313: Chapter 313 The Division of Tokyo

8:00 PM, Duterte's declaration.

After the signing ceremony, Duterte stood on stage, facing over 300 global media outlets.

His voice was transmitted to the world through simultaneous interpretation:

"Today, I announce—the 'Build, Build, Build 2.0' plan is officially launched."

The big screen displayed the blueprint:

Build, Build, Build 2.0 (2019-2025)

Infrastructure investment: 180 billion USD

Key projects:

Xingchen Nickel Refinery: 3.5 billion USD

Xingchen Photovoltaic Factory: 2.5 billion USD

50 16-megawatt wind turbines: 7.5 billion rmb

Mindanao Railway: 5 billion USD

Island-wide fiber optic network: 3 billion USD

Electrification of 300 islands: 2 billion USD

...

Strategic positioning: Fully integrating with the Xingchen technology system

Duterte's voice rose higher:

"In the past, the Philippines could only sell bananas, minerals, and domestic helpers. Starting today, the Philippines will sell technology, products, and the future."

Applause thundered from the audience.

At the same time, in another building: Honda's secret negotiations.

8:00 PM, Xingchen Headquarters Building B, private conference room.

There were no camera flashes, no reporters, no live signals. There were only the people sitting on both sides of the long table, and two laptops.

Xingchen side: Su Chen, Gu Yanting, Zhang Zhen.

Japanese side: Honda Motor President Toshihiro Mibe, Vice President, and Chief Technology Officer.

Toshihiro Mibe was sixty years old, with graying hair, but he sat with his back straight. He came from a technical background, having worked as an engine engineer and R&D director, and he deeply understood the advantages and shortcomings of the Japanese automotive industry.

He got straight to the point without pleasantries: "Mr. Su, Honda has come to seek cooperation."

Su Chen nodded: "Please, go ahead."

"Honda has the world's best manufacturing processes, the most complete global sales channels, and the most loyal user base. But we lack electrification technology—batteries, electric motors, and electronic control systems."

He paused, looking directly into Su Chen's eyes.

"Xingchen has the world's best three-electric system. Therefore, we want to cooperate."

9:00 PM, the cooperation framework was finalized.

Gu Yanting brought out a draft.

Honda-Xingchen Strategic Cooperation Agreement (Draft)

Cooperation model: Xingchen provides the three-electric system (battery + motor + electronic control), Honda provides the car body + chassis + manufacturing process + global channels.

First model: Jointly developed electric SUV, to be launched at the end of 2020, targeting the global market.

Brand strategy: Carry the Honda badge, but marked "Powered by Xingchen".

Production bases: China, Thailand, Japan.

Sales target: 100,000 units in the first year, 500,000 units in the third year.

Toshihiro Mibe read it carefully, looked up, and asked: "How is the technology licensing fee calculated?"

Zhang Zhen replied: "For every vehicle, Xingchen charges 20% of the three-electric system cost as a technology licensing fee. At the same time, Xingchen will hold a 30% stake in the joint venture."

Toshihiro Mibe was silent for three seconds.

"Isn't 30% a bit too much?"

Su Chen smiled.

"President Sannobe, Xingchen's technology can allow Honda to maintain its global top three position in the electric vehicle era. A 30% stake is Xingchen's pricing for the future."

Toshihiro Mibe looked at the Vice President.

The Vice President nodded slightly.

"Deal."

9:30 PM, an urgent call from Nissan.

The conference room door was knocked open, and Lin Wan entered, whispering to Su Chen: "The Nissan President is calling urgently, requesting a video connection."

Su Chen nodded.

The big screen lit up, and Nissan President Uchida Makoto appeared on the screen.

The 58-year-old Uchida Makoto was also wearing a dark suit, but his expression was more urgent than Toshihiro Mibe's.

"Mr. Su, sorry to disturb you so late." Uchida Makoto cut straight to the point, "Nissan heard that Honda is negotiating cooperation with Xingchen. Nissan does not want to fall behind."

Su Chen smiled.

"President Uchida, how do you want to cooperate?"

"Nissan is willing to open its global channels and explore the possibility of 'platform sharing' with Xingchen. Our electric vehicle platform, combined with Xingchen's three-electric system, can quickly launch multiple models."

Su Chen looked at Toshihiro Mibe.

Toshihiro Mibe's expression was complex. A competitor was right in front of him, and the conditions proposed were almost the same.

Su Chen said to Uchida Makoto: "President Uchida, Xingchen has received Nissan's willingness to cooperate. Please send a delegation to Shenzhen, and we will discuss it in detail."

"Arriving next Monday."

The screen went dark.

The conference room was quiet for three seconds.

Toshihiro Mibe smiled bitterly: "Mr. Su, are you trying to create internal competition among Japanese car companies?"

Su Chen shook his head.

"President Sannobe, Xingchen does not provoke competition. Xingchen only provides choices. Honda chose to cooperate, and Nissan also wants the same opportunity. This is fair."

The next day at 10:00 AM, Tokyo, Toyota Headquarters.

Akio Toyoda sat in the main seat of the conference room, with two reports in front of him.

On the left was the front page of the Nikkei News: "Honda and Xingchen Reach Cooperation Agreement."

On the right was an internal briefing: "Nissan to Send Delegation to Shenzhen Next Week."

The 65-year-old Akio Toyoda was the fourth-generation heir of the Toyota family. He had been in charge of Toyota for ten years, experiencing financial crises, major earthquakes, and global recalls, but had never felt as powerless as he did today.

Vice President Shigeki Terashi stood in front of the screen, his voice dry: "President, Honda's actions have already triggered a chain reaction. Nissan is following suit, and Mazda and Mitsubishi are also watching. We..."

Akio Toyoda raised his hand to interrupt.

The representative of the "conservatives," Senior Managing Officer Shigeki Tomoyama, spoke up. He was 62 years old, with a full head of white hair, and was a veteran of Toyota's technical faction.

"President, Toyota must insist on self-research. We have the world's largest R&D budget, investing one trillion yen annually. We have the world's best engineers, over 30,000 of them. We cannot bow to any company."

The representative of the "reformists," Vice President Moritaka Yoshida, retorted. He was 58 years old, in his prime, and was the head of Toyota's overseas business.

"Self-research? We have been researching on our own for ten years, and our electric vehicle range is still not as good as Xingchen's level from three years ago. If we continue to research on our own, the market will be gone."

Shigeki Tomoyama slammed the table and stood up.

"You are betraying the Toyota spirit!"

Moritaka Yoshida sneered.

"Can spirit be used as a battery?"

In the conference room, the two factions glared at each other.

Akio Toyoda was silent for a long time.

Then he spoke, his voice as exhausted as if he had run a ten-kilometer marathon.

"Today's meeting ends here. I need time to think."

Everyone dispersed.

Akio Toyoda sat alone in the empty conference room, looking out the window.

Outside the window was the Toyota headquarters campus, with lush trees and neat factory buildings. Sixty years of accumulation, 300 factories, and a global sales network.

But at this moment, all he saw was that red number: Xingchen's battery cost was 25% lower than Toyota's.

3:00 PM, Tokyo, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Minister Koichi Hagiuda stood in front of the microphone, facing dozens of media outlets.

He was 62 years old, his hair was meticulous, his suit was crisp, a standard image of a Japanese bureaucrat. But in his voice, there was an unconcealable anxiety.

"Honda Motor has reached a cooperation agreement with Xingchen without government approval, seriously damaging national interests. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will re-examine its policy support for Japanese companies."

A reporter raised their hand: "Minister, what specific measures will be taken?"

Hagiuda paused: "It is under study."

Another reporter raised their hand: "Honda responded that companies need to survive. What do you think?"

Hagiuda's face looked even uglier.

Half an hour later, Honda Headquarters issued a brief response.

"Honda is a global company and must be responsible to global shareholders and global employees. We understand the government's position. But we must be even more responsible for the company's survival."

The headline of the Nikkei News that night was:

"Did Honda Betray the Country? Or Did the Country Betray the Company?"

The US Embassy in Singapore.

At the same time, a completely different scene.

US Ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan stood in front of the microphone, with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by his side.

The 55-year-old Kaplan was blond and blue-eyed, with a bright smile.

"The United States has decided to sell 20 F-35 fighter jets to Singapore, as well as an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The total value is approximately 5 billion USD."

Lee Hsien Loong smiled.

"Thank you to the United States for its support of Singapore. Singapore will continue to serve as a cornerstone of regional stability."

A reporter raised their hand: "Mr. Kaplan, does this mean that Singapore is becoming the United States' last bastion in Southeast Asia?"

Kaplan smiled.

"Singapore is the United States' most reliable partner."

Lee Hsien Loong still smiled and did not deny it.

The chaos outside did not affect Su Chen.

Lin Wan pushed open the door to Su Chen's office.

"The Philippines signed for 6 billion USD. The Honda cooperation framework is finalized, and the official signing is expected next week. The Nissan delegation will arrive in Shenzhen next Monday."

She paused.

"In addition, the US announced an arms sale to Singapore of 20 F-35s and one destroyer. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands issued a joint statement condemning the US for 'destabilizing the region'."

Su Chen stood by the window, watching the lights of ten thousand homes outside.

Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines—four countries had already signed.

Malaysia had long been a partner.

Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia had weak economic foundations, no industrial base, unstable social security, and no investment value. Xingchen did not intend to cooperate with these three countries.

Singapore was isolated.

"The US wants to use Singapore as a nail," Su Chen said. "But a nail is, after all, too small."

He paused.

"Have Gu Yanting contact the Singaporean business community. The government has to pick a side, but businesses don't have to. We can cooperate in fields such as intelligent AI, robotics, biomedicine, chip design, and finance."

Lin Wan nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait," Su Chen called her back.

Lin Wan turned around.

Su Chen looked out the window.

"Tell Toshihiro Mibe and Uchida Makoto that Xingchen's door is open to Japanese car companies. But there is one prerequisite—join the Xingchen system and adopt our technical standards."

Lin Wan smiled.

"They will come."

A new industrial order was taking shape.

And the Japanese automotive empire was looking for its own path in the twilight.