Chapter 1,103 Earth Defense Alliance
On July 3, the two-day United Nations General Assembly came to an end.
Due to the lack of cooperation from Star Ring Trade, this meeting did not make any progress as most people expected. On the one hand, this is because the United Nations has no right to directly interfere in the internal affairs of member states, and on the other hand, it is because the representatives sent by the new country have no power to make decisions at all.
For example, Canada proposed at the meeting that it requires Starlink Trading to sell the space elevator to the United Nations at a 20% premium. Eventually, all countries will jointly finance the purchase, and the United Nations will lead the defense of extraterrestrial civilizations.
Even though this proposal received a high number of votes, it failed in the country concerned.
In contrast, the negotiations between the new country and China, Germany, and Russia have made considerable progress.
Thanks to Zhang Yaping's efforts, the leaders of the four countries reached an agreement on a specific agreement. On the day when the United Nations General Assembly ended, all countries held press conferences at the same time and announced to the media at the same time in Koro City, Shangjing, Moscow, and Berlin that the Earth Defense Alliance Established...
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Night shrouded the Revolution Square in Coro City, and lights illuminated all the darkness. Facing the cameras of media reporters inside and outside the venue, Jiang Chen solemnly read out the opening remarks of this solemn ceremony.
In this darkest moment, people looked past the soldiers with live ammunition and looked quietly at the center of the square. Thousands of people did not make a sound.
The protests that have swept the world in the past few days have made everyone feel tired and confused. From the moment they learned about the existence of extraterrestrial civilization, panic grew in everyone's heart and became uncontrollable. grow.
"There is enough evidence to prove that the tragedies that occurred in Cagayan City, Tokyo, Somalia, Finland and other places were caused by extraterrestrial civilizations. They use lies to confuse people, use conspiracies to divide our ethnic groups, and target people with evil intentions. I'm selling genetic weapons!"
The sonorous and powerful voice echoed in the square, blowing away the fear in people's hearts. In this square that was once sprinkled with the blood of revolutionaries, looking up at the majestic monument, the dead blood in everyone's hearts began to boil again.
"Their behavior has constituted aggression," Jiang Chen looked around at the dark crowd outside the square, paused for a moment, spoke slowly, and then continued, "an invasion against all mankind."
"The option of dialogue will not exist from the beginning, all diplomatic means will be meaningless, traditional borders will be meaningless, and all we can do is to defend our homeland with blood! In this war, any No country can stay aloof from this!"
"so,
We choose to stand up. "
"At this solemn and sacred moment, on behalf of the new country and the colonies of Star Circle Trading, I announce to all the people of the new country, to our allies, and to the whole world! The Earth Defense Alliance is officially established!"
Thunderous applause and cheers resounded throughout the square. People waved the small national flags in their hands, and there was no trace of fear in their bright pupils.
For most people, what really scares them is not the unknown extraterrestrial civilization, but the chaos before darkness approaches. If the whole world unites, other civilizations on earth may not be able to fight. Although it is still young, the establishment of the Earth Defense Alliance gives everyone hope.
Amid waves of cheers, Jiang Chen read out the list of members of the Earth Defense Alliance.
According to the "Koro City Agreement" signed the day before yesterday, the main member states of the Earth Defense Alliance are New Zealand, China, Russia, and Germany. The main member countries include Pakistan, Philippines, Morocco, Malaysia and a total of 21 Asian countries.
According to the consensus reached by many parties, major member states will contribute 5-7% of GDP based on their country's territorial area and population weight, and minor member states will contribute 3-4% of GDP for the development of the aerospace industry.
Of course, interests are the opposite of obligations. Although joining the Earth Defense Alliance is for self-protection, the Star Ring trade cannot cause the allies to suffer.
In the "Koro City Agreement", Star Ring Trade promised to member states that its space resources will be tilted towards member states.
In addition, the agreement also stipulates that the Earth Defense Alliance will levy a 50% defense tax on all non-member countries in the field of outer space resource development. This money was collected by Star Ring Trading and used as an Earth defense fund, which was used to build extraterrestrial defenses, form an Earth civilization fleet, etc.
Since it is for the common benefit of everyone, we can’t let some people rush to the front while others hide behind to watch the fun, right?
There is no need for you to contribute now. It’s not too much to contribute some money, right?
As soon as this measure came out, it immediately caused an uproar in the international community, especially in the financial field. Those aerospace-related companies that had been speculated on Nasdaq before were suddenly in mourning.
Not only have the prospects of aerospace companies been hit, but at a time when countries' light and heavy industrial raw materials are increasingly dependent on outer space resources, pessimism has quickly begun to spread from aerospace companies to the manufacturing industry.
What is the concept of 50% defense tax?
Taking iron ore as an example, as of July 1, 2019, thanks to the increase in the capacity of the Starring Trading Space Elevator, the Platts 62% Iron Ore Index, which is regarded as the iron ore price benchmark, was 58 Singapore dollars per ton. Before the defense tax was introduced, the United States could import iron ore from space from New Zealand at a minimum price of SGD 45 per ton, but after the defense tax was introduced, their cost would be raised to SGD 67.5.
If this is all, forget it, but this 67.5 Singapore dollars is still lower than the US$76 per ton production cost given by the former mining giant, Vale of Brazil. In other words, for iron ore alone, they can't find a substitute at the same price!
Don’t underestimate the price difference of S$22.50.
Steel is the foundation of national industry, and fluctuations in commodity prices will be reflected in the cost of manufacturing. If it is a global price fluctuation, it may not be noticeable under the balance of the exchange rate lever. But if this kind of price fluctuation is limited to a certain part of the country, the impact cannot be underestimated.
The same unit of industrial finished products requires one ton of 62% grade iron ore. Production in China is 22.5 Singapore dollars cheaper than production in the United States. Therefore, China's products have more market competition than those in the United States for this 22.5 Singapore dollars. force.
Not just iron ore, but all metal minerals from iron ore to rare earths, the United States and other non-Earth Defense Alliance members will passively accept this "unequal treaty". Unless they pack up their things and leave, without using the space elevator or using the ports of the new country, they will have to hold their noses and accept the 50% heavy tax.
It is foreseeable that as the development of space resources gradually deepens, this 50% defense tax will become an unshakable burden on non-member countries. If this continues, the market competitiveness of the Earth Defense Alliance member states will only grow stronger, and one day in the future, they will completely leave non-member states behind.
As a result, it is almost foreseeable that the US dollar will weaken and the Singapore dollar will strengthen.
For Wall Street, this is absolutely bad news. (To be continued.) Activate new URL