35: Section 35

"Huaguo isn't selling us rare earths anymore?"

"Have they already secretly learned our technology?"

"Impossible!"

"After multiple validations, Huaguo's imitation of our technology is still in the theoretical stage! We've been feeding them incorrect information all along; without twenty or thirty years, they won't be able to break through this technological blockade!"

The various departments of the Western Countries also acted very quickly, soon investigating the domestic situation.

Rather, the widespread dissatisfaction was simply impossible to hide.

This, on the contrary, put their minds at ease.

"Hehe, they really haven't secretly learned our technology. They probably just want to raise the price of rare earths by taking advantage of the situation."

"Hmph, without us, they will have no refined rare earths at all. But without Huaguo, we can still develop our own domestic rare earth resources!"

"Since they want to raise prices, we'll play along with Huaguo!"

Immediately after, under the leadership of Lighthouse Country, the Western Countries immediately began implementing countermeasures against Huaguo—

A complete ban on selling deeply processed and refined rare earths to Huaguo!

If the initial export ban only affected units developing rare earths.

Then, when facing this sanction.

It affected all walks of life!

Soon, various Experts came out to criticize this policy.

"Without the super strong magnets produced from rare earths, related industries in our civilian product sector, such as electric vehicles, electric wipers, and drones, will face a cliff-like decline!"

"We are now in the information age; electronic products in all aspects require rare earth resources! What's the use of a large pile of unprocessed rare earths?"

"Besides civilian use, many military applications rely on rare earths!"

"Are we really going to dispute for a moment and let many fields in Huaguo fall into stagnation?"

Seeing the constant complaints from the Huaguo populace gave the Western Countries even greater confidence.

"Oh my god, the higher-ups in Huaguo don't seem to be very smart; have they all been kicked by a donkey?"

"Even an ordinary person in society can see that Huaguo is bound to lose in this standoff, yet their higher-ups can't see it?"

"This policy will probably be automatically lifted in a couple of days. We'll just wait for them to come and apologize, and they must compensate us a huge sum of money before we can continue trading with them, so Huaguo gets the lesson it deserves!"

The rare earth policy caused widespread dissatisfaction and incomprehension.

However, because this policy was even accompanied by strict legal regulations, people did not dare to easily touch it.

And those who tried to smuggle rare earths were severely punished without exception!

Seeing that Huaguo's enforcement of this policy was so strong.

And several days had passed without any news of its withdrawal.

Suddenly, those Western Countries became a little restless.

Every day of delay was also a loss for them!

However, in reality, everyone silently recorded this loss, preparing to double it in the next negotiation and make Huaguo unilaterally compensate for it!

Of course, the Western Countries would not actively lose face by proposing renewed cooperation.

They dispatched many reporters to Huaguo's routine press conference.

Soon, a reporter couldn't wait to ask a question.

"Excuse me, when does Huaguo plan to withdraw this erroneous policy of banning rare earth exports?"

...P.S.: Are there still brothers reading this book? Why is the comment section so deserted? The author suddenly feels uneasy. Could the brothers who are still reading please make some noise?!

Chapter 45: Dominant Response, A Policy That Harms the Enemy by 100 and Ourselves by 100,000?!

Chapter 45: Dominant Response, A Policy That Harms the Enemy by 100 and Ourselves by 100,000?!

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, routine press conference.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official on stage heard these words.

He secretly smiled inwardly.

He had long guessed that these representatives, who were foreign pawns, would actively step forward to ask this question.

In fact, these officials were also very curious about it.

After multiple inquiries, they wanted to know if the meaning of this policy was truly just a pressure tactic, as foreign countries speculated.

If it was merely a pressure tactic, then their answers would have to leave some room for maneuver.

However, every message from above only had one affirmative answer!

Therefore, he looked at the questioning reporter, gave a subtle sneer, and stated in a calm voice:

"I don't understand this reporter's question. What do you mean by an erroneous policy, and why should it be withdrawn?"

Upon hearing this, the foreign reporters present, after the translation, understood and began to stir.

Although the Huaguo language is profound, this time the content was not difficult to understand, summarized in one sentence—

"Does your statement mean that Huaguo does not intend to withdraw this policy? This concerns the friendship between Huaguo and Western Countries; do you intend to make enemies with other countries?"

This question, once posed, essentially forced Huaguo to either withdraw the policy or face a complete rare earth blockade from various countries.

However, the official on stage remained expressionless, merely nodding faintly and saying, "Yes, we do not intend to withdraw this policy!"

"As for your desire to blockade our country's rare earth resources..."

"Go ahead!"

!!!!!!!!!!!

The video of this scene was also recorded and uploaded to various social platforms.

Facing the rare and dominant response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, many people were astonished and shocked.

"Brother Zhao is awesome! That's how a dominant response should be!"

"Hahaha, I'm so thrilled, those reporters were speechless and could only rage impotently!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, those praising are probably elementary school students. Clearly, we are the ones raging impotently."

"Exactly, any clear-headed person can see that in this technological blockade, Huaguo is at an absolute disadvantage and simply cannot win against the other side!"

"Many large companies and factories whose livelihoods have been cut off are even preparing to move abroad."

"Hmph, a bunch of lapdogs, only knowing that the foreign moon is round, right? If you want to go out, then get out and don't come back!"

"Exactly, the country has clearly provided enough subsidies; you can transform or research your own technology. Why must you resell precious national resources to support yourselves!"

"Ignorant and naive, do you really think that great power diplomacy is just about shouting loudly? Without strength, no matter how loud you shout, it's just a shrew cursing!"

"Look, this time the Western Countries will definitely target our rare earth industry comprehensively. By then, our country's various industries will probably stagnate for three to five years before recovering."

"Stagnate for three to five years? Set back three to five years!"

“...”

With the strong statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some people also supported it, feeling that a great nation should have the demeanor of a great nation, and why should it be constrained everywhere!

Of course, more people only looked at immediate interests.

If this policy hurt them, they wouldn't support it, no matter what!

On major platforms, people were divided into two factions, fiercely debating.

As for abroad, upon learning that Huaguo's attitude was unusually strong, not even planning to withdraw despite their explicit threat of sanctions.

This also infuriated them.

However, no one took this blockade seriously.

Everyone had only one thought: without us to help you refine rare earths, how will your Huaguo develop!

Subsequently, those Western Countries even openly declared that if Huaguo wanted to trade with them in the future, it would have to pay a hundred times the previous price to earn their forgiveness.

They also listed a series of hundreds of unreasonable treaties, saying that such treaties, which could never be regretted and would make it difficult for people to ever be their own masters, were circulating online.

Seeing this, those organizations that originally relied on trading with foreign countries all showed bitter faces, unable to accept this fact.

"Why! What are we doing this for!"

"This policy is truly brainless, harming the enemy by a hundred, but ourselves by a hundred thousand!"

"When the people above mess up, the people below suffer. How can this be? We must jointly resist!"

More and more people with vested interests began to cause trouble, wanting to apply pressure to get the policy withdrawn.

However, Chief Yun in the headquarters conference room showed no signs of worry upon seeing the widespread commotion this time.

"Chief, Senior Professor Xu has finished organizing the data and it can be published at any time!"

Academician Li personally came to report to Chief Yun.

Chief Yun nodded slightly with his hands behind his back.

Then he chuckled, "Very good, have Senior Professor Xu publish it tomorrow morning!"

The secretary beside him stepped forward and asked, "Chief, how should we handle the organizations that primarily focused on rare earth projects?"

Chief Yun had already submitted all handling methods for this matter during the meeting, and immediately gave a precise answer.

"Xiao Wang, go and inform all departments that all organizations related to rare earths must be screened by the end of today at the latest!"

"Check their past records; as long as there are no major mistakes and they haven't caused a big fuss in this incident, they are all qualified to acquire this technology, allowing them to choose to transition from rare earth rough processing to deep processing!"

The value of rare earth resources obtained through deep processing is more than a thousand times higher than through rough processing!

Even if there are considerable losses due to the policy this time, they can quickly be compensated.

Chief Yun believed that smart people would understand that giving them the technology was compensation for this incident, and also the state's support for them.

"As for those who are still causing a big fuss, or even spreading statements like 'foreign air is fresher,' they will all be thoroughly investigated."

He was certain that there were many foreign forces stirring up trouble in this situation.