Republic of East Asia

"Free economy encourages growth, but government control of the financial sector is necessary to avoid mistakes made by capitalist countries. For example, look at Japan's major recession during the 20th century."

-- People's Republic of Da Han Zhong Citizen's Bulletin

The Republic of East Asia

The Republic of East Asia includes several former Soviet states, mainland China, India, Sri Lanka, North Korea, and most member states of today's Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Operating as a collective of loosely affiliated socialist states with limited entry to markets and a heavy authoritarian bent, the Republic of East Asia produces most of the world's food.

For the most part, the REA is content to exist in its present state and not tamper with the balance of power in the world… too much, right now. That said, the REA's occasional efforts at advancing its place have made it the subject of numerous conspiracy theories -- that it, rather than the Union, operates most Federation Newtype labs; that it held the real reins of power within the Titans; that it has positioned spies or agents of influence in every power bloc; that it knew about the existence of Newtypes before even Zeon and has been performing quantum brainwave research since 0050... the list goes on and on. The REA has never once dignified these with public response.

Political Situation

In the Republic of East Asia, the populace is substantially on board with the authoritarian bent of most of its member nations, because the actual living situation isn't that bad. As the Earth Sphere's largest food supplier, the Republic of East Asia is relatively wealthy, and provides its people a high quality of life.

REA citizens are apathetic about participation in politics, and not terribly concerned with international squabbles. Engagement is low, overall. Protests do occur, but they are usually small enough that despite being authoritarian, the REA elects to let them do as they will as long as they commit no violence.

The REA is very committed to the war with the PLANTs, but its military investment is mostly domestic and ground-based. It does have some space-based holdings, but is more inclined to point its efforts at smaller problems where it knows it can win, and leave taking the fight directly to the PLANTs to the Britannian Union.