Chapter 199: The Rule Maker — Longguo Standard!

Monday morning at 8:00 AM, the atmosphere in Conference Room 1 of the Longyin Research Institute was completely different from usual.

No tea, no small talk; sitting on both sides of the long table, in addition to the core team, were four other people.

Each of them wore stars on their shoulders or high-level diplomatic uniforms.

The electronic screen on the wall also displayed the red "Top Secret Meeting" label.

When Wang Hao pushed the door open, he almost thought he had gone to the wrong place: "Brother Feng, this lineup... are we going to war?"

"More important than war." Feng Yan signaled him to sit down, "Today we are setting the rules, setting the rules for our Longguo."

After everyone arrived, Feng Yan went straight to the point: "The East Sea test proved that 'Xuanwu-Fusion' already has the ability to change the rules of the game."

"But if such a cross-generational lead in technology is not converted into a rule advantage, the advantage of the lead will be wasted."

He pulled up three draft documents, the titles simple and brutal:

"Longguo Exoskeleton/Mech International Safety and Technical Access Standards"

"Longguo Mandatory Convention on Near-Earth Orbit Traffic Management"

"Longguo Ethical Guidelines for Military Application of Artificial Intelligence (Global Compliance Version)"

Deputy Minister Liu from the Navy laughed after reading the titles: "These names... are direct enough."

"Rules don't need to be euphemistic." The white-haired Deputy Minister from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed up his glasses.

"Since we want to set the rules, don't play any tricks about international consensus."

"Those who can comply are welcome to join, those who cannot..."

"Those who don't comply, don't play." Feng Yan finished, his tone as calm as if he were talking about what to have for dinner.

"Wang Hao, you talk about the mech standards first."

Wang Hao quickly sat up straight: "We researched global accident data from the recent period, and the conclusion is one: exoskeletons that are not Longguo standard have an accident rate that is on average five times higher."

"So the first article of the standard is: For any country that purchases and introduces our foreign trade version of exoskeleton mechs, we will guarantee its safe use and provide a full set of standardized training."

He paused: "For any country that develops its own or purchases non-Longguo standard equipment, its equipment must pass the 'Longyin Technical Certification System' test."

"Only by reaching our safety standards can they obtain a license for use."

"Those that don't reach it will not be approved for deployment, and those already deployed must be rectified within a time limit; those that don't rectify..."

Wang Hao looked at Feng Yan, and after getting a nod, continued: "For those that don't rectify, we will remotely lock their equipment core systems through technical means."

"After all, the chips, sensors, and even some materials used in these devices all have their origins with us."

The conference room was quiet for two seconds.

The representative from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology frowned: "Is it technically feasible?"

"Too feasible." Chen Guang took over, pulling up data.

"Currently, 87% of high-performance chips used in mechs globally are produced in our country, and 92% of neural interface sensors are also supplied by our companies."

"We have left backdoor protocols in all shipped products; of course, in the past, they were called remote maintenance interfaces."

He pushed up his glasses: "As long as needed, we can turn any mech that doesn't meet the standards into a pile of scrap metal within thirty seconds."

"And according to our 'Export Control Law' and 'National Security Law', doing so is completely legal and compliant."

"What if some countries say we are practicing technological hegemony?" The representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked.

"Then let them say it." Feng Yan said lightly.

"In that mech accident in Europe last month, the pilot was brain-dead, and the family is still in court."

"We can send out the accident video along with our safety standards and let the whole world see."

Deputy Minister Liu slapped the table: "This approach is right! We set the rules, we guarantee safety, and those who don't listen bear the risks themselves."

"This is what a responsible major power is!"

"Article two, near-earth orbit." Feng Yan looked at Chen Guang.

Chen Guang pulled up a real-time orbital map, the dense light spots on it making people dizzy:

"Currently, there are twelve of our 'Kuafu-2' missiles in near-earth orbit conducting normalized patrols, and this will increase to thirty-six within the next three months, achieving all-weather, full-orbital coverage."

He zoomed in on the image: "The core of the convention is very simple: all newly launched objects must connect to the orbital traffic network under our jurisdiction and report their position, orbital parameters, and mission nature in real-time."

"Those that don't connect will be treated as orbital debris or potential threats."

The Chief Engineer from the Space Administration asked: "What if some countries just refuse to report?"

"Then our 'Kuafu-2' will actively clean them up before they enter key orbits." Chen Guang pulled up a simulation animation.

A small satellite tried to launch secretly, but as soon as it entered orbit, it was hit by a beam of light shot from above and turned into a pile of fragments.

"The cleanup costs will also be borne by the launching country; if they don't pay..."

He switched the screen to show a draft of a legal document:

"Our country will, in accordance with the 'Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects', seize equivalent assets of that country within our territory."

"If that's still not enough, we will prohibit all spacecraft of that country from using the 'Xuanwu' series energy equipment we develop later."

"After all, except for us, no one can provide fusion batteries for space use."

Wang Hao muttered to himself: "This isn't a convention, this is clearly paying protection money to go to heaven..."

"It is protection money." Feng Yan admitted directly.

"We provide a safe orbital environment, provide infinite endurance energy support, and provide collision warning and rescue services."

"Isn't it reasonable to charge some fees?"

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs laughed: "Reasonable, very reasonable."

"I will have the translation team polish this rhetoric when I go back and send it to the United Nations."

"Article three, AI ethics." Feng Yan looked at Li Yang.

Li Yang stood up, his tone firmer than usual: "From the first day we developed mechs, we set a bottom line: machines can be very strong, but they cannot decide to kill on their own."

"This bottom line must now become a global standard."

He pulled up the monitoring interface of the "Torch Dragon" system: "We can already monitor the development progress of AI projects in major countries around the world in real-time."

"The new guidelines require: all military AI projects must report their core algorithm frameworks to our country and accept the ethical review of the 'Torch Dragon' system."

"Those that don't pass the review are all prohibited from deployment."

The naval representative frowned: "Will this... interfere too much with internal affairs?"

"That depends on how you define internal affairs." Feng Yan said.

"If a country's AI goes out of control and causes cross-border harm, is that internal affairs?"

"If their unmanned combat platforms sneak into our territorial waters, is that internal affairs?"

He pulled up a blurry video, which was a scene of the "Confluence" organization trading on the black market, where a pile of Longguo civilian mech parts were assembled into crude armed robots.

"90% of the parts used by 'Confluence' are civilian goods that flowed out from our country."

"They modify them, add a weapon module, and they become killing machines." Feng Yan's voice turned cold.

"That won't happen in the future; all AI chips, all mech control systems, all intelligent weapon platforms."

"As long as they want to connect to the modern combat system, they must comply with our ethical guidelines and comply with the rules we set."

"Those that don't comply..."

He paused: "Just stay in the Stone Age forever."

The conference room was silent.

Then Deputy Minister Liu was the first to applaud: "Good! This is what setting rules is! If you are wishy-washy, who will listen to you? It has to be done this way!"

The others nodded one after another.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had already started taking notes: "I suggest launching these three conventions in stages."

"First the mech standards, this is the most urgent and easiest to gain civilian support, after all, everyone is afraid of death."

"Then the orbital convention, this needs military deterrence as a backup."

"Finally AI ethics, this is the most sensitive, but it is also the one that can best reflect our image as a 'responsible major power'."

"How long will it take?" Feng Yan asked.

"The mech standards will be released next Friday, in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' regular press conference." The Deputy Minister said.

"The orbital convention needs to be launched a month later, when the number of 'Kuafu-2' increases to twenty-four."

"AI ethics... three months later, in coordination with our artificial intelligence governance proposal at the United Nations."

"Good." Feng Yan scanned the room.

"That's all for today's meeting. Each department prepares materials according to the division of labor, meeting adjourned."

When everyone stood up, Wang Hao leaned over to Chen Guang: "Guangzi, do you think... with such tough words, will something really happen?"

Chen Guang pushed up his glasses: "Data models show that 70% of countries will compromise in the first round, 25% will wait and see but eventually compromise, and only 5% will resist fiercely."

"What about that 5%?"

"Of that 5%, 3% won't last half a year under economic and technological blockades. The remaining 2%..." Chen Guang paused.

"Might need a demonstrative action to educate them."

Wang Hao swallowed: "For example?"

"For example, a certain island country that is secretly assembling Eight-Headed-Snake mechs again." Chen Guang pulled up the monitoring screen.

Blurry satellite images showed that in an underground factory in Gappon Chicken, several mechs assembled from civilian parts were being tested.

"If they don't stop after our standards are released..."

He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

At lunch, the atmosphere in the cafeteria was a bit subtle.

The usually noisy dining area was much quieter today, and everyone was discussing the content of the morning meeting in twos and threes in low voices.

After all, the "Top Secret" label was stuck there, and everyone knew it was no small matter.

Wang Hao carried his tray and sat next to Li Yang, lowering his voice: "Brother Li, do you think we are doing this... is it a bit too overbearing?"

Li Yang thought seriously: "I think, if three years ago, a country could have set mech safety standards."

"And my father wouldn't have had an accident while operating an engineering mech due to fatigue, I would have been grateful to that country."

He paused: "Now we have the ability to set standards, to make mech pilots around the world safer, to make orbits more orderly, to stop AI from killing indiscriminately..."

"This shouldn't be called overbearing, it should be called responsibility."

Wang Hao was stunned for a moment, then grinned: "Makes sense! I just like this kind of 'for the good of the whole world, so you must listen to me' tone!"

"Stop being poor." Feng Yan carried his tray over and sat down.

"There's still work to do this afternoon, Haozi, go and perfect the technical details of the mech safety standards, especially the part about mandatory rest for neural interfaces."

"I heard that some delivery platforms, in order to rush orders, let riders crack the rest reminders."

"Understood!" Wang Hao shoveled two mouthfuls of rice.

"By the way, Brother Feng, should we add a ban on playing mahjong with exoskeletons in the standards?"

"I saw a video on the internet, someone used a mechanical arm to touch tiles, that's cheating, right?"

A sound of spitting rice came from a corner of the cafeteria.

Chen Guang said expressionlessly: "It has already been added to Article 17 of Appendix 3 of the draft: It is prohibited to use exoskeletons/mechs to engage in gambling, competitive sports, and other activities that may undermine fairness."

"Guangzi is still the reliable one!" Wang Hao gave a thumbs up.

After eating, Feng Yan returned to his office.

He opened his computer and pulled up a world map.

The technological dependency of various countries was already marked in different colors on it.

Green is highly dependent, yellow is medium, and red is basically independent.

Green took up a large area.

This is the result of Longguo's technology quietly infiltrating over the past three years.

From chips to batteries, from software to materials, Longguo manufacturing has been deeply embedded in the global industrial chain.

Now, it is time to convert this technological advantage into a rule advantage.

His phone vibrated; it was a message from Lei Jindong: "The three draft conventions have been read by superiors and all approved."

"But a reminder, a tall tree catches the wind, be prepared for a backlash."

Feng Yan replied: "Understood, that's why we have to set the rules firmly; with rules, even if there is a backlash, it has to be within our framework."

He put down his phone and looked out the window.

Three years ago, when they built the first exoskeleton, they were thinking about how to keep it from falling apart.

Now, they are thinking about how to use this power to set rules for the whole world.

This feeling... is really not bad.

Feng Yan smiled and opened the next document.

There is still a lot of work to do.

After all, setting the rules is just the beginning.

Making the whole world comply is the real challenge. ===== CHAPTER 200 =====