At noon on August 1st, the aircraft carrier battle group stationed in the Guam military base set off. The flag swayed in the sea breeze, and the heroic Marines stood on the deck of the aircraft carrier with their rifles. They gazed to the southwest with enthusiasm.

Coro City, the capital of Xin stood there.

Xin became a stone blocking the UA from establishing its hegemony in the region.

At least in front of these soldiers, the small country Xin was no different from a stone. As soon as they were given the order, they would rush onto the assault boats and re-enact the “Desert Storm” on the beaches of Coro Island.

As a strong supporter of UA, the Nippon Maritime Self-Defense Force formed a battlegroup west of Guam. The fleet included the second-generation Ford-class aircraft carrier and Nippon’s helicopter carrier.

In addition, the Australian, South Korean, and Singaporean navies participated in the military exercise.

Other than Country F which had already lost to Celestial Trade, the Asian countries within the UA’s sphere of influence all participated in the military exercise. Whether willing or not, the four navies mobilized their most elite forces into the region.

The entire Western Pacific Ocean was in full swing.

Anyone could see a storm has been gathering over the peaceful sea.

About forty modern battleships lined up in battle formation on the high sea to begin the first round of target practice exercises in the 2019 Asia-Pacific joint military exercise.

Dozens of target ships were pulled to the area. With the flagship’s order, shells dragging orange tails bombarded the target waters. In an instant, the fleet of “imaginary enemies” sank and shredded into fragmentations.

At the same time, dozens of Tomahawk missiles dragging trails of flames lifted off from the missile frigate, accurately hitting targets more than 300 nautical miles away.

The F-35 and F-22 fighters took off from the deck one after another, leaving behind countless white trails behind to weave a net in the open air. More than a dozen flight squadrons took off to perform mid-range air-to-air combat and anti-ship operations.

Gunpowder raged in the western Pacific Ocean, and the calm sea turned turbulent.

The faces of the representatives of the countries standing in the audience all displayed some fear, and they began to doubt their previous decisions.

Obviously, the power displayed by the UA Navy already exceeded their expectations. Although they gained a lot of benefits from Celestial Trade and although the Global Grid Plan could give a big boost to their economy… power was what mattered.

Without enough force to protect their wealth, wealth was a sin.

Iraq and Afghanistan were all examples.

The representatives of the countries in the audience began to debate if they should reconsider the diplomatic relationship between Xin and the Earth Defense Alliance. Was it a good choice to make such a rash decision?

The representative of Ecuador, in particular, felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over his head.

The signal of the second space elevator released by Celestial Trade made the Ecuadorian government lose any logical sense, so they withstood the pressure of the neighboring countries and the UA. They embraced Celestial Trade and gave the green light to the trans-Pacific submarine transmission cable.

The choice now seemed to be a dangerous and wrong one…

At the same time that the representatives were all reflecting on their choices, the joint fleet officers standing on the flagship were proud.

In the entire aircraft carrier battle group, the aircraft carrier served as the fist of the entire combat formation. Without valuable space to load C4ISR equipment, the flagship was generally served by the missile frigate. The admiral of the fleet was usually the highest-ranking officer.

Hogg, who served as the admiral of the fleet, handed over the commanding rights of the aircraft carrier to his commander. He was standing on the missile frigate, looking far away at the wreckage in the distance. He couldn’t feel more honored about the uniform he wore.

Perhaps the overwhelming bombardment of missiles awakened his self-confidence, perhaps it was the frightened expressions of the representatives from different countries, or perhaps he remembered the “political mission” the Capitol gave him before the military exercise. He looked to his commander and ordered arrogantly, “Apply for passage in Xin waters; the exercise will now enter the second phase.”

The two orders were issued at the same time.

In other words, regardless of whether Xin agreed or not, UA’s joint fleet would sail through Xin’s waters.

Hogg was very curious how Xin would react.

He didn’t think Jiang Chen would easily compromise, but he also didn’t think Jiang Chen would make any rash and inconsiderate decisions.

After all, it was a joint fleet of five nations comprised of more than forty modern combat ships! Nothing would challenge the superiority of this fleet!

As for the glorious record of Celestial Trade’s two Guardian-class frigates destroying the entire navy of Country F, Hogg chose to ignore that fact. He knew about Country F too well. A police boat retired by Nippon was used as the main battleship of Country F. Some converted fishing ships were used to expand their fleet. Destroying this force couldn’t be considered an achievement.

However, the response of the commander was beyond his expectations.

“Xin refused our request and designated the northern waters as a military restricted zone.”

After a short glimpse as he just processed what he had heard, Hogg was furious and enraged. His fists clenched and his veins were exposed more than ever.

A military restricted zone? Do you really consider us as a joke?

Our navy will go wherever it decides to go! Whether it’s the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea or the South China Sea! The great navy of the five oceans and seven seas won’t be challenged by a puny country!

His anger was quickly suppressed. Hogg returned to calmness and placed an order.

“My order: the course is to be adjusted ten degrees to the south, and the exercise will continue as planned!”

“Yes, sir.”

The commander took the order.

Military restricted zone?

Hmph! I want to see who can stop the freedom of navigation of the UA fleet!

The joint fleet began to change course and headed towards the territorial waters of Xin. The so-called application for passage was just a formality and was more of a notice. Regardless of whether Xin accepted or not, the joint fleet still changed course.

The expressions from the representatives gradually became more and more intrigued.

Previous target practices on the high seas were just a demonstration of force from the UA Navy. Whether the missiles just landed on scrap copper and iron or in the heart of Xin would depend on the reaction of Celestial Trade.

And Celestial Trade’s reaction was the focus of their attention.

Although they didn’t expect Celestial Trade’s frigates to enter the battle and stop in front of the joint fleet, if Celestial Trade really didn’t do anything and allowed the joint fleet to freely pass through their waters, then their relationship with Xin would be over.

Countries weren’t enterprises. Economic and trade cooperation was the basis of diplomatic cooperation. However, considering the diplomatic strategy of a country wasn’t solely based on economic benefits.

Not only representatives of different countries on the flagship closely followed the situation, but Hua and Russia also closely monitored the event as they waited for Xin’s reaction.

Taking a step forward would take them into an abyss.

Taking a step back would bring them into hell.

An unprecedented situation in the Pacific Ocean was unfolding. The choice facing Xin was also an unprecedented dilemma.

This step would determine the ownership of hegemony. It would also determine Xin’s future.

The world was waiting for Jiang Chen’s reaction.