang Ching-kuo has begun to face his first real test since his father stepped down from party leadership and put him in charge. Ching-kuo has thus begun to put his Soviet upbringing and education to use, in turn identifying the need to step up the KMT's ideological and propaganda hold to ensure that the crackdown is succesful. Targetting what could be received as 'inspiring ideas of separatism', the KMT under Ching-kuo has launched a massive repression campaign against many pieces of press and literature, instead replacing them by KMT-sanction glorification of (revised) history and material that emphasizes Chinese nationalism, painting the idea of making Taiwan independent equivalent to treason.}

_{Extending beyond just these, the military government has also begun to draft a new educational curriculum in education through the Ministry of Education. With humanistic subjects being subject to strong KMT-approved revision to emphasize a specific Chinese identity while erasing most of the history of the island to do away with any notions of an independent Taiwan that exists without a greater China unified under the KMT.}

_{Seeping into the private lives of ordinary citizens. The military government and the NSB has made surveillance a pervasive fact of life - not that it was not before, just at a heightened level this time - with informants incentivized to report on neighbors, colleagues, and even family members suspected of harboring dissenting views. Arbitrary arrests and disappearances become commonplace, instilling a climate of fear and self-censorship among the populace. Restoring the legacy of the first White Terror to many Taiwanese citizens}

_{As the crackdown continues, its inevitable that there will be resistance. For now however, the crackdown has succeeded in temporarily driving the Tangwei movement completely underground, and ensuring that the KMT is without rival for the time being.}

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"If when I die, I am still a dictator, I will certainly go down into the oblivion of all dictators. If, on the other hand, I succeed in establishing a truly stable foundation for a democratic government, I will live forever in every home in China" ~ Chiang Kai-shek

January 17th, 1972 |
_{Canadian Government's Plan to Expand Oil Production}

Canadian Government's Plan to Expand Oil Production
_{Ottawa City, Ontario, NewAuroria — EVENING}

| The Canadian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Stanfield, has unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly increase oil production by two to three times by the end of the 1970s. This plan is a response to the steady rise in oil prices and the growing demand for energy both domestically and internationally. The strategy involves modernizing existing oil sands and fields in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as the construction of new oil fields in the Northwest Territories oil basins. One key aspect of the government's plan is the modernization of existing oil sands and fields in Alberta and Saskatchewan. This involves implementing advanced technologies and techniques to enhance extraction efficiency and increase production output. Through investments in infrastructure and equipment upgrades, the government aims to maximize the potential of these resources while minimizing environmental impact. |

| In addition to modernizing existing facilities, the government is spearheading the construction of new oil fields in the Northwest Territories' oil basins. These untapped reserves hold significant potential for expanding Canada's oil production capacity. The development of these new fields will not only create employment opportunities but also contribute to the country's energy security and economic growth. Recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship, the Canadian government has made significant investments in research and development aimed at minimizing the impact of oil extraction on the natural environment. Millions of dollars are being allocated to innovative technologies that aim to reduce water usage, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize habitat disruption. By prioritizing sustainability, the government aims to balance economic growth with environmental conservation. |

| The expansion of Canada's oil production will have far-reaching economic benefits, including increased revenue, job creation, and investment opportunities. The development of new oil fields and the modernization of existing infrastructure will stimulate economic growth in regions dependent on the energy sector. Furthermore, the increased production capacity will strengthen Canada's position as a global energy supplier, enhancing its competitiveness in international markets. The Canadian government's plan to expand oil production represents a strategic effort to address rising energy demands while fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability. Through modernization initiatives, construction of new oil fields, and investments in research and development, Canada is poised to significantly increase its oil output by the end of the 1970s. This ambitious undertaking underscores the country's commitment to meeting the energy needs of its citizens while safeguarding the natural environment for future generations. |

XI Olympic Winter Games | 11回オリンピック冬季競技大会

February, 1972 | 1972年2月

Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan | 北海道札幌市

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As cheers and applause fills the Makomanai Open Stadium in Sapporo, after the speed of Emperor Hirohito, the 11th Olympic Winter Games are declared open as athletes from around the world rejoice as we enter yet another Olympic year. This edition of the Winter Olympic Games are a special one, marking the very first time the Winter Games have been hosted outside of Europe and North America. Japan, having previously shown its capability of hosting such an event with the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, has delivered in being the first Asian nation to host the games, investing vast amounts of money and time into creating the very best facilities to host the 1,006 athletes that have made the journey to compete in these games.

The hosting journey of Sapporo starts in 1940, where it was selected to host the Winter Olympics, but these games were called off due to the 1937 invasion of China. The Second World War, which devastated Japan, delayed the city's hosting rights until 1966, when at the 64th IOC Session in Rome, Sapporo defeated the likes of Banff, Lahti and Salt Lake City with 32 votes out of 62 to achieve the distinction of hosting this edition of the Winter Games. In preparation, new largescale facilities costing some US$600 million well in advance, conducting a trial run of the facilities a full year in advance of the Games. The International Sport Week, held in 1971, was held to test the city's preparations as well as to test its civic mettle and hospitality. The effort was acclaimed by Olympic observers as a complete success. The development of brand new infrastructure by local authorities have also proved a massive success for the Sapporo economy, including the construction of a brand new subway. Reports suggest that Games' organizers turned a profit of around $8.47 million by selling broadcast rights.

The opening ceremony was held at the Makomanai Open Stadium, built for the Games, by Emperor Hirohito. This opening was historic, as Hirohito becomes the third dignitary in Olympic history to open the Olympic Games twice after his first appearance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He becomes the third after Adolph Heidler for the Summer and Winter Games of 1936, and Giovanni Gronchi in Winter 1956 and Summer 1960.

Three nations were expected to do extremely well in these competitions. The Soviet Union, Norden and Norway are the clear favourites to win the most medals, with the Soviets in particular having risen a tremendous amount since first joining the IOC, and Norden and Norway being the traditional champions of the tournaments. Alpenland and France were outsiders but strong in contention, as were East and West Germany. Italy, the Netherlands, Wallonia and the United States were also in strong contention, though considered less likely, and Finland were rated lower due to some weaker performances since the start of the 1960s. Hosts Japan would be searching for their first ever Winter Gold Medal.

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The Games | ゲーム

Alpine Skiing

Beginning with the Alpine Skiing, Alpenland secured a Gold and Silver in the Men's Downhill, Bernhard Russi and Roland Collombin securing strong performances in the final rounds. This feat would be repeated in the Men's Giant Slalom, with Edmund Bruggman and Werner Mattle and Karl Schranz securing a podium sweep. The shock of the tournament was Malcolm Milne, an Australian downhill skier, taking Bronze Medal in the Downhill events, securing Australia's first ever Winter Olympic Medal. In the Men's Slalom, Jean-Noel Augert and Patrick Russel securing a Gold and Silver for France, with Billy Kidd securing Bronze for the United States.

The Women's Downhill saw Alpenland take Gold and Bronze, courtesy of the relatively unknown Marie-Theres Nadig and Annemarie Moser-Proll, with France taking Silver by Isabelle Mir, failing to take Gold by .5 of a second. Canadian Betsy Clifford took Gold in the Giant Slalom, followed by Ingrid Lafforgue and Francoise Macchi of France for Silver and Bronze. Finally, France securing another Gold with Ingrid Lafforgue winning the Slalom, followed by American Barbara Ann Cochran and fellow French Michele Jacot for Bronze.

Biathlon

The Individual Biathlon saw East Germany's first Gold of the Games, Hansjorg Knauthe finishing a full minute ahead of his nearest competition, Aleksandr Tikhonov of the Soviet Union. Lars-Goran Arwidson of Norden took Bronze 30 seconds behind his Soviet competitor. The Relay event went to the Soviet Union, who finished three minutes ahead of the Nordic Team in Silver, and thus finished 20 seconds ahead of the Polish team in Bronze.

Bobsleigh

The two-man bobsleigh event saw Italy take Gold and Silver in an expectedly dominant display by the Italian side. Alpenland secured a Bronze medal, with Jean Wicki and Edy Hubacher fighting off their competitors and preventing an Italian podium sweep. In the four-man event, Alpenland would take yet another Gold, leda by Jean Wicki, Hans Leutenegger, Werner Camichel and Edy Hubacher. They beat out the fierce Italian competition, who finished in Silver by .8 of a second. West Germany secured a Bronze medal, also missing out on Silver by just 0.09 of a second.

Cross Country Skiing

Norway took their first Gold of the tournament, Ivar Formo taking Gold a full 20 seconds ahead of Nordic rival Sven-Ake Lundback in Silver, with Fyodor Simachov finishing in third to take the Bronze Medal. The Soviets would take Gold in the Men's 30 km, Vyacheslav Vedenin beating out the East Germans, who in turn bested the Nordic competitors in Bronze. Finland would secure their first Gold in the Men's 50 km, followed by the Soviets in Silver and the East Germans in Bronze. Finally, the 4 x 10 km relay event was won by the Soviet team, securing their dominance, followed by the East Germans and finally the Nordic team.

The Women's 5km, 10km and 3 x 5 km relay were all won by the Soviet Union, who secured a podium sweep in the 5km also, and Bronze in the 10 km. Finland managed to secure a Silver in the 10 km with Marjatta Kajosmaa, but was unable to break the record three Golds won by Galina Kulakova of the USSR. East Germany took silver in the relay, with Finland taking Bronze in the relay.

Figure Skating

The Men's figure skating Gold was taken by Czechoslovak Odrej Nepela, scoring nearly 100 points more than the second place Sergei Chetverukhin of the Soviet Union. Patrick Pera ousted the US competitors to take the Bronze medal by equally narrow margins. Beatrix Schuba of the Alpine Republic took the Gold in the Women's event, followed by American Janet Lynn and Canadian Karen Magnussen. Janet Lynn, despite missing out on the Gold, achieved tremendous popularity among the Japanese audiences as a result of her artistic free program, becoming the most popular athlete of the Games with Japanese fans and rising to fame beyond most of the other competitors. The Soviet Union took Gold and Silver in the Pairs skating, with Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov securing the Gold by a margin of just one point from second placed Liudmila Smirnova and Andrei Suraikin. East Germany securing Bronze, 5 points ahead of the American pair JoJo Starbuck and Kenneth Shelley, who were favourites heading into the competition.

Ice Hockey

The Ice Hockey tournament saw the Soviet Union, United States, Czechoslovakia, Norden, Finland and Poland compete in the final round. Japan, Alpenland, West Germany, Norway and Yugoslavia were all eliminated in the first round. Canada, traditionally dominant in these events, did not qualify.

The Soviet Union secured Gold with 4 wins and a single tie, followed by the United States with 3 wins and 2 losses. Czechoslovakia secured 3 wins and 2 losses, falling short in points difference and winning the Bronze medal. Norden fell just short of the medals, losing to Finland 4-3 in the final match. Poland lost all 5 of their matches in an underwhelming performance.

Luge

The Men's singles in the Luge events saw Italy secure Gold, a feat repeated in the Men's Doubles, Paul Hildgartner and Walter Plaikner of South Tyrol securing those victories for the Italians. West Germany securing the Women's Singles in emphatic style to secure yet another Gold medal. Alpenland secured a Silver and Bronze, with Poland securing a solitary Bronze medal in the Women's event.

Nordic Combined

Drama unfolded in the Nordic Combined as for the first time, no Nordic nations qualified for the medals. Gold was instead won by Tomas Kucera of Czechoslovakia in his first ever victory at both Olympic level. The Soviet Union finished in Silver and Bronze, Aleksandr Nosov and Mikhail Artyukhov securing those positions.

Ski Jumping

Japan had a number of close calls up until this point, with the medals seemingly escaping the many Japanese athletes. However, their efforts were finally rewarded, with the Gold medal going to Japanese ski jumper Yukio Kasaya at the Normal Hill event. His victory saw him go 10 points ahead of the Soviet contender, with Norden achieving a Bronze in the events. In the large hill, Japan failed to repeat their victory as the Soviets took Gold, with Czechoslovakia and Poland securing Silver and Bronze respectively.

Speed Skating

The final event of the Games was Speed Skating. The Men's 500 metres was won by Norwegian Roar Gronvold, followed by fellow Sten Stensen in Silver, and Ard Schenk of the Netherlands finished in Bronze. However, the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 m speed skating were all won by Dutchman Ard Schenk, securing another record breaking performance for the Netherlands in these events. Norway managed to secure two Silvers, thanks to Gronvold, and Dutchman Kees Verkerk secured a solitary silver. Norway managed to secure two more Bronze medals by Sten Stensen, and Verkerk took the final Bronze in the 10,000 m.

The Women's Events saw a double Gold by American Anne Henning in the 500 and 1000 metres events, besting Vera Krasnova and Lyudmila Titova of the Soviet Union in the 500 metres, and Atke Keulen-Deelstra of the Netherlands. The Soviets took Gold in the 1500 metres, ahead of the Dutch and the Americans, and in the final event, Stien Kaiser and Keulen-Deelstra of the Netherlands secured Gold and Sivler, with Krasnova taking Bronze.

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As the Games close for another year, the Soviet Union once again emerge at the top of the medal tables, followed by Alpenland and the Netherlands. Italy and Norway perform well, with France, the United States and Czechoslovakia following close by. Japan secure their first ever Winter Gold, Kasaya undoubtedly rising to stardom in his home country, whilst Norden drop dramatically after finishing top of the medal tables in 1968. Australia join the medal table for the first time.

With these Games over, we now turn our attention to Munich, who will host the Summer Olympics this year. Join us next time for more Olympic coverage!

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International Olympic Committee | 国際オリンピック委員会

Official Factbook and Medal Table | 公式ファクトブックとメダル表

🇲 🇺 🇸 🇮 🇨   |   𝙻𝙰 𝙲𝙰Í𝙳𝙰 𝙳𝙴 𝙻𝙾𝚂 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙲𝙷𝙸𝚂

‎ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎•‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES

░░░ LAS DROGAS DE MÉXICO Y MÁS ALLÁ

𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐗𝐗 - 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟐 | 𝐌𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐂𝐈𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐃

_{The Nixon shutdown of US borders has led to Mexico vigorously searching for drug dealers and drug cartels, a cold case which had been ignored for years. The nation began to effectively wipe all records of the cartels on international databases to make other states resume trade with Mexico and old trade droughts were restored with the effective wipe of drug information. So far, a drug cartel known as the Golden Triangle, an international cartel which cultivated crops and substances such as opium or cocaine from the opium. The cartel had been staying under the radar for practically a decade and have been smuggling drugs all over the world and creating a international drug trade for millions of addicts around the world. The Mexican states have 'cracked' down on the drug trade in their states. The most drug induced state in all of Mexico was Baja California, especially on the US border, due to the fact Los Angeles was only a few miles away from the Mexican border led to a massive drug exchange in the state. The Gulf of California was also a murder site, for betrayers or 'rats' of the cartels, and a total of 120 bodies were found in the gulf, and some were actually death from overdose, since the capital of Baja California, in Tijuana, the city became a drug center, as people from Los Angeles flooded from the US border to get their hands on cartel drugs. The inevitable drug trade led to an unstable cycle of power in Tijuana, with the government taking numerous guidelines and creating a restricted drug trade. All drugs, even medicinal, were banned in Tijuana and the rest of Baja California. Many addicts fled to Baja Califronia Sur, which had no laws against drug use. The cities became overrun with addicts and crack traders, and eventually, the city banned all drug use as well. Addicts had to flee to mainland Mexico, and soon, the PRI had condemned the actions of the Golden Triangle, and eventually, military were crawling in states which had not yet banned drug use, and addicts were sent to rehabilitation programs. The Programa de Rehabilitación de Drogas de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (PRDEUM) which had rehabilitated 780,000 drug addicts and counting, The police were getting closer to ending the cold case which had ended so many years ago, and soon, the entire government had found the headquarters of the Golden Triangle, and the military had set up Operation Golden Takedown which was initiated and Mexican Navy SEALS were sent to the area, and it became a all out turf war in the general area of the building. When the guns rang through the square, everyone covered in their homes, stray bullets hit innocent passersby, eventually, the guns were chilled, and the sounds abruptly stopped. All of the cartel members had surrendered, most of them, however, were killed. The ones that were caught were arrested and sent for trial, but the soon to be sentenced on the spot rather than a fair trial, which got out in press, but all these were simply rumors, no conformations were made at the time. PRDEUM went to the prisons to help addicted prisoners to quit, and soon, almost all prisons were eradicated from addiction. The government took a sigh of relief as the drug use plummeted and states could un-criminalize drugs, but everything was far, far, from over, as the Golden Triangle would return. . .}

West Indies Federation - February 1972

Race to the Red House

1972 is now one of the most contentious years in Federation history. With the general election planned in August, what traditionally was a two-party system between the Labour party and the Democratic party has turned into a 6-way "Race to the Red House" among the new formed political blocs of 1970. Labour, Democrat, Left Alliance, National Party, DAC and NJAC are all vying to at least gain a foothold in power or hold on to what they have. Campaigning has already begun from Kingston to San Fernando and almost every citizen has something to say.

Prime Minister Eric Williams runs with the Labour party and has brought it great success since his first election in 1962, having run the country ever since and winning again in 1967. While he's popular, more so now that he's managed to ride the wave of the Black Power Movement with relatively little issues and even managed to get the nation moving beyond the protests with his diplomatic trip and bringing in foreign investments. If this were the simple election against the Democrats, he would likely win with very little opposition. This is not the case however and the Prime Minister is now facing far more than just his traditional rivals. The left has risen and he must now placate both the moderates and the radicals if he, his party and indeed his nation is to continue.

The War of Words

The first campaigns began in early February, after the grace period of Independence Day last month. The Left Alliance for National Democracy and Socialism met in its first official Congress in Dominica with representatives from all of the communist and socialist forces that signed on. In it, the recently released Grenadian lawyer and island activist Maurice Bishop emerged as a unifier on the ideological and policy front. Forging out of the infinite number of views a collective focus that resembled much of Tanzanian Socialism "Ujamaa", the LA managed to cobble together a manifesto and begin publishing for the voting masses. While there are some in the alliance who see this use of electoral politics as fraught and doomed, few are willing to step to armed revolution.

In the Democratic Labour Party, Rudranath Capildeo has been cast aside and replaced by the unionist Hugh Shearer, likely in an attempt to gain favor with the trade unions against Williams who was all too willing to use force to crack down on strikes. Though a popular man among Jamaica's working class due to his work as a union newspaper writer, we was still unpopular during the late 60s unrest and his views on Cuba, the USSR and socialism in general are defining to say the least. Shearer is unequivocal in his distaste for the Black Power Movement, and calls for stricter measures on their growth and the growth of other elements in the Federation for "security".

The DAC led by ANR Robinson and the WINP with Ashford Sinanan have both also taken a hold primarily in their homes of Tobago, Trinidad and Barbados. Both parties share in their general hatred of the two-party system and the rising left wing, however that is where it ends. Robinson prefers privatization to nationalization, and in his manifesto wants to scale back the major state projects and services that were formed in the wake of the Black Power reforms, despite how popular or effective they may be. He would invite the private sector back into the oil industry and other areas of the country.

Sinanan meanwhile is a middle way supporter. He believes that public sector control in some areas is beneficial for the country, but that it shouldn't interfere in the market. Ironically, both these men represent what would be accepted in the opposite party they broke from. Robinson's anti-nationalization view would be at home in the Democrats more than Labor, and vice versa. The National Party and Democratic Action Congress frequently come to blows on public display, their supporters being quite keen to interrupt the other. A DAC group would disrupt a National Party rally, in return the National Party would do the same. On more than one occasion even in this early stage of the election year police have had to be called to both rallies.

As the Race to the Red House continues on, one can only speculate to the results when it comes time to place the paper into the ballot.