Tao Plan
The Tao Plan is a name given to a series of proposals for the reunification of Nantai into Namor. It is named after Tao James, who defected from Nantai and is now a deputy in the Namorese Central Council. The plan proposes that Nantai be put under the suzerainty of the People's Republic of Namor.
The plan has never been officially accepted by the Namorese government, but due to its popularity among certain politicians it is regarded as Namor's de facto policy towards resolving the Nantai dispute. It is widely discussed and debated to this day. Of all proposals that are considered feasible in Namor, it is regarded as more moderate.
Before Peitoa came under the control of the PRN, Tao also proposed a similar plan for Peitoa.
Rationale
Nantai was seized from Namor by Luziyca in the First Namo-Luziycan War. Since then, most of Nantai has remained under Luziycan control. All of what the People's Republic of Namor considers to be Nantai has been controlled by Luziyca for over a century, save for East Po'ai which the Namorese Liberationists managed to capture in the years following the end of the Namorese Civil War.
According to Tao, the fact that both Nantai and Peitoa were Namorese territories not under the PRN's control for a substantial amount of time inevitably led to a difference in the political, economic and social conditions of the three polities. Mainland Namor underwent social changes under the Liberationists that neither Peitoa nor Nantai experienced. As a result, Peitoans and Nantainese are naturally unaccustomed to post-revolutionary Namorese lifestyle, and therefore will not accept reunification that sounds "too uncompromising, too immediate, too rash." However, that does not mean Nantai and Peitoa should not reunify with Namor. In fact, Nantai in particular benefits more from reunification because its interests are better represented by a government dominated by Kannei Namorese rather than one run by Slavs. A "moderate approach" is hence needed so that both Nantai and Peitoa can become part of the PRN once more while the different lifestyles in both regions are left intact.
AAA scheme of political autonomy
Tao proposed that both Nantai and Peitoa become an "Associated Administrative Area (AAA)" of the People's Republic of Namor. An "Associated Administrative Area" is territory of Namor that enjoys a very high degree of autonomy which exceeds that of even the autonomous republics, which are only nominally autonomous.
Under the AAA scheme, Nantai and Peitoa have their own governments, constitutions and civil codes. For Nantai, the new AAA constitution can even be a copy of the constitution under the Luziycan Republic of Nantai, although all references to Luziyca must be removed. The AAAs have a functioning executive, legislature and judiciary that act independently from Namo. Internal issues of the AAAs are handled by the respective AAA governments. The only responsibilities Namo have are to ensure that the AAA status in both territories is not altered and to provide for the military defense of the AAAs. This can be done through the Namorese Liberation Army opening a garrison in each territory.
The AAAs are their own customs territory instead of sharing one customs territory covering the entire People's Republic. This means residents in Nantai and Peitoa are Namorese nationals, but hold different passports. If the Nantainese people desire, the Namo government can render Nantainese exempt from Namorese nationality laws that state Namorese nationals may not seek dual citizenship. That means Nantainese are the only Namorese that can be allowed to have dual Namorese-Luziycan citizenship.
Namo can open a "representative office" in Kenyen, Nantai and Peitoa that serves as the de facto "consulate" of the Namorese government, although Tao does not use this term officially since Namor cannot open a consulate in its own territory. In turn, Nantai and Peitoa both have their respective offices in Namo that represent the governments of both AAAs.
As territories enjoying high autonomy, both Nantai and Peitoa are represented separately in most international organizations except for the OEN, in which Namor is represented solely by the Namo government.
Nantai can be involved in the Esquarian Union under the name "Nantai, Namor." If Nantai chooses, it can join the Greenwich Area.
Cultural autonomy
Tao argues that because Namor is home to 31 varying cultures (Kannei Namorese and non-Kannei cultures), Nantai can successfully reunite with Namor without forsaking its "semi-Luziycan" culture.
Both Nantai and Peitoa may continue to use the Tziroma script, the Namorese script based on the Latin alphabet that has always been in use in both territories. In Namo, an amendment to the constitution will make it unconstitutional for Namor to infringe upon the cultural life of the AAAs. That way, Nantainese and Peitoans are guaranteed a "smooth reunification" that does not result in Namo-led efforts at violating their culture.
Economic autonomy
Nantai and Peitoa will enjoy a high degree of economic autonomy from Namor. The two territories will not be subject to trade laws or regulations put forward by the Namo government.
The issue of currency can be resolved in three ways. One way is that Nantai is allowed to continue using the Luziycan lira. The second way is by letting Nantai print its own currency (Tao called the proposed currency the "Nantainese Lira" or the "Nantainese Ramon"). The third way is by adopting a new single currency for mainland Namor, Nantai and Peitoa backed by gold. Tao said he preferred either the second or third ways because the first makes Nantai dependent upon Luziyca.
Reception
The plan has been widely discussed and debated among Namorese commentators and politicians. While some have seen it as a moderate approach, others question its feasibility and alignment with Nantainese public opinion.
The Liberator praised Tao's plan in an editorial, saying "For the first time, Tao James has proposed something that puts the will of the Nantainese people in consideration without giving up our obligation to reunify the country," adding that "certainly, this plan is destined to be very popular among the population residing in the occupied territories."
The Mojing Sibo had a somewhat different opinion: "It remains to be seen if the Nantainese people approve of this. Not to mention the Luziycan government, which will do anything - from skewing polls to brainwashing - to show that the people [of Nantai] are against reunification."
Former President-General Kaitlyn Khan briefly remarked that in the event that Nantai reunifies with Namor, the Namo government is "definitely ready" to allow the Nantainese a high degree of autonomy. However, she did not mention the Tao plan by name.
Within Nantai, the Tao Plan is supported by those who support unification, and even Kung Alicia stated that "if the people of Nantai do wish to rejoin Namor, I shall approve this plan," but added "since many are against unification, I am not particularly keen on this."