('Essays From the Crypt' is an anthology of articles which, for one reason or another, never made it to print. Saved from the grave, they live once again!)
(Originally published 2016)
Proxima B, a newly discovered planet orbiting our closest neighbouring star, has been claimed by China as its traditional territory, sources confirm.
‘Ethnic Han Chinese comprise 100% of the people on this planet, since we arrived. Therefore it can only be considered our sovereign territory.’
This new claim follows more recent assertions in the South China Sea, including the reclamation of land around Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.
Despite only having been discovered very recently, the Chinese have already started building ports and infrastructure on the planet in anticipation of future long-term investments. The UN has denounced the move and local powers are monitoring the illegal expansion as best they can.
The Chinese are believed to have arrived in force by standing on each other’s shoulders, forming a human chain through the cosmos. A connecting railway line is being built to reduce travel time and civilian costs between Shanghai and the Proxima Centauri system, which will eventually bring the travel time down from 4.2 years travelling at the speed of light to a mere 14 hours with a connecting ferry.
The official stance of the Chinese government is that they are helping the indigenous population (which currently does not exist) by introducing improved infrastructure and work opportunities, but the truth is more self-serving than publicly stated. Analysts say that by building up a series of bases on Proxima B they have secured alternative ports in case the Strait of Malacca (the thin ribbon of sea between Indonesia and the Malaysian peninsular) is blocked by an antagonistic force. Proxima B, as an exterior trading hub, would provide ample space and security in the aforementioned scenario as well as a sizeable interior in the case of invasion.
In other news, I read a book on geopolitics. It was pretty interesting.