Beiyang reactionaries

In terms of the number of aircraft in this world, China is also a world power.

Although China's annual aircraft production is much lower than those of countries that are at war, such as the United States, the Soviet Union, Germany, and the United Kingdom.But even if there is no war at present, China is still a big country that can easily produce tens of thousands of aircraft every year.

It is most suitable to train pilots in China.

Especially the training of junior pilots, China is very suitable.Because China currently has more than 2 trainer aircraft alone, it trains a large number of pilots every year, and it is very easy to train some junior pilots.Those quasi-pilots in Japan only need to train in China for a few months before they can reach the level of junior pilots.Then go back to Japan to familiarize yourself with Japanese fighters, and you can go directly to the battlefield.Such a model can greatly reduce the pressure on Japan.Japan does not need to produce so many trainer aircraft to train pilots.

In terms of the cooperation between China and Japan over the years, this kind of thing should not be a big deal.

"In principle, it's not a big problem, it shouldn't be a problem."

Gu Weijun nodded.

The cooperation between China and Japan has been going on for 20 years, and there is no such cooperation.Japan has transferred the technology of warships such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers to China, and China has also sold a large amount of arms to Japan.

Even at the beginning of the year, China even sold two large aircraft carriers to Japan.Compared with such military cooperation, helping them train some pilots is really not a big deal.China produces so many aircraft every year, including a large number of trainers.

It is a good thing to use some of these trainers to help Japan train pilots and collect some money.So Gu Weijun didn't object.

"However, Foreign Minister Gu Zheng, in fact, you should discuss this matter with Director Chen (Chen Guangfu). Although this is not a material trade, it is also within the scope of cooperation between the two parties. The training costs of these pilots should be within the scope of their work. It's a waste of time talking to me."

No polite words.

Gu Weijun talked directly with Gu Zhengzhi about money.

Training pilots is no cheaper than an airplane.Not to mention food and lodging, the aviation oil used during training, and the life of aircraft in this era are limited.I don't know how much it will cost to train 4000 pilots.It is estimated that the money that Japan needs to give to train 4000 pilots for Japan is not lower than the price of selling 4000 aircraft.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not a department that talks about money.

At present, these cooperations are handed over to the Materials Committee.

"Minister Gu, this is just one aspect we are going to talk about today. In fact, the Imperial Navy wants to cooperate more with your country."

"More cooperation?"

"Yes."

"Please say."

"The Imperial Navy wants to exchange some islands for warships."

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"The Imperial Navy is going to exchange some islands for your country's warships."

"islands?"

"Yes."

Gu Weijun was very surprised.

What is Japan doing?Islands in exchange for warships?This is not the way the United States played it two years ago.At that time, the United States sold the sealed destroyers to the United Kingdom, and Britain sold its islands in the Americas to the United States as a price.

Those islands are all important British bases in the Americas, but they have all become islands controlled by the United States for the sake of war.The result was a sharp decline in British influence in the Americas, and the United States really began to control the Americas.It can be said that this deal in the United States has been too successful.

Now Japan wants to exchange islands for warships?

Islands, islands.

Japan has many islands.Japan itself is an island country, surrounded by a lot of islands.In addition to Japan's own islands, Japan also has many captured islands.After all, Japan occupied Southeast Asia, and there are tens of thousands of various islands in Southeast Asia.Moreover, Japan also controls a large number of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and the number of islands controlled by Japan in the Indian Ocean is also amazing.

But these are islands occupied by Japan. Japan wants to exchange these islands with China for warships?It is impossible for Japan to exchange their own islands or Taiwan for warships.If Japan wants to return Taiwan, it is impossible to procrastinate on the issue of negotiations.

Gu Weijun thought for a while and said, "Minister Gu Zheng, I don't know which islands your navy wants to use?"

"here."

Gu Zhengzhi smiled and drew several circles on the map.

Even Gu Weijun, who has always been steady, widened his eyes for a moment, and his heart turned pale with shock.Fortunately, Gu Weijun has very rich diplomatic experience and has experienced many critical moments, so he quickly recovered his expression.But this is only the calm on the surface, and there is already an indescribable feeling in the heart.Because the islands that Gu Zhengzhi drew on the map are really incredible.

All are important islands.

Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands in the northwest corner of Australia, these two islands were previously controlled by the United Kingdom.The British assigned the leadership of the two islands to Singapore, and the Japanese later expelled the British and quickly took control of the two islands.

The Cocos Islands are currently useless, that is, the location is better.But this island has no military value at present, so its importance is average.But Christmas Island is a Japanese favorite.Because Christmas Island produces phosphates, which are very much in demand by the Japanese.How could Japan even be willing to assign this island to China.

Of course, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island are small places, and there is no population on the island.

What shocked Gu Weijun even more was the circle that Gu Zhengzhi drew in the Indian Ocean.Gu Zhengzhi painted the Coco Islands, Andaman Islands, and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.This is no small place.

These places were all controlled by Japan after defeating the British Far East Fleet.

The lease of the Coco Islands was included in the secret agreement signed by the Chinese and Myanmar governments before.Because Duan Xun believes that the future strategic position of the Coco Islands is very important.But to be honest, compared with the Coco Islands, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands are larger and their strategic locations are more important.With the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, who is going to want the Koko Islands.

If China can really control these islands, China's influence in the Indian Ocean will rise sharply.It can even be said to directly threaten India.

But Gu Weijun didn't immediately agree.

Because none of these islands belong to Japan, they were snatched by Japan from the British.Although it is now controlled by the Japanese, Britain does not recognize it.What would Britain think if China did take the islands?Or how the UK and its allies think, China's current diplomacy is not to offend the Axis powers, but also not to offend the anti-fascist alliance.Now it’s a time of war. After the war is over, Britain will ask China for these islands. Will China return them?Originally, during this war, China had already offended all the world's powerful countries. If these islands continued to be controlled by then, those powers would cooperate to besiege China.

Gu Weijun is a very shrewd diplomat.

A simple thought will understand the wishful thinking of the Japanese.Japan has always wanted to win over China to join the Axis powers, but it has not waited for China's consent.Assigning these islands to China now can not only get the desired warships from China, but also completely pull China into the ranks of the Axis powers.After all, what would Britain think if China took these islands?

Do you think China will cooperate with Japan?

So this thing cannot be expressed casually.

"Mr. Gu, what do you think?"

"Minister Gu Zheng, do you want these islands to be allocated to our country? Or do you want our country to choose from these islands?"

"That depends on the size of the warship deal between us. If it is big enough, our country is willing to assign all these islands to your country."

Gu Zhengzhi smiled and said yes.

However, Gu Zhengzhi seemed to be talking with a smile, but there was no other way.Japan is a country with a strong desire for control, how can it easily give up the place it occupies.If there were no unavoidable circumstances, Japan would never choose this way.The main reason is that in the second Pearl Harbor battle that just ended, Japan really had the upper hand in the war.It almost paralyzed the US Pacific Fleet.

The surface fleet of the US Pacific Fleet is basically scrapped.Most of the light aircraft carriers, escort aircraft carriers, and seaplane carriers produced by the United States were sunk by the Japanese army.In addition to the surface fleet, Japan also sank nearly 30 U.S. submarines during the Battle of Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. submarine force was seriously injured.

Of course, Pearl Harbor was also bombed indiscriminately, which dealt another fatal blow to the military fortifications that the United States had repaired in a few months.There were countless casualties in the United States, with more than 5 casualties in one battle.

On the surface it looks like a big fight.

But my family knows my own affairs.Japan also paid a huge price for this battle.The United States lost nearly 30 submarines because of the fierce counterattack from the United States.

This time the Pearl Harbor naval battle, the US Pacific Fleet was really desperate.Naval aviation, including at Pearl Harbor, was also desperate.Facing the main force of the Japanese navy, they did not back down at all.