Rise of the Reds Update #57: As the War Approaches news

Good afternoon, fellow citizens. This is SinoNews24 with an update on the most important international events.

Moscow. The wildfires in all of western Russia are still raging uncontrolled. Thousands of refugees are fleeing the countryside as their ancestral lands perish under the firestorm. The entire country is suffering from the hottest, most dry summer in its recent history with temperatures well above 45°C (113°F) during the daytime. The inflammatory peat soil that is iconic for the landscape of the western regions makes it difficult to subdue the flames which already claimed the lives over 20.000 people and destroyed large parts of the country's most vital farmlands. On behalf of President Suvorov, Russia's Prime Minister Valentina Baranova has placed the blame on the Europeans, calling their Solaris satellite network a "nefarious weapon of mass destruction in the guise of a power source" while citing confidential intelligence assessments which came to the conclusion that the use of Solaris as an "orbital strike weapon that could incinerate entire swathes of land" would be technically feasible. The project was met with a heavy backlash from the Federation since its inception in 2039, putting a heavy strain on diplomatic relations ever since.

Berlin. Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Renewable Energies, Michael Struppe has dismissed the accusations of Solaris being a weapon as "ridiculous slander" and said that the Alliance's strategic military deterrence power still lies within the French and British nuclear arsenals rather than "some crazy spaceborne solar-cannon". "Unlike Russia", he continued, "our scientists do not seek to turn every revolutionary new invention into a terrible weapon of war as a first thought". According to Minister Struppe, the heat wave is "yet another sad proof for the Federation's utter failure to keep up with the development of eco-friendly technologies". Furthermore, he cited Russia's continued reliance on numerous coal power plants as a major contributor to climate change, the effects of which are now plaguing its own people. At the same time, he echoed earlier concerns of the Chancellor that the destruction caused by the wildfires, along with the ongoing crisis of the Russian economy since their withdrawal from Africa, could be another step in the destabilisation and radicalisation of the Federation.

Vladivostok. SN24 correspondents report of another despicable attack on Chinese citizens in the Russian far-east metropolis. Last night, the hardworking store owner Lei Ping and his wife were brutally robbed and murdered by a gang of local racists. The humble couple enjoyed great respect in the city's Chinese community and leaves behind three young children who are currently with their grandparents. Zheng Dao, an official representative of the Chinese community in Vladivostok has condemned the violence and stated that "in the light of many previous incidents and the willful ignorance of the Russian police, we will soon have to resort to forming our own citizen militia in order to protect our homes and families from the hatred of these dangerous extremists". Meanwhile, our Great Chairman Cheung Liu has proclaimed that in the event of a further escalation of these vile attacks, "more permanent measures to ensure the safety of China's citizens will be considered". He also voiced his concerns that the wildfire situation "may very well lead to a massive hunger crisis which would further deepen the rifts among Russia's multi-ethnic population".

Those were the major international headlines for the moment. We will now continue our programme with a new documentary on the Changping Garrison in Beijing, which is under the command of the illustrious General Xing Chen. Older viewers will certainly remember the former infantryman whose exemplary bravery and heroic exploits during China's most pivotal victories in the Global War on Terrorism were later popularised by the heavily acclaimed PLA-funded war movie trilogy "The Hammer". Until next time, SinoNews24 wishes all citizens a happy and productive day!

"Brave men of the Middle Kingdom! It is time for you to take up arms and aid your countrymen against foreign tyranny. Your fighting spirit and patriotism will lead China to victory. Raise the red banner and rejoice in triumph when the enemy lies broken and fleeing before the might of the Red Army. True patriots volunteer today, not tomorrow!" - People's Volunteer Reserve flyer

The Chinese Volunteer Squad is your official cannon fodder infantry. They come in a Squad of five men with similar mechanics as the Angry Mob. There are two types of infantry in one Squad: One with a cheap rocket launcher and the others carry a submachine gun. Both are used for general purpose attacking and cannot be used against air units. Volunteers are meant to overpower your enemy through sheer numbers as they do a very bad job at fighting enemy infantry on equal terms.

"Why we still use the Battlemaster you ask? It's obvious!" said the Chinese Colonel looking down at the tank assembly line from the window of his office high above. "Even after many years in service to the great nation, it is still the most advanced tank in the world. One Battlemaster can destroy three, even five enemy tanks on its own easily. It is the iron fist of China that does politics once the diplomats are done bickering. Not only is each Battlemaster stronger individually but they outnumber the enemy tanks as well, thanks to our industrial might. No army in the world can withstand our Steel Tide tactic. General Kwai would be proud."

The Battlemaster is the bread and butter of Chinese gameplay. They are cheap, well rounded and have great firepower under the effect of Horde bonus. In order to add some diversity to these numerous vehicles, we've added a number of visual variants, too. Can you feel the thunderous roar of approaching armor, General?

(click to enlarge)

Last but not least, here's two rather nifty China-themed wallpaper for you:

Chinese Battlemasters 800x600 Chinese Battlegroup 800x600
Chinese Battlemasters 1024x786 Chinese Battlegroup 1024x786
Chinese Battlemasters 1280x1024 Chinese Battlegroup 1280x1024
Chinese Battlemasters 1600x1200 Chinese Battlegroup 1600x1200
Chinese Battlemasters 1360x768 Chinese Battlegroup 1360x768
Chinese Battlemasters 1440x900 Chinese Battlegroup 1440x900
Chinese Battlemasters 1680x1050 Chinese Battlegroup 1680x1050

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SWR, signing out!