Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: An Old Pattern, A New Target
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Near Nagata-chō, Japan.
*Screech!*
A fleet of luxury vehicles descended upon Sukeburo, a restaurant that had been quiet for some time.
Since it was an establishment primarily frequented by politicians, it wasn't difficult to guess the identity of the vehicle owners.
The restaurant owner, who had been taking a short break outside, immediately dashed through the back door and into the main hall. He soon stood at the entrance, greeting the familiar faces.
“Welcome, Abe-san.”
“It’s been a while, Daisuke. The Prime Minister will be arriving shortly, so please prepare the meal in advance. Oh, and for the time being, make sure no one comes near the private room.”
Daisuke immediately bowed and turned away.
Abe’s face, as he passed by, was grimly set.
Based on past experience, Daisuke sensed that today’s gathering was no ordinary social event. He grew excited at the thought that his restaurant might become the stage for a moment that would go down in history.
*Click!*
Meanwhile, inside the room, Abe, who was waiting for the Prime Minister with his fellow ministers, immediately rose to his feet as the door opened.
The Prime Minister appeared with his characteristic smile, gestured for everyone to be seated, and immediately addressed Abe.
“I’ve received the report from my secretary, but isn’t this a bit hasty?”
“It is not hasty in the slightest. If we let a few more years pass like this, the entire Japanese industrial sector will face a crisis.”
The Prime Minister had no real counter to that claim.
First semiconductors, now the battery sector.
Moreover, even Japan’s flagship industry, automobiles, was recently being encroached upon by Korean companies.
He wasn’t sure exactly when it started, but it was true that he, too, had felt a sense of crisis.
“As you know, Prime Minister, Ssangwoong Motors, which Jaewoo Group acquired a few years ago, is reportedly dominating the North American market at a tremendous pace. Furthermore, the electric vehicle company they established in the U.S. is also scheduled to enter the market in earnest soon. And in the midst of all this, solid-state batteries. Setting aside electric cars for a moment, if hybrid vehicles based on that technology are released, we cannot guarantee the fate of Toyota, which is currently enjoying its second golden age.”
Abe added more, watching the Prime Minister’s expression harden.
The Prime Minister’s gaze shifted toward him.
“Hybrids are one thing, but aren't electric cars still a half-baked system without proper infrastructure? Can they really compete with the internal combustion engine market?”
“That’s because you are not fully informed. If Jaewoo’s recently developed solid-state batteries are installed in those electric vehicles, they will far surpass internal combustion engines in terms of efficiency. Then, building the infrastructure will just be a matter of time.”
“Even so, aren’t trade sanctions going too far?”
“The example I gave was limited to the auto industry, but the damage to the industrial sector as a whole is far more severe.”
“…”
The Prime Minister stared at him in silence.
As if daring him to list all the other examples.
After taking a deep breath, Abe continued.
“Taking Mitsubishi as an example, they have been gradually losing their share of the power generation turbine market to Jaewoo since last year. The shipbuilding sector is also on the verge of completely ceding its dominance to Korea. And of course, there’s no need to even mention the semiconductor and home appliance sectors.”
“Hmm…”
The Prime Minister’s expression turned grave once more.
As if to drive the point home, Abe spoke again.
“According to a report from the Mitsubishi Research Institute, in just six years, the only fields where Japan will have an advantage over Korea will be machinery, some materials, and chemicals. But in reality, the materials sector is also being eroded by the company called Jaewoo, and given the current situation in the chemical sector, we can’t be certain of that either. If we don’t act now, it will be too late.”
“That’s why we should have nipped it in the bud…”
The Prime Minister started to speak carelessly but then shut his mouth.
Abe fully understood what he had been about to say.
He offered an excuse with an awkward look on his face.
“The failure of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office’s operation at that time was not our fault. It was because Russia intervened.”
“Enough. Bringing that up again will only cause more heartache. In any case, if you’re planning to take action, do you have a specific plan?”
At that, Abe nodded.
All eyes turned to him, and he opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“Korea’s greatest weakness is the equipment and certain materials needed for its industrial sector. In particular, for industrial robots and factory equipment, they are almost entirely dependent on Japanese companies like Fanuc. So, I was thinking we could use that to inflict maximum damage. It would also be good to impose financial sanctions if possible.”
“Block exports of robots and machinery to Korea?”
“Correct.”
“But on what grounds?”
“Can’t we just create the grounds?”
“…”
The Prime Minister was lost in thought again.
The words he eventually spoke revealed his apprehension about a military conflict.
“I’m saying this just in case, but don’t even dream of using Dokdo as a pretext for provocation like before.”
“Of course not. Considering the current Korean administration’s tendencies, another provocation might actually lead them to fire their smart munitions.”
“Tsk. That damned smart munition, or whatever it is…”
“It’s not just that. The problem is that Korea’s military strength itself is on a different level than before. In particular, the supersonic anti-ship missile they recently developed is said to be beyond the defensive capabilities of our Aegis ships. I have no desire to take such a risk.”
Abe felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he spoke.
Japan’s overwhelming advantages over Korea had been its naval and air power, but now, thanks to mere shells and missiles, naval superiority could no longer be guaranteed.
And was it just the navy?
Military experts evaluated that the KFX, which Korea recently succeeded in developing, far surpassed the F-15J.
It had become an established theory that their air power would soon be surpassed as well, and there were even claims that their anti-air defense network was impenetrable by anything in the galaxy.
Military provocation in such a situation?
If it escalated into an all-out war, they would face a barrage of ballistic missiles and be helplessly pushed back by the Korean army’s landing forces.
He shook his head to clear his frustration, just as the Prime Minister sought his reassurance again.
“That’s why a military provocation is out of the question. With the U.S. in the picture, a full-scale war is unlikely, but the current Korean government’s disposition… You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
The Prime Minister finally let out a sigh of relief at Abe’s response.
What was he thinking? His face suddenly contorted into a frown as he muttered to himself.
“Tsk. Anyway, I heard the Aegis ship that Korea recently delivered to its military was built with the express purpose of dominating the seas.”
“Yes, I heard that from the U.S. Forces Japan generals as well. They said a single one of those Aegis ships has enough combat power to cover half of our 3rd Escort Flotilla.”
“That’s why I’m listening to your proposal now, Minister. Right now, it’s just one ship, but if they build up to nine, our naval superiority will completely vanish.”
At those words, Abe composed himself again.
When he looked up, the Prime Minister’s eyes were gleaming.
“In any case. So, what pretext are you planning to use?”
“How about… that Korea has been secretly providing sanctioned goods to North Korea?”
“What in the world…”
The Prime Minister’s eyes widened in surprise.
Rummaging through his bag as if he had prepared something, Abe smiled and pushed a few documents in front of him.
“These are documents proving that a Korean trading company exported sanctioned goods to North Korea via China. Specifically, precision processing machinery needed for manufacturing key missile components. This is a clear violation of HS85. I think we can use this as a pretext.”
“How did you obtain this?”
“It wasn’t difficult to obtain. After all, the owner of that company is someone with whom we have a close relationship.”
“…”
The Prime Minister still looked confused.
Abe grinned, puffing out his chest as he spoke.
“There are still quite a few individuals in Korea who wish to maintain friendly ties with our Japanese government. The CEO of this company is one such person, and we have been secretly providing him with financial support. So, it’s possible not just to obtain a single document, but to create the incident itself.”
“Create an incident? You mean you intentionally had him export sanctioned goods to North Korea?”
“That is correct. If we merely forged the documents, Korea would surely find out, so it’s better to actually carry out the export.”
The Prime Minister let out a dry laugh.
Although he was grooming this man as the next prime minister, there were times when he seemed to rush forward without considering the consequences.
After appearing lost in thought for a long while, the Prime Minister finally nodded, agreeing to his proposal.
“Proceed. However, you must ensure that the Korean trader keeps his mouth shut.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. He’s not the type to betray us, even if it means death. Besides, once this plan is executed, there are quite a few Korean media outlets that will support us.”
The Prime Minister laughed heartily, as if this was one thing he could be sure of.
They were less media outlets and more slaves to money.
The supporting fire they would provide was something he could count on.
“Uhm…”
Just then, Kaede, the Minister of Internal Affairs, who had been listening quietly the whole time, cautiously spoke up.
But as all eyes fell on him, he became intimidated and clammed up again. It wasn't until the meeting ended and everyone was leaving that he finally spoke to a subordinate minister next to him.
“Does that make sense to you?”
“What do you mean?”
The minister questioned the sudden remark from the Minister of Internal Affairs.
“The economic sanctions. Isn’t that something the stronger party does to the weaker one?”
“That’s right.”
“But on the surface, we are clearly the weaker party. Does it make any sense for us to impose economic sanctions in this situation?”
“…”
“Frankly, if we block Fanuc’s exports, it will be an inconvenience for Korea, but it won’t create a desperate situation. They have other sources to import from.”
“Well, yes…”
“So, will these economic sanctions really be effective?”
“But the Korean industrial sector is already accustomed to our products. Habits are a powerful thing, and it won’t be easy for them to change those habits now. Besides, diversifying their equipment would also reduce factory operational efficiency.”
“I told you. It’s just an inconvenience, not a desperate situation. If they decide to endure it, it’s a problem they can overcome in just a few years. So, can it really be effective as a sanction?”
“…”
“And it’s the same with financial sanctions. Our own banks are struggling to find creditworthy companies to lend to. Do you really think they’ll listen to the cabinet?”
“…”
The minister listening to him began to frown.
He glanced at the Prime Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe walking ahead and whispered.
“Come on, surely Abe-san wouldn’t be pushing for this without knowing that? Even if he is, he must have something in mind.”
“I told you. The only impact on them is that it will cost a bit more money. Why don’t you consider that we might be the ones who take the bigger hit? What if they decide to retaliate? Can we handle that? Do you even know how our industrial structure is operating right now?”
“…”
The official blinked at his words.
His face suddenly crumpled into a frown, and he spoke cautiously.
“So, you’re saying Abe-san is making some kind of big mistake?”
“I don’t know who’s been feeding him this, but he’s clearly mistaken. Or maybe he’s so blinded by the idea of sanctions that he’s not thinking about the consequences at all.”
“Then you should stop him.”
“Friend, what if I get on Abe-san’s bad side by doing that? The way things are going, it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll be the next Prime Minister.”
After saying that, Kaede hurried to follow in Abe’s direction.
The minister, who had been watching him with a look of disbelief, shook his head and muttered.
“Then he shouldn’t have said anything at all. Damn it, I hope I’m not stepping in it too…”
******
“What do you mean? Fanuc is refusing to ship the equipment?”
As soon as I received the report, I headed to the conference room where a group-wide task force meeting was in progress.
All the key figures within the group were already present.
CEO Ahn, whose eyes met mine, shot up from his seat and said.
“It’s not Fanuc refusing; the Japanese government is blocking it. We received a call from Fanuc Japan this morning. They said the government has completely banned the shipment of robots and equipment for the battery factory.”
“…”
Fanuc was one of the world’s leading manufacturers of processing machinery, automation, and industrial robots.
And we were using a lot of their products in our factory expansion process.
But now the Japanese government was suddenly blocking the delivery?
The pattern felt strangely familiar, and a spark ignited in my mind.
“What’s the reason? The reason the Japanese government is blocking the shipment.”
At my question, CEO Ahn suddenly walked over to the TV.
He turned it on and tuned it to a news program.
[This morning, the Japanese government raised suspicions about Korea’s illegal export of items banned from entry into North Korea. The Japanese cabinet claims that most of the illegally exported items were diverted from Japanese exports to Korea and, as promised to the international community, has decided to remove Korea from its White List until the suspicions are resolved. The sanctions are not limited to simple export restrictions. They also plan to block Korean companies that have been utilizing low-interest rates from Japanese banks from procuring loans…]
This was, without a doubt, the same economic sanctions incident from before my regression.
The only difference was that this time they were targeting the equipment sector instead of semiconductor materials.
Then again, the semiconductor processes of this era didn’t require such high-purity etching gas, so there was no reason to target that area.
I immediately pushed the thought aside and issued instructions to the CEOs of each subsidiary.
“Each subsidiary, report on the equipment status for factories currently under expansion. And Vice Chairman Jin Hyun-cheol, please contact Siemens immediately and ask them to send their head of foreign exports.”
“Siemens? Why…”
Hyun-cheol asked, looking puzzled.
“This isn’t something that will end easily. So, even if it costs more money, we need to secure the equipment first. From now on, all of Jaewoo’s equipment that relied on Fanuc will be supplied by Siemens. If you tell them to come prepared to discuss a business partnership, we should get a quick response.”
“…”
All the executives blinked at my words.
I knew exactly how they felt.
We used Fanuc products not only for their performance but also for their price, supply, and smooth after-sales service. My words now were tantamount to overturning all of that.
However, based on my experience, this decision was unlikely to be reversed anytime soon.
In that case, it was better to act quickly.
“What about the existing facilities, even if we handle the newly expanded or constructed ones this way? What do we do if they have problems?”
“You don’t need to worry about the existing facilities. I plan to ensure this problem doesn’t last until they start breaking down.”
“…”
Hyun-cheol blinked at my words.
I paid him no mind and continued.
“However, if this drags on longer than expected… then we’ll have no choice. We’ll have to replace all the malfunctioning equipment.”
“The cost for that would be…”
“Of course, the financial bleeding will be significant for a while. It could even reach trillions of won. But if the situation gets that bad, it’s a cost we’ll have to bear anyway. So, rather than wasting more time and money being tied down by it, a quick system change is better.”
“…”
The executives were struck dumb by my words.
To be fair, even I didn’t want to imagine such a scenario.
Ultimately, to prevent it from worsening to that point, this matter had to be resolved in the shortest possible time.
“In any case, keep in mind that we are on high alert for the time being. By the way, if we switch our supplier to Siemens, how much of a delay do you expect for the expansion of the battery factory we acquired from Samjung?”
“I think it will be delayed by about five months. Honestly, that’s only possible because Siemens has such excellent production management.”
“What about Jaewoo Commercial Vehicles?”
“That shouldn’t be affected.”
That was a relief.
If the car factory had been affected on top of the battery factory, I might have completely lost it.
In any case, if they were determined to make such a self-destructive move, I couldn’t just stand by.
“Chairman Lee?”
I immediately left the conference room and called Lee Young-hoon.
It seemed they were in an emergency situation as well, as I could hear a commotion over the phone.
—Did you hear anything from the government? It was such sudden news that our strategic planning office is in a state of confusion.
“So you’re having problems too. Anyway, let’s meet.”
—Right now?
“Yes. It seems we’ll have to join forces on this one.”
—…