Siyang Touyou News - STN International

[Touzen]

Touzen Government announces death of Lord Protector Kaneko
STN Siyang

The Touzen government has announced the death of Lord Protector Kaneko Haru in hospital. Kaneko, who had been hospitalized and in a stable coma since the 1st of December 1952 Taketoriite bombing of the All Citizens Congress building with over a hundred casualties, passed away shortly after midnight on Sunday. He is survived by his wife.

The National Emergency Council, the de facto ruling body of the Constitutional State, released a short statement in which it expressed its "deep sadness about the death of a Touzen patriot."

"The death of the Lord Protector painfully reminds us of the struggle of brother against brother that has taken far too many lives in the last two years. The entire political life of Kaneko Haru was devoted to advancing the cause of freedom and championing the interests of the Citizenry of the Constitutional State. His death at the hands of the Taketoriite counter-revolutionaries and enemies of democracy is tragic and a dreadful reminder of the lack of human dignity and heinous nature of the Taketoriite reaction. The Lord Protector has now offered himself as a sacrifice on the altar of the revolutionary nation, following thousands of sons and daughters of the Revolution that have already given their lives in the defense of everything this country stands for. In their name we must conquer and advance our flag into the last bastions of rebellion, wherever insurgency may raise its ugly head to challenge our resolve. With the men now carrying forth the banner of the Constitutional States march the hopes of millions both within Touzen and abroad whose hearts burn with the righteous fire for justice. The spirit of the Lord Protector now will walk amongst their ranks to guide them to victory."

Even though only recaptured by government forces last December, the Constitutional State's government has announced it would seek to provide for a burial with full honors in the war-torn capital. The flag of the Constitutional State which has been flying over the ruins of the All Citizens' Congress since its capture by government forces will be lowered to half-mast. Touzen embassies abroad have been ordered to follow suit. It had not been immediately made clear whether the National Emergency Council would seek to convene the remnants of the Members of Congress to choose a new Lord Protector. Many areas of the Constitutional State are currently without official representation due to the death or the defection of their representatives.

Following the publication of the death of the Touzen head of government, hundreds of citizens have laid down wreaths and flowers in front of the Congress building and the remains of the Ivernian embassy, which has become synonymous with the Nokanawa Massacre that saw the deaths of hundreds of foreign officials amidst fighting between rebel and government forces. Both sides blame the killings on the other.

 

[Rheinbund]

11FEB1954

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

Our condolences to the Government, Parliament and People of Oikawa for the passing away of Lord Protector Kaneko Haru, on behalf of the Government, Parliament and People of Eiffelland.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Khemia]

Upswing in Fighting Across Northern Yujin
STN Siyang

Fighting across north Yujin has intensified as reports come out of that country suggesting that numerous large scale offensives into rebel held territory have been launched by Imperial forces. Major combat has erupted in regions connecting Imperial territory with isolated forces in Lianggang as the Empire seeks to restore supply lines to the beleaguered city. Ground strike sorties have been running consistently from nearly every air field in north Yujin as the nation's aerial forces strike behind the front lines and provide support for advancing Imperial forces.

The Red Alliance has yet to provide its own perspective on the conflict, though analysts expect the bulk of their forces to be engaged in defensive operations against the Imperial offensives. Red Alliance tactics often involve forming pockets of resistance as the front lines move forward, and breaking out of the pockets to disrupt Imperial logistics and undermine the fighting power of front line units. This tactic has worked in the past, but the Imperial military believes it has adapted to the strategy.

"Our offensives will move methodically, leaving no trace of enemy resistance behind as we advance forward. The [rebels] will not be given the opportunity to gain the upper hand in this offensive," Tai Dongjian, spokesman for the Imperial military, stated.

The Empire of Yujin, meanwhile, has warned that if the People's Republic of Vangala or another Communist nation deploys troops in Xinhai that the "consequences would be great, and that the Empire of Yujin has put all available options on the table for ensuring the integrity of its nation against foreign threats."

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Reports of 2 million strong Carentanian army approaching Liangang obvious fake
STN Siyang


Recent reports circulating within the northern Yujinese city of Liangang, besieged by communist forces, that a 2 million strong Carentanian expeditionary force was approaching the entrenched Imperial positions, have been unequivocally denounced as false report by analysts and experts. It is doubtful whether the RDTO has any forces deployed to the region at all and most generally assume, that no Carentanian or allied units operate outside of Vangalan territory.

The myth of the approaching Carentanian force had spread quickly within Liangang the last days, giving rise to speculation whether it might be an attempt by intelligence forces to dissuade Imperial defenders of the city. Carentanian officials have refused to comment on the issue, instead calling upon Imperial forces in Liangang to surrender "and return home to your families alive".

This report marks not the first time that the issue of a RDTO intervention in mainland Yujin was speculated on. Both sides in the conflict have used this possibility to draw support: Imperial Yujin to denounce the communist rebels as agents of foreign powers, the communists to raise the morale of their own supporters. However, given that the RDTO is technically still at war with Imperial Yujin since its failed invasion of Vangala, deployment of Carentanian forces remains a very real and tangentible option, with the Carentanian public evenly split on the issue, but support for an armed solution rising steadily with every report of Imperial atrocities in Touyou.

 

[Vangala]

Vangala denies rumours of military mobilisation
STN Siyang

National Defence Minister of the People's Republic of Vangala Nurul Banerjee has publicly rejected rumours of the Vangalan military mobilising in preparation for an invasion of Yujin.

Reports warning of a possible invasion by Vangala to aid local nationalist and communist forces started circulating in Xinhai a few days ago, before being picked up by the Yujiner national press, and later by regional news organisations.

Xinhai (also Sinhai) is currently in the midst of its own civil war, as Sinhese nationalist fighters and Red Alliance guerillas clash over control of the province, as well with remnants of the Yujiner Imperial Army.

Rumours of foreign intervention have become increasingly common in Yujin. Only last week did STN International report on false claims of a 2-million strong Carentanian force approaching the besieged city of Liangang. Analysts are unsure if the rumours are being spread by the Yujiner Imperial government to strengthen feelings of national unity, or by Communist intelligence agencies attempting to demoralise Imperial forces.

 

[Khemia]

Yujin Regime Dismisses Carentanian, Vangalan Rumors
STN Siyang

The Imperial regime of Yujin today dismissed rumors of Carentanian and Vangalan military movements as little more than the "wishful thoughts and wet dreams of foreign devils and traitors." Rumors that a two million man force of Carentanian troops approaching Lianggang were quickly dismissed by field commanders as ridiculous, and the government noted that the Carentanians likely lacked the logistics necessary to fuel such a force in a conflict overseas, even with "broad support from revolters." Word of Vangalan mobilizations were likewise downplayed, with many experts believing further offensives on the Vangalan front to be folly for both nations militarily, economically, and politically.

Imperial forces continue to make inroads within Lianggang, where the ebb and flow of battle has shifted for months between the two sides. With hundreds of propeller and jet fighters launching constant air strikes on targets across the city, it is unlikely that rebel forces in the city maintain the unit coherency and organization to launch coordinated counter-attacks, though reports suggest that Hongmenghui fighters are putting up bitter resistance. More offensives have been launched, especially towards the Qiangzuo provincial capital of Dashan, where only three hundred miles separate staunchly rebel territory from the capital of the Empire, and skirmishes occur everywhere between.

Southland forces are rumored to have begun an eastward offensive against the unorganized warlord factions along Yujin's coast, putting further pressure on Yujin's ability to transport goods from and to international markets. Already imports of vital resources such as copper and salt have plummeted, though how big of an impact this will have on Yujin's warmaking capabilities are unknown as of yet.

The Imperial presence in the Xinhai provincial capital of Siraama remains strong, despite instability in the countryside, and day-to-day life proceeds almost normally. The occasional gun battle claims approximately four lives a month, though rumors that separatist, Red Alliance, and Basuists are stockpiling weapons in the province, taking advantage of the lull in fighting in the province to consolidate their strength as Imperial engineers redouble their efforts to repair the provinces devastated infrastructure.

 

[Khemia]

Yujin Rebel Divisions Encircled on Qi River
STN Siyang

Three divisions of the rebel Hongmenghui Provisional Army, estimated to include up to seventy thousand combatants, have been encircled on the Qi River by Imperial units advancing on the city of Lianggang, focal point of the conflict in northern Yujin. STN affiliates in the area report that Hongmenghui units are unable to retreat across the river due to strong currents and a lack of waterborne craft, though sampans are currently being used by rebel forces to resupply forces trapped at the river.

Rebel units have reportedly dug in on the river and are fighting hard against Imperial forces, but a lack of materials and weapons is making difficult the prospect of countering Imperial mechanized forces, including jets, bombers and tanks which attack constantly the besieged rebel locations.

Additional Hongmenghui and Seoran combat units are fortifying the east side of the Qi River in preparation for an assault on Lianggang, with the majority of major river crossings having been destroyed by rebel forces, severing Mao Province from Yujin.

"The brave heroes at Baiqiuwan are not alone in their struggle. Our comrades are working hard to reinforce their positions and counter-attack against forces of [the Empire]. Their spirits are high, and their resolve strong; they have informed us that they refuse to retreat across the river even if the opportunity presented itself. They are firm in their resolve of defeating the Imperial forces," Wu Jindiao stated in a press release.

The rebel divisions involved in action on the Qi River are the 12th, 41st, and 48th Provisional Infantry. Most analysts believe that it is unlikely rebel forces will be able to relieve their comrades on the west side of the river, who are estimated to be outnumbered three to one.

 

[Khemia]

Yujin Rebels Delay Offensive
STN Siyang

Hongmenghui rebel divisions encircled on the Qi River have withstood numerous assaults by the surrounding Imperial forces, though a lack of supplies and ordnance is degrading their combat effectiveness. Casualty rates among engaged units are said to be enormously high, with some units operating at less than 10% of their expected fighting power; 4th Battalion of 41st Division reports that of its expected 1,000 men, only sixty two are combat capable.

Enormous casualty rates have led to a flood of wounded coming across the river as sampans ferrying ammunition, bandages and medicos to the front lines return with the wounded. The dead are said to be too numerous to extricate, their bodies lying where they fell. In supports of their beleaguered comrades, rebel artillery and anti-aircraft battalions have entrenched themselves along the northern reaches of the beach. The sound of artillery fire and the distant flashes on the horizon are incessant. This effort provides small comfort to the rebels on the other side of the river who maintain little hope of survival.

Speaking from his embattled headquarters in Lianggang, Wu Jindiao, commander of the Hongmenghui, interviewed with STN observers and provided an insight into the Communist strategem concerning combat in the north.

"Without additional international support, there is little we can do to repel Imperial assaults on our forces south of the river conventionally. Other options are being explored, and we hope that we will be able to relieve our comrades soon." Wu Jindiao noted that Imperial offensives on other fronts had been halted at the river, and that several river crossings had been successfully repulsed. It is unclear whether or not the forces entrenched along the Qi River and engaged in fighting throughout Lianggang represent the bulk of North Yujin Hongmenghui forces, estimated to number at more than half a million combatants.

 

[Khemia]

Fighting Intensifies In Zhenjing Countryside
STN Siyang

Rebel fighters have increased the frequency of attacks in and around the Zhenjing countryside, with clashes erupting as close to the national capital as the neighborhoods of Heping and Wenhuiyuan. Imperial security forces have responded in force, with air strikes being conducted on the countryside and jets constantly flying through the sky. Much of the fighting occurring involves Hongmenghui fighters attacking from the Qiangzuo Plateau, but Southern Expeditionary Army remnants are also reportedly engaging Army units south of Zhenjing.

Approximately sixteen people are believed to have died in the current clashes, though fighting continued throughout the night and many casualty estimates have not yet been received by authorities. Imperial forces are adamant that rebel fighters will not reach the capital itself, and a strange sense of calm hangs over the city despite the occasional explosion in the distance. Evacuations have been forbidden and a curfew has been imposed upon residents to ensure order. Though not officially declared, the city is in effect governed under martial law, with local police augmented by national security forces on the streets of Zhenjing.

Meanwhile, combat on the Qi River has slowed as Imperial assaults on encircled Red Alliance forces slows, creating a lull in the fighting, with jets flying over the battlefield without dropping bombs. Rebel artillery batteries seem to have reciprocated, with barrages and anti-air fire relaxing. Military officers from both sides are reportedly in talks, with rebels hoping that diplomacy can be used to withdraw the beleaguered fighters at Baiqiuwan. Military officials from both sides have refused to comment on potential talks between the two sides.

 

[Khemia]

Yujin Shells Vangala
STN Siyang

Artillery emplacements belonging to the Empire of Yujin have fired on the territory of the People's Republic of Vangala. A barrage, estimated to amount to more than four hundred shells, was unleashed by Imperial forces on suspected Vangalan artillery units amassing near the Qi River dividing the province of Xinhai with Maga Province in Vangala.

No word of casualties have been announced by Vangalan forces, and the Yujiner artillery batteries silenced themselves after unloading shells for two hours. Tensions remain high along the Qi River after the failed offensive by Imperial forces last year, with Vangalan military units outnumbering their Yujiner counterparts 3:1. The Imperial military has relocated large numbers of artillery along a heavily entrenched defensive line, and pre-emptive artillery strikes against troop buildups on the north side of the river are a common method to deter Vangalan units from attacking.

Imperial units in Xinhai remain loyal to the Emperor despite the revolt in the Southland, with many locals either fearful of Imperial retaliation or satisfied with the level of autonomy granted by the province. In recent weeks, however, Red Alliance forces have begun to capture strategic towns within the nearly inaccessible hill lands to the south and east, putting pressure on the major rail and pipeline connection between Siraama and Zhenjing. Additionally, Basuist Communist rebels have gained a foothold in some parts of the region and are competing for influence over those dissatisfied with Imperial rule, and tensions between the two Communist factions have begun to rise, with some fist fights breaking out in local councils and an occasional shooting in Siraama implicating involvement by the two groups.

 

[Khemia]

Gun Battle in Zhenjing Market
STN Siyang

Gunmen equipped with automatic rifles attacked regime security forces in the Yujiner capital of Zhenjing, outside a market. Conflicting reports are surfacing, with Imperial officials claiming the assailants machine gunned down scores of civilians while eyewitnesses claim that as many as sixty civilians may have been caught in the crossfire between rebels and regime forces. City officials confirmed that seventy six civilians had been checked into a hospital and that twenty three had died as a result of the clash, the first of its kind to erupt in the Imperial capital.

Imperial officials announced that eighteen rebels had been killed in the battle, congratulating its security forces for a job well done while announcing a series of new measures that will be enacted in the days to come to step up security and increase military presence. These include the establishment of a five mile security buffer around the city limits, further checkpoints, and unlimited emergency authority for law enforcement officials to search and seize suspects within Zhenjing.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Red Alliance and Imperial forces on the Qi River has permitted the embattled rebel divisions on the South bank of the river to withdraw, allowing Imperial positions to consolidate their holdings on the south bank. Reports suggest that Imperial forces are amassing their forces to prepare for an assault on Lianggang itself. Red Alliance forces are heavily entrenched on the north bank of the river, supported by salvaged artillery and jury-rigged heavy weapons as well as foreign imported tanks and other weapons. Imperial forces, meanwhile, are utilizing Mezhist supplied jets and tanks and maintain air superiority over Lianggang. Despite this, Imperial forces in Lianggang itself, situated on the north bank of the Qi River, struggle to consolidate their gains as rebels slip across the devastated cityscape - every city block demolished by artillery turns into a new outflanking opportunity for rebel forces.

 

[Vangala]

পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রক
Ministry of External Affairs

The People's Republic of Vangala will not tolerate further armed provocations by the Empire of Yujin. Any future attempts to disturb the peace of the People's Republic or to injure and kill loyal servicemen and women of the People's Armed Forces will be met with an overwhelming retaliation.

 

[Vangala]

Vangala mobilises armed forces
STN Siyang

The People's Republic of Vangala has placed all military units in its border regions on full combat readiness, after the Workers Republic of Carentania claimed it was in possession of information indicating Sikandara was preparing its military for offensive operations.

Earlier this week, the People's Republic of Vangala warned the Empire of Yujin of a military retaliation if Imperial forces continued to bombard Vangalan positions.

The Vangalan Ministry of National Defence has released a statement confirming it is in possession of the same intelligence as Carentania, and called the mobilisation of its armed forces is "a purely defensive measure".

STN International will bring you more news as it happens.

 

[Khemia]

Imperial Yujin Declares Unlimited National Emergency
STN Siyang

The Imperial Household has released a statement declaring an unlimited national emergency for the entirety of Yujin. The document, fourteen pages in length, elaborates upon the myriad threats facing the regime and calls upon the populace of the nation to support and praise the Emperor for his resolve in the battle, and to contribute all of their materials and possessions towards the war effort. Civilians have been encouraged to donate their metal pots and clothes to the military, to form local militia's and root out Communist sympathizers, and to support the military as the regime moves forward with a number of highly controversial steps.

Perhaps the most controversial among the emergency measures is the governments authorization to use "all forms of violence and coercion necessary to end the war... including the use of biological and chemical weapons." Evidence of chemical and biological weapon use in Lianggang has been difficult to come by, but experts from the humanitarian agency Blue Cross have long suspected its use.

"Rebel forces fighting in the Lianggang region lack the resources necessary to resist full scale chemical and biological warfare. Weaponized biological weapons present a more significant threat, as the possibility of a pandemic outbreak is far higher given the lack of medicines and vaccines in the region.... We're looking at the civilian death tolls reaching the thousands per day in the coming weeks if the conflict does not stop soon," spokesman for the Blue Cross, Nicholas Clegg, declared.

Rebel leader Wu Jindiao has vowed to retaliate for any use of chemical or biological weapons, although experts believe that the Hongmenghui currently does not have access to a large supply of such weapons. The official authorization of chemical and biological weapons comes ahead of an anticipated offensive on the rebel stronghold of Lianggang, where besieged Imperial units have fought over shattered city blocks for months now, struggling to hold on as ammunition runs low.

The Imperial regime has also authorized localized conscription, granting Imperial War Council staff the capacity to draft from the populations near fronts the requisite manpower necessary to continue the fighting. A spokesman for the Imperial Household suggested that the military would be set to expand to two million men before summer, though a the combination of famine, drought, and blight has significantly impacted the Imperial governments ability to supply its own forces.

Analysts expect the war effort on both sides to reach a crescendo as Spring fully sets in, with allegations by both sides that civilian populations have become legitimate targets in an undeclared total war between the two main factions competing for control over the nation.

 

[Toungoo]

Sivanese Government Gives Asylum to Vangalan Government-in-Exile
STN Khon Kaen

This morning the Bureau of Foreign Affairs announced that it giving assylum to the Vangalan Government-in-exile after it was expelled from Sikandara. This comes as tensions in Touyou continue to rise as the Yujiner Civil War rages on and the diplomatic exchanges between the RDTO, led by Carentania, and Touyou nation Sikandara. Since the eruption of the conflict in Touyou the Kingdom of Sri Siva has maintained an official neutral status while refugees continue to cross the border with Yujin into Sri Siva. Sri Siva has long dynastic ties with Yujin.

Administrator Malai Visariya, was clear to enunciate that this move was not a recognition of the government-in-exile as the legitimate government of Vangala, but that it was opening its arms to individuals who have applied for political refugee status in Sri Siva. "We are continuing our position as refuge in Touyou and continue to work to protect the voices of all."
[MENTION=59]Vangala[/MENTION] [MENTION=11]Carentania[/MENTION]

 

[Khemia]

War In Yujin Intensifies
STN Siyang

The two year old conflict in Yujin has intensified today amid reports of widespread rebel gains and Sikandari intervention within Yujin. Regime forces have suffered numerous setbacks across an array of fronts. Hongmenghui have organized concerted, widespread attacks in the rural regions north of the capital, Zhenjing, and rumors of skirmishes within the capital itself have panicked investors, leading to mass capital flight as businesses withdraw their investments over issues concerning their assets security.

Hongmenghui forces capitalized upon the redeployment of Imperial forces towards the capital by launching offensives in the West, recapturing a vital overland link to Vangala within the Meghalayan mountains as well as making gains towards the vital Sinese city of Phrai Thale, which straddles the primary supply route connecting Imperial forces within the province to the capital. An offensive against the rural regions around Siraama, the capital of the province, look set to cut off the garrison there from the rest of the nation, leading some to speculate that, should the city fall to rebel hands, RDTO supply chains would have easier access to Hongmenghui forces in the far west, which are currently supplied through inordinately long routes via the southern Meghalaya's. Imperial forces concentrated on the Yu River, Xinhai's border with Vangala's Maga Province, are establishing a command network focused around the Sinese city of Sapphaya in preparation for the fall of Siraama.

On the eastern fronts, Southland forces have begun crossing the Qinglu River under cover of heavy bombardment, with Imperial forces under the command of warlord Li Duan hard pressed to stall the offensive. Imperial forces in the East are being redeployed to fortify the city of Guiyang in anticipation of a Southland breakthrough, and naval skirmishes between pirates allegedly belonging to the warlord Li Xialong and the Southland have been reported in the Sixian Gulf.

Republican forces were able to capitalize on the withdrawal of Imperial forces in the mountains west of Zhenfan, capturing several villages in the highlands and consolidating their gains. Republican forces have, meanwhile, launched an offensive on isolated Imperial villages in the northern limit of Meishan province, putting enormous pressure on General Yuan's regular troops. Lacking the armor or air superiority provided to Imperial forces fighting in Lianggang, it is unlikely Imperial regular army will be able to hold the region against guerrilla strikes by Republican irregulars in the remote region.

Imperial forces have, however, made some gains amid reports of a large scale intervention by Sikandari forces. A national security meeting among the Imperial War Council was allegedly leaked by rebel sympathizers. The documents leaked claim that as many as one million Sikandari regulars, tanks, and jets are preparing to launch operations within Yujin proper. Though no specifications as to where were made on the alleged document, if true, it is likely that Sikandari forces will concentrate either on supporting the Lianggang offensive or assaulting the Hongmenghui stronghold of Qiangzuo Province. Sikandari forces have been confirmed to be occupying Yujiner villages in northeastern Xianbei, suspected of being rebel strongholds, though no clashes have been reported in the region and no Hongmenghui regulars were present to resist Sikandari occupation.

Imperial forces have opened their primary offensive against Lianggang today with massive chemical weapon barrages on rebel-held regions of the city. Shells impacted numerous residential regions, long suspected of harboring rebel forces and supplying recruits, and rebels report casualty rates in the opening day of the offensive to be as high as twenty thousand combatants and non-combatants alike. Rebel counter-battery fire has been largely ineffective, though chemical attacks on the city itself have prompted numerous counter-attacks throughout the city, with the harbor coming under intense pressure as rebel forces attempt to dislodge the primary resupply route to Imperial forces trapped within the city. Despite chemical weapon barrages, rebel forces continue to hold the beaches along the river, and no attempt at a river crossing has yet been made.

 

[Vangala]

Vangala re-opens western border to refugees
STN Siyang

The People's Republic of Vangala is to re-open a select few border crossings with Sikandara to allow Vangalan refugees to return to their homeland, the Vangalan government announced today. The border, one of the most heavily militarised in the world, has been closed since the Communist Revolution in 1951.

The surprise decision follows a tumultuous few weeks in Sikandari-Vangalan relations. Sikandara recently launched a dramatic military intervention into the Yujiner Civil War in aid of the Imperial government, leading the fight against Red Alliance rebels in Xianbei province. Vangala and other socialist countries reacted strongly the Sikandari military action, with Vangala mobilising its armed forces.

Analysts have interpreted the planned re-opening of certain border crossings as an attempt by Vangala to de-escalate the tense situation on its western border. Sikandara had previously offered to negotiate the repatriation of Vangalan refugees and to try normalise relations, although was rebuffed by Vangala for its intervention into Yujin.

International humanitarian organisations have voiced concerns on how the return of refugees to Vangala will be managed. Hundreds of thousands are still thought to be internally displaced inside Vangala after the Revolution and invasion by Yujin. War, bad weather and government policy has also led to food shortages in Vangala, with the country now reliant on subsidised food imports from fellow socialist nations.

Vangalan National Defence Minister Nurul Banerjee has promised units from the People's Armed Forces stationed in the border region will assist returning refugees, and that preparations were already underway. Charities such as the Red Cross remain sceptical, and are urging inter-governmental co-ordination between Vangala and Sikandara to resolve the refugee crisis.

 

[Khemia]

Yujin Crisis: Siraama Surrenders to Rebels
STN Siyang

BREAKING NEWS: Imperial forces in Siraama have surrendered to rebel combatants following a three day blitz which swept through the city streets and rural regions, overtaking the Imperial defenders by storm. Clashes in the city of Siraama were fierce but brief, with rebel combatants activating numerous combat cells within the city, rendering much of the cities prepared defenses useless. Concerted attacks on all major military installations suppressed the Imperial forces abilities to organized a counter-attack, and within two days they were forced to open negotiations to surrender in the face of overwhelming localized rebel strength.

The majority of Imperial forces in the Xinhai Province remain entrenched along the Qi River in preparation for the fabled Vangalan counter-attack, and a new military headquarters has been established at Sapphaya. The Imperial Ministry of War was unavailable for comment concerning the ongoing crisis in Xinhai.

A rebel offensive from Qiangzuo has reached the outskirts of the Imperial capital of Zhenjing, with reports of fierce clashes and heavy use of military planes to support Imperial defenders. Martial law has officially been imposed on the capital, with 8 to 8 curfews in effect for all non-security personnel. Fire and police brigades have been mobilized to aid in the cities defense, with reports of Imperial reinforcements for the city days away. Analysts suspect that Hongmenghui sleeper cells are waiting to be activated within the capital, and fear that widespread clashes within the city will lead to large numbers of civilian casualties. Regime forces have intensified their presence around historical monuments and major landmarks, and all major transportation routes have been shut down for national security reasons.

Rebel gains in the East were also reported, with a small scale insurgency on the Diaoshang Peninsula pushing back forces aligned with General Deng, increasing pressure on the Imperial port of Dongwan. Widespread skirmishes have been reported, though fighting appears to be light. Additionally, Southland forces have pushed across the Qinglu River and have launched an offensive against Guiyang, the southernmost Imperial-held port city. Reinforcements from the Republican front are set to begin arriving in two days time, though hasty defensive preparations for the city have only produced marginal results.

Sikandari troops intervening in the war on the Empire's behalf have taken up defensive positions north of Yujin's restive Qiangzuo Province, securing a number of villages said to be aligned to the Hongmenghui. Reports of small scale skirmishes between Baijingdui and Hongmenghui forces on the western periphery of this defensive buffer have been reported, with Hongmenghui rebels taking advantage of the rugged terrain present in the worlds tallest mountain range, the Meghalaya's. These clashes do not seem to be impacting the Sikandari efforts, and Baijingdui forces have had little success rooting out the Hongmenghui forces, with many local villagers sympathetic to the Christo-Communists of Qiangzuo.

Fighting in Lianggang has spiked as successive Hongmenghui assaults on the harbor of Lianggang threaten to dislodge the last remnants of Imperial resistance within the city, ahead of the expected Sikandari attack. Chemical artillery has bombarded the city for days, and casualty reports in the city are estimated to be in the tens of thousands, though this can not be verified. Reports of rebel armored forces moving into the city has caused concern for Imperial forces south of the Qi River, who have begun amassing their own armored force in preparation of an amphibious assault across the river.

 

[Vangala]

People's Republic of Sinhai declares independence
STN Siyang

A body known as the 'Provisional National People's Assembly' has declared the province of Xinhai to be an independent nation. The announcement follows the capture of the provincial capital Siraama by rebel forces, and the increasing likelihood of a Vangalan invasion.

Sinhai is the second province to declare independence from Yujin after Seora.

Siraama was captured by a coalition of Red Alliance rebels and Sinhese nationalists. The 'Provisional National People's Assembly' is dominated by a group named the Sinhese Revolutionary Socialist Party, which had previously been based in the People's Republic of Vangala.

The People's Republic of Vangala immediately granted formal recognition to the People's Republic of Sinhai, having previously demanded Sinhese independence as a precondition to any peace agreement with Yujin.

However the declaration of independence may cause tensions with the Red Alliance, with who Vangala is co-operating against the Yujiner Imperial government. The Red Alliance has repeatedly voiced its support for the territorial integrity and unity of Yujin, proposing the Empire be reformed into a federation of revolutionary republics.

The leadership of the Red Alliance has yet to release a statement on Sinhese independence.

 

[Khemia]

Yujin Crisis: Sinese Independence Divisive
STN Siyang

Hongmenghui commander Wu Jindiao was swift to acknowledge the independence of the People's Republic of Sinhai from the Empire of Yujin, and stated that a similar framework would be laid out in Qiangzuo in the future. Commander Wu, however, dismissed the notion that the 'Sinhese Revolutionary Socialist Party' had taken power in the rogue province, insisting that an effective government had yet to be formed in the region so shortly after the handover of Siraama.

"It is impossible to say with certainty that popular councils in Sinhai have been able to coordinate the establishment of an effective local government. Sinhai can not and will not be ruled by outsiders resisting the Imperial cause from the safety of Vangala or any other state. The mad Emperor has created a situation such that only true revolutionaries who are ready to spill their blood for their nation can hold a claim to power now," Wu Jindiao stated at a press conference.

The crisis weakens the alliance between nationalists and Hongmenghui forces in Western Sinhai, where the formation of a coalition has been widely viewed as the critical factor in rebel successes in that province. A divisive split between the two groups could significantly undermine the rebel efforts in the West, strain relations between the Lianggang-based Hongmenghui and Vangala, and reverse some rebel gains made in recent days.

The Imperial government issued a statement shortly after the rebel leader Wu Jindiao, denouncing the declarations of independence by Seora and Xinhai as divisive and destabilizing. "The Empire of Yujin is a nation which is greater than the sum of its parts. To separate from the Empire is to weakens one's own position as well as that of the Empire. As such, the Emperor urges his subjects to stand by him in these trying times and to refuse the offer made by the revolters." The Empire further called upon its international supporters to redouble their efforts in aiding the regime, asking for assistance in pressuring Tyrrhenian and Carentanian aid packages to the rebels in Seora.

Imperial forces in Siraama have been taken prisoner by Red Alliance rebels, who are now tasked with stabilizing the situation as Nationalist aligned factions are forced to choose between supporting the Vangalan-based Provisional National People's Assembly or an as-of-yet unformed Red Alliance-established body.
[MENTION=11]Carentania[/MENTION] [MENTION=635]Sikandara[/MENTION] [MENTION=59]Vangala[/MENTION] [MENTION=7]Tyrrhenia[/MENTION] [MENTION=1700]Sri Siva[/MENTION]