"Let's hear the General Staff's preliminary assessment first."
Zhou Donglai spoke with a serious expression. "Chief, comrades. Regarding the request to station troops, the General Staff has conducted repeated assessments. First, our country has long adhered to the principle of peaceful coexistence, publicly declared that we will not seek hegemony, and refrained from stationing troops abroad."
"Although the times have changed dramatically, any shift in this basic policy must be approached with extreme caution. It could provoke unnecessary international suspicion and have long-term geopolitical consequences."
He paused, then pointed out the more practical difficulties. "Second, from a military logistics perspective, maintaining an organized force overseas over a long distance poses enormous challenges."
"Conventional forces rely heavily on long-distance transport from home for ammunition and equipment supplies. With transportation currently disrupted and Abyss Beasts posing threats everywhere, the costs would be high and the risks considerable."
"So, if we were to send troops, the only viable option would be the Source Martial Army, which has relatively low logistical requirements but formidable combat strength."
At this point, Zhou Donglai shifted his tone and identified the core contradiction. "However, the Source Martial Army is a new strategic force that we have only just begun to build. It is still in the early stages of development, and experienced personnel are especially scarce."
"Sending large numbers of our precious Source Energy Warriors overseas for extended periods would directly undermine the development of our forces at home and weaken our defenses. It would be putting the cart before the horse."
He concluded, "Therefore, the General Staff believes that directly agreeing to station troops would involve many difficulties and potential risks. But an outright refusal could dampen our allies' enthusiasm and make us appear unwilling to shoulder our responsibilities. This is a difficult dilemma."
"I believe that