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Sarjah – Jurzan, Himyar.
The ruling Maharaj of the largest state on the Himyari continent has pledged to build the world’s first ‘Great Canal’.
During an unveiling ceremony yesterday, Jurzan announced a plan which would see the country construct a giant 2,700km long grand canal between its western Pearl Sea Gulf and its southern Sea of Altai estuary in the Ash-Sham province. In what would be the biggest construction project of its kind in history, the plan has created a firestorm of criticism from its neighbors who argue the act of uniting the nation’s two coasts would result in ‘total Jurzanese supremacy’ in the region.
“You would have the region’s biggest power able to move assets from one side of its border to the other within days creating absolute military and global supremacy” commented one minister of a neighbouring state.
Denying that the plans were part of its military modelling, Jurzan’s rulers have insisted that the canal is part of its economic strategy to ‘open up the region’ and to cut trade times. More-so, in statements released since Monday’s announcement, the Maharaj have pledged to open the canal to ships from all country’s with which it has diplomatic relations and sees the construction as a ‘commercial venture’. Yet others have warned the openness of the country to allies and others could turn very quickly in a different scenario.
Lochlan Doyle from the Global Institute of Political Studies based in the United Republic, said “It’s optimistic to suggest that the Jurzanese state would not mobilize militarily using such an asset in a crisis or a moment of escalation. Likewise, its construction would run across disputed borders and inflame tensions with its largest neighbor [Bangala].” The country continues to control the disputed territory of Bismallah – an area less than 500 miles from the planned route of the canal.
The international community’s reaction is however unlikely to make the world’s fourth largest nation think again. Its military and economic might continues to grow – particularly in a region still dominated by difficult colonialist tensions. Jurzan itself borders no less than ten states – of varying levels of maturity and development themselves. Its long running dispute with northern Trento Valley neighbour Elon has taken strides forward in recent years, but it continues to face difficulties in negotiating with Bangala – the world’s largest state, which it borders to its south. Perhaps most controversially, the ‘Grand Canal’ plan could exacerbate concerns over neighbouring Labuae’s control of the world’s shipping lanes – where Lerife currently exerts control off the Gulf of Gorno and polices routes in the notorious Opelian Straits off its eastern coast in the ridge of the Crystal Sea. The canal could increase traffic in the area – creating a potential collision course with one of the region’s most volatile states.
With construction not due to begin until 2021, there could still be time for the Maharaj to think again. But in the meantime the international community is continuing to press the state to consider using its continually growing power proportionately, as yet, to no avail.
