Chapter 430: A Storm is Coming, Wind Fills the Building_3
Because of this, the Beautiful Country began actively deploying troops. Both carrier battle groups came, along with a large number of soldiers, through sea and air transportation methods, stationed in Luzon, Jawa, Johor, and other countries.
The new President Jesmin of the Beautiful Country, when answering reporters' questions, openly stated that the Kra Isthmus Canal was becoming a strategic waterway under the control of Jieke Group, having a significant impact on the region's defense and security situation.
Seeing that the Beautiful Country began deploying troops, several countries also started to tremble.
With the Beautiful Country's backing, they began to publicly oppose Jieke Group's construction of the Kra Isthmus Canal.
However, to everyone's surprise, even before the Beautiful Country's carrier battle groups arrived and the military exercises started, India, jealous of the benefits from the Kra Isthmus Canal, took the first aggressive step.
"The construction of the Kra Isthmus Canal imposes exorbitant navigation fees on free-passing ships, and many of our commercial ships have been forced to pay. This behavior violates our anti-monopoly laws. It is an unfair monopolistic competition, demanding Jieke Group to pay a fine of 7.823 billion US dollars within ten days."
On February 18, 2029, India claimed that the Kra Isthmus Canal interfered with their natural resources in the Andaman Islands and decided to impose a fine of 7.823 billion US dollars on Jieke Group.
If the fine is not paid, they will block the western entrance of the Kra Isthmus Canal, preventing any ships from passing through.
This sudden news shocked the world. Although India often declares itself as a 'prominent, world-leading nation'.
No one expected that they would dare to directly provoke the temperamental Jieke Group.
Even the Beautiful Country itself did not anticipate India's quick aggression, disrupting their original plans.
India's bold stance naturally comes from their confidence.
From the map, the Andaman Islands are an overseas territory of India, strategically located. The Malacca Strait lies not far east of the Andaman Islands, just a few hundred kilometers from the Kra Isthmus Canal, serving effectively as a natural gate.
Moreover, due to the deep-water port in the Andaman Islands, India has continuously strengthened its military base there over the years, forming the Far East Naval Fleet, establishing the first joint command of the three armed forces in Indian history, and deploying 48 naval vessels on the island.
These ships include patrol boats, missile boats, landing craft, among others. There are also three infantry brigades, a military airport, and other military facilities on the island.
With this Indian overseas territory adjacent to the Malacca Strait and the Kra Isthmus Canal, India's confidence has soared, thinking Jieke Group is highly likely to comply with their demands.
If the Kra Isthmus Canal is the throat of maritime routes, then their Andaman Islands are a sharp sword pointed at the throat.
Jieke Group extorts passing ships, and India extorts Jieke Group, achieving mutual affluence.
Previously, India has done this numerous times to companies like Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei, Qualcomm, Samsung, Google, Coca-Cola, among other large enterprises, all of which have been fined by India, earning them substantial profits.
Now, they set their sights on Jieke Group, envious of the Kra Isthmus Canal's staggering profits.
However, India might have forgotten one thing: despite its name, Jieke Group wields powerful military forces as the dominant power in Southeast Asia.
Other companies may obediently pay fines to avoid trouble, but Jieke Group's business competition has never been 'honest and fair'.
Because of India's sudden intervention and the approach of the Dual Carrier Battle Group, the world now focuses on the tension between the Andaman Islands and the Kra Isthmus Canal. Some speculate Jieke Group might yield, while others believe Jieke Group might choose to resort to force.