New Chinese Empire

The New Chinese Empire is the dominant power in the superhuman dystopian 22nd century in the Aeon Trinity roleplaying game by White Wolf.

The New Chinese Empire plays a role on the global stage and within China like that of the British Empire, the Roman Republic, or the United States at their best and with all their flaws. It is a force for peace and prosperity within its own dominion, saved mankind from enslavement and perhaps extinction, and when it expands many welcome it's rule or assimilate and grow to become loyal citizens. On the other hand there are those whom fear China because of its success and those who refuse to assimilate.

Origin
In 2018, the Chinese Communist Party collapsed because of the economic damage caused by the collapse of the Three Gorges Dam combined with the social problems brought about by unrestrained capitalism. An alliance of university activists and revolutionaries took power, establishing the New Chinese Empire (NEC) in 2022.

The regime turned inward to focus on the development of its economy, infrastructure, and society. China ended up benefiting from its isolation as it was far less impacted by the Aberrant War between the superhumans (Aberrants) and between humans and the Aberrants (many of whom had gone mad with power or had become psychotic). Many of the Chinese aberrants left China by 2030 because they saw it as a dull backward place and in 2035 Beijing made the policy official, excluding abberants from China. Just in time to spare China most of the horrors from the Aberrant War that devastated the United States and Western Europe.

Aberrant War
While the Aberrant War raged between 2048-2061, China steadily grew stronger. Unable to challenge the Aberrants, the NCE focused on outer space. In 2053, the Chinese landed the first humans on Mars and in the following year they began to build orbital factories and space colonies. Which were secretly armed with thermonuclear weapons to protect them from the aberrants. To accomplish the aforementioned China was forced to make great sacrifices, diverting vast national resources from other priorities, which unfortunately resulted in the death of 14 million to disease, hunger, and accidents.

As the threat of the Aberrants grew and the devastation and loss of life increased, in 2061 the Chinese made their "Earth Strike Ultimatum" to the aberrants. Leave Earth or face nuclear annihilation were the choices given. The aberrants left Earth but promised to return one day. Upon receiving confirmation that all the aberrants had left Earth, the Chinese fleet was ordered to stand down. North America and Western Europe had been devastated in the Aberrant War, the United States was finished as a superpower, and Western civilization was a pale shadow of what it used to be. The world center of military, geopolitical, economic, and technological power was now in China.

Interstellar Exploration
In 2072, the Chinese built the first human interstellar spacecraft and began the era of human deep space exploration. Decades later in 2103, the first humans with psionic powers (known as psions) emerged and they established psi-orders to learn how to use their powers and to use them in the service of the psi-order's goals. One of these psi-orders which was founded in the Philippines, established an alliance with China. It became a part of the Chinese government as the Ministry of Psionic Affairs. In 2104, the aberrants (who in exile had mutated into monstrous forms) and were still mad or psychotic returned, as they began to attack the intersolar colonies and space stations of Earth. Several years later in 2107, the Chinese made first contact with aliens, the Qin and in the following year established diplomatic relations.

New Chinese Empire
The New Chinese Empire is the dominant power in Asia and the leading human power in outer space. Beijing permits each government outside of China a high degree of autonomy, the only requirement being that China is to be their only political patron and remain their main trading partner.

As in most things there are exceptions to the rule, in this case Korea & Philippines. Both of them were made full partners by China when it came to its commercial space efforts as we well as with all technology in 2014. Korea has become a semi-autonomous branch of the Chinese civilization, and has computer research facilities and a deep space industry in northern Korea. In the Philippines, Quezon is the HQ of the biotech research program and the location of one of the world's top training facilities for psions.

Russia a nation that was impoverished and desperate to develop its resources leased Siberia to China, which got Russia the technology it needed in exchange for China getting the grain and mineral resources of Siberia. Unfortunately many of Russia's citizens were not happy with the deal that their government made with China and have become outlaws who harass the mines and divert the shipments going to China forcing the Chinese military and Russian-hired mercenaries to deal with the outlaws. China also faces insurgencies by Islamists in Xinjiang and nationalists in Taiwan, and hardcore anti-psion Maoist cells.

Imperial System
The New Chinese Empire is a meritocratic bureaucratic state whose ruling elite is one of scholars. To join the ranks of the scholars and get promoted once you are in, you need to pass the competitive exams which test your knowledge of modern psychology, economics, information theory, and Chinese literary classics as well as other subjects. An emperor is elected from the ranks of the scholars for a single 12-year term and its the rule that the emperor needs to listen to the advice given by the scholars.

Ministry of Psionic Affairs
The psi-order was founded in the Philippines by Rebecca Bue Li who years later was to ally with the New Chinese Empire. As part of the alliance, the psi-order became the Ministry of Psionic Affairs and received the full backing of the government with Rebecca Bue Li getting a seat on the Beijing State Council. They have offices in most parts of the Chinese sphere of influence, every space ship that leaves a Chinese operated launch site carries at least one psi officer, and its agents operate everywhere in human space.

Branches:


 * Office of Semiotics (The Mandarins): It's mission is using their psionic abilities towards the benefit of society. It studies the alien races, translates the documents and programs of other cultures, and mediate international disputes.


 * The Psi Institues: It's mission is to train the psions in the New Chinese Empire and its psi training program is the best in the world. They operate campuses in both China and the Philippines, and locate and recruit latent and non-affiliated telepaths throughout human space.


 * Office of Psionic Security: It functions as the Chinese psionic early warning system and police force. Operating secretly within the population, they monitor the people's surface thoughts for signs of Aberrants and for seditious and criminal urges. The agents have been empowered to either bring them to the courts or take them to a psychiatric care facility.

Society
Compared to the rest of the world where the urban population lives in giant mega-structures (arcologies), most of China still live in single-level towns and cities as before, except 22nd century versions. A nationwide system of maglev trains connects every settlement that has 5,000 or more inhabitants. Within the cities, people move around by walking, private vehicles, automated taxis, or hover bus. Approximately 40% of the population continue to live in farming villages and rural towns. Even the smallest village receives electricity, has full access to the OpNet, uses computerized agricultural equipment, and has a modern clinic.

It's a society in which behavioral engineers assisted by technology and psions monitor society to keep the nation harmonious and peaceful. To prevent any problems to grow into threats they try to catch it early and take action to fix the issue. Methods include getting new businesses to move into the area, improving the local working and housing situation, sponsoring festivals, deploying mood-altering murals and subsonic broadcasts, and using censorship.