Gansu (1983: Doomsday)

The Republic of Gansu is a small nation in central China. Hit by one nuclear warhead by the nuclear strikes, at Lanzhou, the government immediately enacted martial law. This failed, however, and by 1990, they were overthrown in a popular rebellion. The following government was a democracy. Its current leader is Lu Hao, the Secretary. In 2001, it launched a series of campaigns to expand somewhat beyond the borders of Gansu, but didn't make much progress, due to the lawless areas beyond, as well as fear of attracting the attention of the USSR or the PRC.

Pre-Doomsday
In imperial times, Gansu was an important strategic outpost and communications link for the Chinese empire, as the Hexi corridor (河西走廊) runs along the "neck" of the province. The Han dynasty extended the Great Wall across this corridor, also building the strategic Yumenguan (Jade Gate Pass, near Dunhuang) andYangguan (阳关) fort towns along it. Remains of the wall and the towns can be found there to this date. TheMing dynasty also built the Jiayuguan outpost in Gansu. To the west of Yumenguan and the Qilian Mountains, at the northwestern end of the province, the Yuezhi, Wusun, and other nomadic tribes dwelt (Shiji123), occasionally figuring in regional imperial Chinese geopolitics.

By the Qingshui treaty, concluded in 823 between the Tibetan Empire and the Tang Dynasty, China lost for a long while the whole Gansu province.[5]

After the fall of the Uyghur Empire, an Uyghur state was established in Gansu that lasted from 848 to 1036 AD. During that time, many of Gansu's residents converted to Islam.

The province was also the origin of the Muslim Rebellion of 1862-77, which later spread to much of China and resulted in the deaths of upwards of twelve million Chinese Muslims[9] in addition to the decimation of Chinese Muslim culture in Yunnan province, where over one million Muslims were killed by Qing forces.[10] Among the Qing forces were Muslim Generals like Ma Zhan'ao and Ma Anliang who helped Qing crush the rebel Muslims. The Dungan revolt (1895–1896) spread into this province from Qinghai.

Its frequent earthquakes, droughts and famines have tended to slow its economic progress, until recently when based on its abundant mineral resources it has begun developing into a vital industrial center. An earthquake in Gansu at 8.6 on the Richter scale killed around 180,000 people in 1920, and another with a magnitude of 7.6 killed 275 in 1932.[11]

Muslim General Ma Hongbin was acting Chairman of the province, and Muslim General Ma Buqing was in virtual control of Gansu in 1940. Liangzhou District in Wuwei was previously his headquarters in Gansu, where he controlled 15 million Muslims.[12]

Post-Doomsday
Gansu's capital, Lanzhou, was nuked by Soviet nuclear warheads, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead in its aftermath. Whatever government remained re-organized themselves into a cabinet and declared martial law to prevent rioting.

Lanzhou was the largest population centre and the centre of the province's nuclear power. After it was nuked, the surrounding areas came under immense clouds of fallout all over the southern part of the province, which was the most densely settled and agriculturally rich part of the province. This essentially killed the food supply and resulted in millions of deaths due to radiation and starvation.

The Yellow River was contamimated, affecting water supply for the following 2 years after doomsday. Around 6-8 million, of a pre-doomsday population of approximately 20 million, died due to the south's annihilation by the nuclear stike and the resulting fallout in the following 3 years. This left the population at around 12-14 million, starving and in desperate need of food and water.

Things start to improve
After around 3 years, the fallout began to clear up, allowing the remaining populace to start to grow crops in the former agricultural fields. By now, a large exodus had taken place to either the rumoured PRC in the east or Tibet to the south-west. However, many began to return. Only after outside contact and trade enabled the buying of fertilizers, which helped to increase food production, did some of the populace return. The population did not grow for the following years, however.

By 1989, things finally started to stablize and the population started to slowly by surely grow. The population was left at around 10 million but with their future now secure, the younger populace took to the streets, demanding democracy. Even some of the cabinet were tired of being bossed around by the communist regime and by spring 1990, the first democratic elections took place. The flag was changed from that of the PRC's to a new flag.

Many in older generations, however, disagree with the idea of democracy, but do not pose any real threat.

International Contact
Fist international contact was made in 1988 with Tibet. They seemed to be a peaceful nation and thus, trading with them began. Initially, it was mainly the resources excavated for fertilizers, which helped to increase crop production and feed the populace. With the food production continuing, other pressing topics were taken into account. Infrastructure had almost collapsed post-doomsday and whatever could be reconstructed, with the help of Tibet, was. Also, the two were against the idea of renewed communism in China, and formed pacts against the spread of the PRC. It is thought that if the USSR decides to attack Gansu, the PRC, Tibet, and GAnsu would unite against it, but as Tibet is friendly with the USSR, it is unlikely any attack will take place.

Government
Gansu is a federal republic. The main house of government is the Parliament, which has 100 members. They are elected by their regions. 8 of them are selected by the popularly elected Governor to join his Cabinet. The other tw are the Governor and the Secretary, elected by the Parliament. It is divided into 100 regions, where each region votes for one minister to join Parliament. General elections are held every 5 years.

There are three main political parties: The Gansu Federal Party (GFP), the Gansu Liberal Party (GLP), and the Gansu Republican Party (GRP). Currently, the GLP has a majority in Congress, but their policies have recieved litttle sucess, and it is thought that a GRP-GFP coalition could defeat them. The GLP is generally for better relations with Tibet, but the other two are opposed. The difference is that the GRP is in favor of an isolationist policy, but the GFP is simply neutral.

Military
Gansu has a strong military, and is heavily backed by Tibet. The two prevented Ugyhur from invading during a period of high tensions in the early 2000s. However, other than minor border skirmishes, it has not yet truly been tested in battle. In 2002 there was a scare when it was believed the PRC was about to invade. 300,000 troops were immediately sent to the border.

Economy
The economy of Gansu rests on two major things: mining and agriculture.

Gansu produces linseed, maize, wheat, and various other crops. However, it mostly produces wheat to feed the population. Many medicinal herbs are grown, which are helpful for hospitals.

Gansu mines antimony, chromium, coal, cobalt, copper, fluorite, gypsum, iridium, iron, lead, limestone, mercury, mirabilite, nickel, crude oil, platinum, troilite, tungsten, and zinc among others. It also has phosphors, which help by making various fertilizers, supplementing those from Tibet.