Mutul-Tsurushima relations
 | |
 Mutul |
 Tsurushima |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of His Divine Lordship, Asahina New City | Tsurushimese Embassy, K'alak Muul |
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador K'altun Ix | Ambassador TBD |
The Mutul-Tsurushima relations, sometime nicknamed the Rice-Maize Agreements, refers to the bilateral foreign relations between the Mutul and the Daitoa Republic. Contacts between the two countries started with the establishment of the Thirteen Nuk Nahob in the Vespanian Sea and the creation of the Mutulese Legation in Tsurushima. Historically friendly, their relations soured with the Imperial War and the Republican Uprising, culminating in the Second War for Kahei. All thourough the 19th and early 20th century, and despite remaining economic interests in the two countries, their connections would never recover from these events and the Mutul lost its privileged situation in the Crane Archipelago.
A turnaround came with the installation of the modern Daitoa Republic and the mass nationalisation of foreign-held enterprises in the country. The Mutul was less affected than other foreign powers, having sold all of its possessions to the state during the economic downturn of the early 20th century when local Oxidentaleses observers predicted the change of regime. This “Peaceful End” of Mutuleses Corporations activities led to a more active system of exchanges across the Makrian Ocean, solidified in May, 2, 1920 (LC: 12.15.06.00.04/07 Pop/07 Kan) with the Agreements of Asashina, which fixed the exchange rates of rice and maize and other raw goods. They were nicknamed the Rice-Maize Accords, a name who was then used to refer to the totaly of the relationship between the two countries.
History
During the 16th century, the Nuk Nahob, Mutuleses equivalent of Trading Companies, sent many expeditions across the Makrian Ocean with the purpose of circumventing the monopole of the Rezeses and of the Latins on the Thalassian Ocean. The Mutuleses first reached Tsurushima and managed to obtain a Legation to represent their interests in the Shogunate, alongside its other regular foreign economic partners.
However, the Mutul was but a minor trade partner at that time, far outshined by the economical and political influence of the Belisarians Legations. However, during the Kirishitan Uprising, the Mutulese Legation was the only one to side with the Shogunate and pagan forces. Because of their non-abrahamic faith and their reputation for human sacrifices and body modifications, Mutuleses were also victims of the Uprising, and the Siege of the Legation lead to the creation of Mutli-Tsurushimans militias that fought alongside the Shogun’s armies and supporters.
As such, the Mutulese Legation was left unharmed by the Kakita Shogunate that succeeded to the Isawa at the head of the “pagan islands”. While the Belisarians and catholics in general were banned from the archipelagos, the Mutuleses traders became some of the last links of the Shogunate with the rest of the world, albeit under many restrictions placed upon them. At the same time, the abandon of the southern spice islands allow the Mutul, along with other Belisarians and Oxidentale powers, to establish ports and small colonies to be used for spice production and as stopover for traders on their way to or back from Benaajab.
During the 18th century, the Mutuleses traders still present in Tsurushima claimed their neutrality, but in the end after the assassination of the Emperor, were supportive of the restoration of the shogunate as a way to maintain order. This put them at odds with the future Republicans. After the final defeat of the Shogun in 1752, they were allowed to stay, but no favor was made toward them, and Mutuleses merchants were more often than not sidelined when compared to the few returning Belisarians traders. In Kahei however, the Mutuleses remained strong. The conflictual relationship grew until 1812, with the Second War for Kahei where the Mutul definitively lost its possessions in the Archipelago, either given back to Tsurushima or sold to Arthurista and Fakolana.
During the following century, relations between the two countries would remain execrable, with few diplomatic missions and both governments doing their best to amper the economical interests of the other in their respective regions but nonetheless, some trade links subsisted. In 1893, the “Enlightened Revolution” in Tsurushima overthrew the first republic in favour of a more technocratic, “révolutionary”, regime. Feeling the winds turning, the Divine Throne started negotiations with the “Enlightened Republic” and encouraged its foreign nationals to accept the offer of nationalization made by the new regime. This form of collaboration greatly helped mend the relations between the two countries and allowed Mutuleses investors to escape the after-effect of the forced nationalization operated by the Enlightened Republic in the following decade as it switched from a liberalist outview of the economy to a more “Dirigiste” approach.
In 1903, the new constitution of the Enlightened Republic marked the transition from Tsurushima to the Daitoa. The “peaceful end” to Mutuleses corporations activities in Tsurushima led to a more active system of exchanges between the two countries. The Agreements of Asahina in 1921, prepared long beforehand but delayed by the Belfro-Mutulese war of 1911, solidified this relationship by fixing exchange rates for “goods of first necessities”, such as cereals. These were nicknamed the “Rice-Maize Agreements” by the press at the time, a nickname that now englobe the general cordial entente between the two countries.
During the forties and until the late sixties, the Daitoa Republic served as an inspiration for a current of various economic and social reformists known as the Occidentalists.
Tsuru-Mutuleses relations today
Recently, the Mutul has been very involved in trade and cultural exchange initiatives with the Daitoa Republic, building and adding to the Rice-Maize Agreements to create what has been described as a “friendly rivalry” in the fields of electronics, automotive, equipments and chemicals manufacturing. While various treaties have reduced tariffs and barriers to trade between the two, their respective industrial complexes remain under strong protection as both governments are distrustful of free trade as a principle. Nonetheless, they remain two strong economic partners and valuable export markets for one another, with around 40 billions Solidus worth of products exchanged between the two countries.
Diplomatically, the two countries remain close, despite ideological oppositions, a proximity helped by shared good relations with Sante Reze and Liothidia, and have a solid history of defence cooperation.