alternatehistory.com
Event: Orange Revolution (2009)
Qilai! Qilai!
The History of Modern China and the World
Event: Orange Revolution - March 2009
The History of Modern China and the World
Event: Orange Revolution - March 2009
Since their independence from the Soviet Union, the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have harbored a great deal of resentment for the revolving doors of Washington and Muscovite leadership. Therefore, when Alain Juppe proposed the entity that would eventually evolve into the European Commonwealth (and after 2010, the European Federation), the Baltic States were eager to join, even if it meant their geopolitical isolation, as Poland remained ever loyal to NATO, which was morphing into a different beast.
However, despite the quick movement of the independent Baltic states into Bruxelles' sphere of influence, there were still significant numbers of people within these republics whom harbored anti-European sentiment--they were either pro-Soviet, pro-American, or simply wanted a neutral Baltic States, without foreign interference. In February 2009, The Republic of France invoked a council meeting of the European Commonwealth, and proposed a move towards union. With the Soviet Union, United States and China moving to form one monopole aligned against Brussels and Paris, the French proposed that by unifying as soon as possible, they could counteract those aligned against them, and strike back with impunity.
The Baltic governments signed the Treaty of Antwerp that set into motion the unification of the European Commonwealth into the European Federation, effective 1 January 2010. However, almost immediately after the terms of this treaty became public, pro-Russian and pro-American forces within these countries took to mass demonstrations, which rapidly escalated into something worse. In the capital city of Lithuania, 750 student protesters took up positions in the main square of the city, and refused to disperse on police orders. Immediately, clashes began as tear gas grenades were sallied into the thralling mass of students. Similar protests emerged in Latvia and Estonia, primarily sparked by Russian minorities within those states.
General Secretary Jobs wasn't expecting this crisis to emerge, particularly as the Latvian and Estonian governments cracked down on the demonstrations of the Russians in their lands. The General Secretary was visited and given updates by not only his generals, but also by Vladimir Putin, the director of the KGB, as well as other governmental organizations with a stake in the Baltic situation. Jobs was faced with a rather serious task to decide on what he should do-- and with Putin and some of his officer's urging, he reached out to Washington and Beijing before acting. When informed of his decision, President Trump promised the full backing of the United States, but advised him to contact Warsaw and Berlin as well to inform them of what was happening. Beijing simply agreed that they thought it was the best solution to show Europe it's place, and did not say more-- other than that they would begin to apply pressure on India's remnant states to take a side in the coming ideological conflict.
On March 26th, 2009, Soviet tanks crossed the border into the three Baltic States, calling for a restoration of order, and the protection of ethnic minorities, as well as to protect the Soviet territory of Kaliningrad from foreign incursion. Berlin and Warsaw gave their assent for the Soviet military action, and Bruxelles was thrown into outrage over it. The United States bolstered their presence in Europe by increasing the deployment of new military divisions and air units to the United Kingdom and Germany. Two days into the invasion, France launched a series of provocations along the Franco-German border, shelling a small village in the Saar. Germany then returned, and shelled a village in Alsace. The two sides entered into an unofficial ceasefire after the Alliance proved they would not allow Europe to act in a manner that threatened freedoms and liberty.
The conflict lasted six weeks, at which time the three Baltic States were forcibly annexed back into the Soviet Union. Europe and many non-aligned states openly protested this violation of international law, but the major powers were simply silent--they had no interest in telling Russia it could not do what they were all wanting to do. Generally, anything that could weaken the EC's power, the better. It was in this same light, that a number of German social policy makers, and politicians, began to agitate for the 'Alsace-Lorraine' territory to be returned to Germany. While Germany had never formally abrogated her claims over her 1937 borders, Germany and Poland had a general agreement that the border was permanent, and that neither side would push it. A similar treaty had been made with France. However, after France and Germany turned into enemies following the Volksaufstand in 2005, Germany had begun to reassert her western claims, namely Eupen-Malmedy, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine. It would be in 2012 that Germany would formally resume claims on the "western borders as of the outbreak of the Erste Weltkrieg', throwing a spanner into the idea that there could be peace between Europe and the Tripartite Powers.
By June 2009, the Orange Revolution seemed to be over, as all sides had returned to normality, in some form or another. However, Europe accelerated the timetable of their unification, and it was made clear that the time of peace and friendship for everyone was over. Europe had their dreams and beliefs, and they contrasted with that of the rest of the world. To Trump, Jobs and Liu... it was an 'us or them' situation. It would not be long before the world was turned upside down over the proposition that Europe's power and their dream of influence was a threat to Sino-Soviet-American tripartite peace.
However, within the Soviet Union, Jobs' response to the Baltic Crisis had strengthened his rule significantly. Many of the hardliners whom had opposed him consistently, were praising him for his tough response, and advocated further action where necessary, should other 'former provinces' of the Soviet Union and Russian Empire grow unwieldy. Jobs declined to comment on that part, but thanked the people of the Soviet Union for their support in a time where tough solutions were necessary.
However, despite the quick movement of the independent Baltic states into Bruxelles' sphere of influence, there were still significant numbers of people within these republics whom harbored anti-European sentiment--they were either pro-Soviet, pro-American, or simply wanted a neutral Baltic States, without foreign interference. In February 2009, The Republic of France invoked a council meeting of the European Commonwealth, and proposed a move towards union. With the Soviet Union, United States and China moving to form one monopole aligned against Brussels and Paris, the French proposed that by unifying as soon as possible, they could counteract those aligned against them, and strike back with impunity.
The Baltic governments signed the Treaty of Antwerp that set into motion the unification of the European Commonwealth into the European Federation, effective 1 January 2010. However, almost immediately after the terms of this treaty became public, pro-Russian and pro-American forces within these countries took to mass demonstrations, which rapidly escalated into something worse. In the capital city of Lithuania, 750 student protesters took up positions in the main square of the city, and refused to disperse on police orders. Immediately, clashes began as tear gas grenades were sallied into the thralling mass of students. Similar protests emerged in Latvia and Estonia, primarily sparked by Russian minorities within those states.
General Secretary Jobs wasn't expecting this crisis to emerge, particularly as the Latvian and Estonian governments cracked down on the demonstrations of the Russians in their lands. The General Secretary was visited and given updates by not only his generals, but also by Vladimir Putin, the director of the KGB, as well as other governmental organizations with a stake in the Baltic situation. Jobs was faced with a rather serious task to decide on what he should do-- and with Putin and some of his officer's urging, he reached out to Washington and Beijing before acting. When informed of his decision, President Trump promised the full backing of the United States, but advised him to contact Warsaw and Berlin as well to inform them of what was happening. Beijing simply agreed that they thought it was the best solution to show Europe it's place, and did not say more-- other than that they would begin to apply pressure on India's remnant states to take a side in the coming ideological conflict.
On March 26th, 2009, Soviet tanks crossed the border into the three Baltic States, calling for a restoration of order, and the protection of ethnic minorities, as well as to protect the Soviet territory of Kaliningrad from foreign incursion. Berlin and Warsaw gave their assent for the Soviet military action, and Bruxelles was thrown into outrage over it. The United States bolstered their presence in Europe by increasing the deployment of new military divisions and air units to the United Kingdom and Germany. Two days into the invasion, France launched a series of provocations along the Franco-German border, shelling a small village in the Saar. Germany then returned, and shelled a village in Alsace. The two sides entered into an unofficial ceasefire after the Alliance proved they would not allow Europe to act in a manner that threatened freedoms and liberty.
The conflict lasted six weeks, at which time the three Baltic States were forcibly annexed back into the Soviet Union. Europe and many non-aligned states openly protested this violation of international law, but the major powers were simply silent--they had no interest in telling Russia it could not do what they were all wanting to do. Generally, anything that could weaken the EC's power, the better. It was in this same light, that a number of German social policy makers, and politicians, began to agitate for the 'Alsace-Lorraine' territory to be returned to Germany. While Germany had never formally abrogated her claims over her 1937 borders, Germany and Poland had a general agreement that the border was permanent, and that neither side would push it. A similar treaty had been made with France. However, after France and Germany turned into enemies following the Volksaufstand in 2005, Germany had begun to reassert her western claims, namely Eupen-Malmedy, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine. It would be in 2012 that Germany would formally resume claims on the "western borders as of the outbreak of the Erste Weltkrieg', throwing a spanner into the idea that there could be peace between Europe and the Tripartite Powers.
By June 2009, the Orange Revolution seemed to be over, as all sides had returned to normality, in some form or another. However, Europe accelerated the timetable of their unification, and it was made clear that the time of peace and friendship for everyone was over. Europe had their dreams and beliefs, and they contrasted with that of the rest of the world. To Trump, Jobs and Liu... it was an 'us or them' situation. It would not be long before the world was turned upside down over the proposition that Europe's power and their dream of influence was a threat to Sino-Soviet-American tripartite peace.
However, within the Soviet Union, Jobs' response to the Baltic Crisis had strengthened his rule significantly. Many of the hardliners whom had opposed him consistently, were praising him for his tough response, and advocated further action where necessary, should other 'former provinces' of the Soviet Union and Russian Empire grow unwieldy. Jobs declined to comment on that part, but thanked the people of the Soviet Union for their support in a time where tough solutions were necessary.
- Asami
- Word Count: 1k