317: Chapter 317 Exorbitant Bill

Li Lanzhi stood up, and without unnecessary pleasantries, directly picked up the thick folder in front of her. Her voice, through simultaneous interpretation, reached everyone's ears clearly and steadily.

"Based on the ironclad fact that the Royal Thai Armed Forces launched an unprovoked, deliberate, and planned armed aggression against the sovereign territory of the Federation of Myanmar on Year X, Month X, Day X, and the resulting significant casualties, property damage, and threats to regional security caused to our country, our side, in the spirit of restoring peace as quickly as possible while defending the nation's fundamental interests and dignity, proposes the following basic conditions for a ceasefire and peace agreement. We ask the Thai side to consider them seriously and provide a clear response."

As she read out each item, the large screen beside her simultaneously displayed the text in Chinese, English, and Thai, with clear logic and rigorous wording that brooked no doubt.

"First, political and moral responsibility. The Thai government must, in the name of the state and signed by the Prime Minister or the King, submit a formal, public written letter of apology to the government and people of the Federation of Myanmar, admitting to the erroneous act of launching a war of aggression and promising never to repeat it. This letter of apology must be published publicly under the joint witness of both countries and the United Nations."

Phanu's face turned pale. A formal apology at the state level, especially one that might involve the royal family, was almost the ultimate political humiliation.

"Second, war reparations. Thailand must compensate the Federation of Myanmar for all losses in this war, including but not limited to: military equipment wear and tear and personnel pensions, reconstruction costs for border towns, losses from forced interruptions of economic and trade activities, civilian casualty pensions, and compensation for mental distress. The preliminary calculated total is..." Li Lanzhi announced an astronomical figure, enough to make Thailand's already precarious economy even worse. "The specific amount can be verified by a joint team composed of financial experts from both sides, but it will be based on our side's calculations."

The economic advisor in the Thai delegation almost slid off his chair, constantly wiping cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

"Third, accountability. The Thai government must establish an independent investigation committee to thoroughly investigate the decision-making process and executors of this war of aggression under the supervision of personnel sent by our side. The individuals on the list," Li Lanzhi paused, her gaze sweeping over the Thai Army general opposite her, "including General Apira, former commander of the Third Army Region; Lieutenant General Surayud, former commander of the 1st Corps (missing); Major General Chaiyapon, former commander of the 1st Armored Division (captured); and all military commanders and related politicians involved in planning the 'Wild Elephant Collision' frame-up operation and committing crimes against civilians during the war of aggression. The aforementioned personnel must face trial and severe punishment under Thai law or international law. Our side reserves the right to request extradition if necessary."

The Thai Army general clenched his fist suddenly, veins bulging, but he did not dare to lash out.

"Fourth, security guarantees and territorial arrangements. Both armies will immediately disengage, but the withdrawal line will be based on the current line of actual control." This meant Thailand had to acknowledge the fact that some of its border territories and outposts had been occupied by Myanmar. "Based on this line, a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with a width of no less than 20 kilometers will be established, supervised by the United Nations or an ASEAN observation mission. Thailand commits to no longer allowing any external forces (especially specific extra-regional powers) to deploy offensive weapons, establish military bases, or hold large-scale joint military exercises with obvious hostility against Myanmar on its territory. Thailand must amend relevant domestic laws or sign bilateral agreements to guarantee this."

This point was aimed directly at the military presence of Eagle Sauce and the possibility of future intervention; it was a move to cut off the source.

"Fifth, the prerequisite for normalization of relations. After the aforementioned conditions are effectively fulfilled, both sides can gradually restore diplomatic relations, economic and trade exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges. However, the Federation of Myanmar reserves the right to unilaterally terminate all cooperation and take countermeasures due to any future hostile actions by the Thai side."

Five conditions, each one lethal, blocking any possibility for Thailand to attempt to handle things vaguely or muddle through.

Li Lanzhi finished reading, closed the folder, and looked at Phanu calmly: "Vice Prime Minister Phanu, these are our country's reasonable demands based on facts and international law, and the only basis for ending the conflict and achieving lasting peace. Please respond."

The venue was silent. The reporters' lenses were frantically aimed at Phanu.

Phanu felt his throat go dry. He cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound steadier: "Prime Minister Li Lanzhi, your side's conditions... are very harsh. This is not just ending a conflict; it is almost a... comprehensive constraint and punishment of a sovereign state. The responsibility for the war needs to be clarified, the amount of compensation needs a reasonable assessment, and territorial issues involve national sovereignty and national sentiments; they cannot be simply based on the status quo of military occupation. As for internal accountability and external military cooperation, those are even more our internal affairs..."

"Vice Prime Minister Phanu," Li Lanzhi interrupted him directly, her tone still steady but her words as sharp as a knife, "Please note that it was your country's army that first crossed the internationally recognized border, your country that planned the despicable frame-up conspiracy, and your country that caused the trauma of war to our nation. 'Sovereignty' and 'internal affairs' are not shields for launching aggression, nor are they shelters for evading responsibility. If your side believes these conditions are 'constraints' and 'punishments,' then please reflect on what led to the necessity of these 'constraints' and 'punishments.' Did Myanmar's army march into Bangkok, or did Thailand's tanks roll over Kengtung?"

A series of rhetorical questions left Phanu speechless, his face flushing.

Li Lanzhi continued to apply pressure: "As for the 'territorial issues' you mentioned, I regret to say that the current line of actual control was formed after the failure of your country's military invasion; it is a direct consequence of the act of aggression. If your country has disputes over certain segments of the historical border, we can negotiate through specialized diplomatic channels in the future under the premise of peace, equality, and mutual respect. But the prerequisite is that the mistake of this aggression must first be acknowledged and corrected, and basic mutual trust must be established. Discussing historical borders while the aggressor has not yet apologized or paid reparations and the clouds of war have not dissipated is meaningless and is a stalling tactic."

"As for internal accountability," Li Lanzhi's gaze seemed to sweep over Phanu with deep meaning, "Only by thoroughly conducting a Liquidation of war guilt and removing the internal tumors and warmongers can Thailand truly move toward peace and stability. This might not be a bad thing for the Thai people. I believe many insightful individuals and ordinary citizens in your country would also support this."

As soon as she finished speaking, an assistant beside Phanu suddenly had a drastic change in expression, hurriedly handed an encrypted tablet to him, and whispered urgently in his ear.

Phanu looked down, his pupils suddenly contracting, and the hand holding the tablet began to tremble slightly.

On the screen was an emergency briefing that had just arrived from Bangkok, with only a few short lines of text and two blurry photos from the scene:

"Former Prime Minister and Chief Private Advisor to the King, Tan Long Somboonpa, passed away suddenly this morning from a heart attack in his private residence's study. Preliminary diagnosis indicates it was an acute onset of long-term exhaustion and chronic cardiovascular disease."