On the diplomatic front, unlike several other allies keen to flex their muscles on the international stage, Australia has been a soy sauce. This is partly because of its unique geographical location, and partly because its people themselves are not very interested in international affairs.

Ironically, while the Australian government struggled to win a seat on the UN Security Council, opposition Abbott also mocked then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for spending too much time overseas and away from global action to tackle climate change.

Compared with Britain, France and the United States, which seem to have to make a fuss about China every time there is a general election, Australia is undoubtedly like a docile sheep. However, this sheep has a good naval force.

At present, the Royal Australian Navy has six "Collins" class conventional submarines, four "Adelaide" class frigates, eight "Anzac" class frigates, eight landing ships, eight mine warfare ships and other equipment, and it is not an exaggeration to call it the most powerful naval force in the Pacific region.

Not only that, the "SEA1400" and "SEA1000" plans that the Australian Navy is currently promoting will cost $7.5 billion and $37 billion respectively to build a total of three "Hobart"-class Aegis destroyers and 12 "Corinth"-class submarines to replace the original equipment. Adhering to the strategy of renewing the Navy in 2020 and reborn in 2030, we will vigorously promote the modernization of the Navy

However, all of this requires money.

In contrast to its moderate foreign policy and modest fiscal performance, its determination to strengthen its navy is ambitious.

It is precisely for this reason that how to properly dispose of old warships has always been a difficult problem for Canberra. If the Philippines is willing to buy back these old broken copper and iron, the Australian government naturally has no reason to refuse.

As for the "additional conditional" of changing its stance on the current situation in the Western Pacific, it is obviously not so difficult for the Australian side to accept, after all, the new country is only a small country with a population of 20,000.

And Jiang Chen. It is to attack this arms sales agreement and disrupt this business

Canberra, the capital of Australia.

A taxi stopped outside a Burger King restaurant in the suburbs.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a gray trench coat walked up to the door. After inspecting the décor of the shop, he cautiously glanced back.

After confirming that there were no reporters, he opened the door and walked into the store, ordering nothing. He walked straight to the last seat and sat down, looking at the black man sitting across from him.

Bakari, Department Manager at Transwarp Trading Company.

"Bakari?" The middle-aged man took out his mobile phone and looked at it, then looked at Bakari, and asked in a low voice.

"yes, you must be Brody." Bakari smiled and held out his right hand.

Brody, a Liberal MP, is second only to Malcolm as the leader of the Liberal Party.

After a moment's hesitation, Brody took his hand and shook it. He said while staring into his eyes.

"The manager of Transwarp Trading? Australia doesn't need security, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you. ”

Bakari smiled and rested his arm on the table.

"But we'll be able to help you."

Brody raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to continue.

Bakari grinned, showing a mouth full of white teeth, "I heard you have a decommissioned MEKO-200 frigate—"

"No way. That ship has already been decided to be sold to the Philippines, and it is impossible to sell it to you. If you're here for this, we don't have to talk about it. Brody immediately understood what he was trying to say. Immediately waved his hand.

"200 jobs, your constituency." Bakari said with a smile.

Brody just wanted to get up. He frowned and sat down again.

There is nothing more important to a councillor than his own constituency. Though dismissive of Bakari's proposal, he sat down, ready to hear what he had to say.

"You didn't figure it out, Mr. Bakari. I can't convince the Senate to sell a warship to a country we don't know well, even if it's a warship that's obsolete. Impossible for anyone. Brody said.

"I didn't say it was sold to the state." Bakari shook his head.

"Neither can a private person."

Brody was about to get up, but Bakari hurriedly grabbed him and signaled that he was giving him ten minutes.

Seeing the councillor sit back in his chair, Bakari smiled.

"Our boss intends to spend $5 million to buy a bankrupt amusement park in New South Wales and buy the warship from the Australian government in the name of the amusement park. It was then converted into a military museum. This is not at all a violation of the arms sales regulations, since the warships are purchased by Australian domestic enterprises and are used for civilian purposes. ”

At this, Bakari paused, smiling at Brody's ever-brightening eyes. He knew very well that the councillor in front of him was already moved.

After thinking for a moment, Brody asked in a deep voice.

"How much are you going to pay for this warship?"

"$11 million." Bakari said.

Brody shook his head, "I can only reveal that the Philippine side is offering no less than 15 million US dollars, and I am afraid that I will not be able to convince the prime minister of your offer." ”

"Is it just $11 million?" Bakari asked with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Brody raised an eyebrow.

"This is an election year, do you think voters would like to see a prime minister who sells a warship to a neighboring country who is keen to destabilize the region, or a prime minister who is committed to improving jobs and maintaining stability in the region? Think about it, the prime minister is not a businessman, and the people don't care how much your warships are sold for, as long as the number is not too low and outrageous. ”

Because of the length of service, second-hand warships are not worth much, and the "Hamilton" class patrol ships purchased by the Philippines from the United States are about $10 million. Australia's warship may be relatively short in service, but it is definitely unlikely to be worth $15 million. The reason why the Philippines is willing to pay $1,500 this time is that Australia agreed to keep the weapons and radar and other equipment on the warship.

Australia was also taking a diplomatic risk when selling the warship, because it was likely to be seen as a provocation by China, so the proposal itself was very divided in the Australian Prime Minister's Office.

Brody, as a politician, naturally would not be unaware of this, and the reason why he didn't say it was just to win more benefits. Affected by the decline in iron and aluminum ore prices, Australia's 15-year full-year economic data is unsatisfactory, and in such an environment, it is natural that which option is more favored by voters.

Seeing Bakari's words clear, Brody's gaze really wandered unnaturally, and his index finger kept tapping on the table, weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

"This arms sale is led by the United States, and we cannot ignore the feelings of our allies." Brody said in a low voice.

Bakari smiled and stepped back from his chair.

"Mr. Brody, do you think the U.S. side is important or is the upcoming 2016 election important? If you are not re-elected in this general election, your diplomatic efforts will only pave the way for the next Labour Party to come to power. If you don't find my proposal attractive at all, we can certainly go to the Labour people and I'm sure they'll take advantage of it. ”

With that, Bakari got up.

However, this time it was Brody who pulled him down.

Seeing the parliamentarian's expression, Bakari couldn't help but smile triumphantly on his face.

He knew he had succeeded in convincing him

The rain outside the window was still heavy, and a few silver snake-like lightning bolts could be faintly glimpsed in the distance from time to time.

Jiang Chen was lying naked on the soft bed, with the futon under his stomach and his mobile phone in his hand, which he described as very comfortable.

"Negotiations have been reached, and MP Brody said he would discuss the matter with the party leader."

"Very good, $16 million has been credited to your account, and you are responsible for taking care of the line and buying the collapsed amusement park and the decommissioned warship." Lying on the bed in the villa, Jiang Chen held his mobile phone and gave instructions to Bakari, who was far away in Australia.

I wonder how the monkeys in the Philippines would feel if they found their warships turned into playgrounds. It doesn't matter whether this playground makes money or not, but in order to solve the diplomatic dilemma of the new country, it is necessary to tear the grass of Australia off the chariot of the Philippines.

With only 13 million US dollars, Jiang Chen can still afford it.

"By the way, what do you think of Brody as a person?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Cunning." Bakari used only two words to describe it.

"What about influence within the party?"

"Second only to party leader Brody in prestige, he helped Brody win the election in 13 years."

"Build a good relationship with that Broady Councillor, and we'll need him in the future." By the way, you vaguely ask him if he is interested in running for party leader, and we can provide campaign funds. The corners of Jiang Chen's mouth hooked up a playful smile.

“OK。” Bakari replied succinctly.

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Chen let out a sigh of relief.

Without Australia's accession, the so-called economic blockade of the Philippines would be a dead letter.

At this moment, the futon curled up under his waist moved, slowly bulging.

Lifting the corner of the futon revealed a pretty face, a pair of sapphire eyes staring into his eyes, rising and falling with a rhythmic rhythm.

Jiang Chen held his breath, smiled and stretched out his hand, stroking Aisha's dark brown hair.

"Well, I'm going to make a phone call—"

However, as soon as his fingertips touched the edge of the hair, a tingling sensation like an ant crawling over escaped from his cerebral cortex, so that Jiang Chen tensed his back muscles as if he had been electrocuted.

Violent shaking and a few "grunt" swallows

Facing that cold and fiery gaze, Jiang Chen took a deep breath and threw his phone aside.

Everything that follows is not enough for outsiders either. (To be continued.) )