The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 246: Chapter 227: Fishermen Conflict

If the first two Cabinets focused on domestic developmt, starting with the third Cabinet, Australia also sought to develop its international influce, looking outward for more power and influce.

In July 907, with the joint efforts of many Australasian artists and composers, the Kingdom of Australasia's national anthem, "Australasia, advance!" was officially born.

Although the name is somewhat similar to the historical Australian anthem, the contt is tirely differt.

Historically, the Australian national anthem represted Australia's detachmt from war and its idyllic, carefree beauty.

However, the Australasian national anthem, while extolling the royal family and Arthur's contributions, courages Australasians to join hands and push Australasia to the top of the world.

There are two versions of the national anthem: one is a purely instrumtal version, used to be played on solemn occasions of the country.

The version with lyrics is used for occasions like National Day, and both versions share a common easter egg: Arthur's personally shouted, "Australasia, advance!" in the closing of the music.

Such a national anthem fits Arthur's purpose, uniting all Australasians and fostering their national consciousness and cohesion.

Wh such anthems and music are played at solemn occasions, it stirs the hearts of many patriots and nationalists.

Especially wh the anthem ds and Arthur's own slogan is played, it can't help but elicit cheers from many Australasians.

In July 907, the Timor Sea in the northern part of Australasia.

The Timor Sea connects three countries and is a major transportation hub for the northern part of Australasia.

This area not only has abundant petroleum and natural gas resources, but it is also one of the regions with natural fishing gs in northern Australasia.

This has led to an influx of fisherm from the three countries, and while gerally peaceful, fisherm from differt regions and nationalities keep to themselves. Dutch East Indies fisherm are located in the northwest, Portuguese Timor fisherm in the northeast, and Australasian fisherm in the south.

However, as the Southern Hemisphere ters winter (the Southern Hemisphere's seasons are opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere, with June to August being winter in the Southern Hemisphere), the natural fishing g locations will shift, gerally moving further north.

Of course, the real movemt depds on the direction of the fish, which is not limited by humans, causing the fisherm a the Timor Sea to be affected to some extt every year.

Based on the previous situation, Australasian fisherm td to lose out the most since the fishing g shifts to the north, and geographically, they are closer to the Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor.

But since the last pirate incidt, the national pride of the Australasian people has be ignited, and their recognition of the royal family and the country has increased.

Previously, the Australasian fisherm were contt with their lot, ev if their catch was reduced, rarely straying too close to other countries' waters.

But now, with the onset of winter, Australasian fisherm have gradually expanded further north, crossing Australasia's own Kajetia Island and Ashmore Reef, tering the exclusive areas of the Dutch and the Portuguese.

This aggressive behavior has naturally provoked some dissatisfaction among the Dutch and the Portuguese.

Fisherm from all a, who normally stayed in their respective places without infringing on one another, now found their fishing gs occupied, interrupting their livelihoods.

To the fisherm, the daily catch sustains their livelihood, and fishing is their primary means of survival.

Some may be able to dure this, but there are also some with a volatile temperamt, on the verge of picking up weapons and fighting.

Initially, the situation could be contained, but such simple conflicts have gradually escalated into conflicts betwe fisherm from the three countries in the region.

Larger fishing boats may be safe, but especially small fishing boats not only have their fishing disrupted by boats from other countries but have also witnessed some malicious attacks.

No matter how the Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor react, a series of fishing conflicts have attracted the atttion of the Australasian Governmt.

The governmt also conved an emergcy meeting to discuss how to deal with these conflicts.

Soon, Arthur issued his orders, telling the governmt to publicly urge the fisherm to restrain themselves but secretly supporting more immigrants to move further north in the Timor Sea.

Ordinary people might not understand such inttions, but the clever people in the governmt saw through them.

Though the fisherm were asked to restrain themselves oply, in secret, ev more, were deployed to croach upon the fishing areas further north with the inttion of provoking the Dutch and the Portuguese.

If it was the Dutch or the Portuguese who initiated the conflict, th there would be many more ways for Australasia to respond.

On July 7, 907, the first wave of fishing conflicts officially broke out.

It started wh fisherm from Portuguese Timor, dissatisfied with the unaffected, abundant harvests of the Australasian fisherm, grew vious and provoked Australasian fishing boats.

After during the frustrating harassmt fruitlessly, Australasian fisherm evtually decided to use language and action in retaliation.