User:Brant/South Annam

South Annam, officially the Republic of Annam, is a country in the Asiapelago, located in the southeast of the island of Hindozhou. The country borders the East Pengolian territory of North Annam to the north, the Francterran territories of Kampuchea and Lan Xang to the west and northwest, respectively, and the South Zhou Sea to the south and east. The country has a population of about 16.4 million over an area of about 50,000 sq mi, and the capital and largest city is Bai Gau, which has a population of about 4.1 million.

Originally a part of the Francterran colony of Francterran Hindozhou, South Annam became independent as a result of the Delphi Accords in 1954, which established the independent countries of North Annam and South Annam. As a part of the greater False War at the time, North Annam was backed by the Comintern, while South Annam was backed by the Nationalist Bloc. The ensuing war, known as the Annam War, began in 1954 and ended in 1975 with neither country winning, and both countries remained independent until North Annam opted to be annexed into East Pengolia in 2010.

Founding
During the Khanzem War, French Hindozhou was invaded in 1914 and subsequently occupied by the Empire of Japaland until the end of the war in 1918, when it was returned to Francterre. The territory remained mostly stable for the next few years, until 1945, when communist guerrilla forces in the north of Annam declared independence from Francterre, resulting in the Francterran Hindozhou War. After the defeat of the Francterrans in the war, the Delphi Accords were held in the Puffish colony of Acadia, which separated Annam into the communist North and capitalist South.

After South Annam was founded, a referendum was held of whether to remain as a monarchy or become a republic, and the majority of the country voted to become a republic. However, the former emperor of Annam was allowed to remain in the country and lived in comfort for the rest of his life as a respected figure with some influence in the new government. The new head of state of the country became President Ho Dien Lieu, who served as President from 1954 to 1963 when he was overthrown and executed in a coup d'etat by the military.

Annam War
In 1964, the Gulf of Annam Incident led the previously neutral Olde Antarctica to join the war against North Annam, with around 250,000 soldiers being deployed to South Annam to defend it against the communists. The country remained under a military junta for the next few years, until the next President, Nguyen Thanh Kieu, was elected in 1967. North Annam attempted to launch a major invasion of South Annam later that year in the Lunar New Year Offensive in 1968, but failed due to the intervention of Olde Antarctican and Bridgestadt Pact troops.

After a few more years of war in which neither side managed to gain significant territories, the Parie Peace Accords were signed in Francterre, which negotiated a ceasefire between the two countries. Olde Antarctican and Bridgestadt Pact troops continued to remain in the country to enforce the ceasefire and help defend South Annam. In 1973, oil was discovered in the South Annamese controlled Hoang Sa Islands, which allowed the South Annamese government to be less dependent on its allies and boosted the economy of the country as well.

In 1975, with Zhouese aid, North Annamese troops launched a massive invasion of South Annam, catching the country off guard and managing to surround many of the major cities in the north of South Annam. However, after the South Annamese military began to fight back with the support of its allies, the communist advance was stopped, and eventually defeated after a series of battles. With its invading armies completely shattered, North Annam was forced to sue for peace, and in the resulting Snowdon Accords in 1975, the Annam War officially ended.

After the Annam War
With the war over, South Annam began to rebuild the country, and under President Tieu, the economy was significantly developed while large projects to rebuild old infrastructure or build new infrastructure were ordered. Multiple oil platforms and refineries were also built in the Hoang Sa Islands to develop oil production as a sector of the economy, which made South Annam significantly more wealthy. The military was reorganized as well, and with the help of military advisers from Olde Antarctica and Ed Island, South Annam's military became much more powerful than it was.

War with Kampuchea and Zhou
In 1978, South Annam launched an invasion of neighboring Kampuchea to stop the atrocities that were being carried out by the communist regime there. The war was also sparked by increasing communist Kampuchean aggression in South Annamese territory, with reports of Kampuchean soldiers carrying out attacks on South Annamese villages on the South Annam-Kampuchea border. This invasion was successful, with South Annam capturing the Kampuchean capital of Krong Chaktomok, forcing the remnants of the communist Kampuchean regime to flee into the forests, where they conducted guerrilla warfare.

This invasion of communist Kampuchea, which was allied with Zhou, angered the Zhouese government, who began making plans to invade South Annam. In 1979, Zhouese and North Annamese forces invaded South Annam, capturing or laying siege to many of the cities in the north of South Annam. However, by 1979, the South Annamese military was much more powerful than they were during the Annam War, and were able to push the Zhouese and North Annamese troops back to the border. The Zhouese navy also attempted to take over the Hoang Sa Islands and Troung Sa Islands, but were repelled as well.

Post-War
After the many wars, South Annam continued to rebuild with significant aid from Olde Antarctica and the Bridgestadt Pact member states. The multiple infrastructure projects continued to be carried out, and the economy significantly developed as well. President Nguyen Thanh Tieu chose not to run again as President in 1983, and was succeeded by President Le Quan Duc, who would be President until 1995. The economic development under President Tieu continued under his successors, and eventually led to South Annam becoming a minor economic power in the Asiapelago.

Asiapelago War
During the Asiapelago War, North Annam and Zhou began to amass troops on the North Annam-South Annam border once more in preparation for an invasion of South Annam. In response to this, the South Annamese government began a full mobilization of its military and the Popular Force, and began deploying hundreds of thousands of troops to its border with North Annam. A few days after North Joseon launched an invasion of South Joseon, the first North Annamese divisions crossed the border into South Annam, beginning the Annamese front of the Asiapelago War.

Despite the large numbers of the combined North Annamese and Zhouese forces, which numbered at around 4 million soldiers, compared to the 2.5 million soldiers of South Annam and its allies the United States of Antarctica and Francterre, South Annam was able to successfully repel the invasion. Another Zhouese naval invasion of the Hoang Sa Islands and Troung Sa Islands failed again due to the support of both the Antarctican and Francterran navies. North Annam took heavy losses in the initial invasion, and after South Annamese troops began invading North Annam, they sued for peace.

Government
During the first few months of South Annam's existence, the country was a monarchy, with the head of state being the Emperor. However, he abdicated the throne after a referendum which decided that South Annam would become a republic, although he remained an influential figure in the new government. The new head of state was President Ho Dien Lieu, who served from 1954 until his death in 1963, when the country came under military rule until 1967. In 1967, the next second President, Nguyen Thanh Tieu, was elected, and remained the President until 1983.

South Annam is a semi-presidential republic, with the head of state being the President and the head of government being the Prime Minister. The country also has a legislature, the National Assembly, which consists of the upper Senate and the lower House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 88 seats, with two Senators from each of the 44 provinces, which are up for election every six years, while the House of Representatives consists of 100 seats, with one representing each of the 100 representative districts of the country, which are up for election every four years.

Military
The Army of the Republic of Annam, often referred to as "ARAN", was first established shortly after the country's independence from Francterre, but was reorganized by President Ho Dien Lieu after the country became a republic. Throughout the Annam War, Olde Antarctica sent many military advisers to guide and help train the military, along with large amounts of funding to supply the military. This helped the ARAN become a much more well equipped and professional fighting force than its northern counterpart, and the ARAN continued to improve and strengthen ever after the Annam War.

During the Annam War, the South Annamese Popular Force was founded as a militia to resist communist infiltration in the countryside, where the South Annamese government had less control, and primarily consisted of members recruited from the rural provinces. The Popular Force played a key role in the South Annamese campaign against communist guerrillas, especially during the Lunar New Year Offensive, as they were recruited locally and knew the terrain better. After the end of the Annam War, the Popular Force was dissolved, but has been mobilized in times of war many times.

The ARAN consists of the Annamese Land Force, the Annamese Air Force, the Annamese Navy, the Popular Force, and the Annamese Reserve Force, which has its own land, air, and naval forces. The majority of soldiers in the ARAN are stationed in the north near the border with North Annam to defend against a possible invasion, but the ARAN has been involved in multiple wars and peacekeeping missions across Antarctica since the end of the Annam War. Conscription is also in place, with one person from each South Annamese family being required to serve at least one year in the military.

Economy
Unlike its northern neighbor, South Annam has a capitalist free market system, which has helped its economy develop significantly since the end of the Annam War. In the early days of the country, South Annam was dependent on economic aid from Olde Antarctica and the Bridgestadt Pact member states, but since then the country has grown into a regional economic power, with an economy slightly smaller than that of South Joseon. The country also has a high GDP per capita, a low unemployment rate of about 4%, and a flat tax at about 20%.

South Annam previously relied on agricultural exports, but oil production became a major sector of the economy after oil was first discovered in the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands in 1973. While South Annam isn't a major oil producer, oil still makes up a major part of the country's economy, and South Annam often sells oil to its allies. Since the end of the Annam War, the country has also developed a significant technological sector, with South Annamese technology being somewhat popular around Antarctica, although not as popular as South Joseon.

Culture
The culture of Annam is very similar to that of its northern neighbor, but over 40 years of separation and the difference in ideology of the two states have resulted in both regions' cultures being slightly different from one another. The culture of both regions has also been heavily influenced by that of Zhou, due to occupation by Zhou in some parts of the region's history. Due to Francterran rule, some Francterran influence exists in the culture of Annam, though Francterran culture was suppressed in the north while it continues to thrive in the south.

In the years after the Annam War, the country's culture began to become more and more technologically oriented, with South Annam being known for making some technologies, similar to South Joseon, although the South Joseonan technological industry is notably larger. The South Annamese entertainment industry has also grown popular outside of the country in recent years, with A-Drama, a category of TV shows and movies made in South Annam, and A-Pop, music that is made in South Annam, becoming popular around Antarctica, similar to in South Joseon.

Demographics
The population of South Annam is about 16.4 million as of an estimate in 2018, a population that has more than doubled since the end of the Annam War, and the population density is at about 328 per square mile. A majority of the population lives in the cities, with the largest being the capital, Bai Gau, which has a population of around 4.1 million as of 2018. More than a third of the country's population lives within the Bai Gau Metropolitan Area. The country also has many other major cities as well, Ninh Kieu, the second largest city, Tourane, Dong Nai, and Xuong Huan.

The largest ethnic group in the country are the Annamese people, who make up 75% of the population, while the largest minority are the Francterran people, who make up 12% of the population. The Francterrans are mostly descendants of the Francterran settlers who settled in Annam during the Francterran colonial era, and continue to hold much influence in the country's politics. The majority of the Francterrans live in the cities, but many also own large plantations in the countryside. There are also dozens of other smaller ethnic groups, such as the Kampuchean, Lang Xang, and Zhouese.

Geography
South Annam consists of three regions, the coastal region, in which the majority of the country lives, the highland region, and the Khong River Delta, which is the smallest region in terms of area, but is densely populated and home to the majority of the country's agricultural sector. The country has an area of about 50,000 sq mi and a population density of about 328/sq mi. South Annam also controls the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands, which it de facto controlled since 1954, until South Annamese control of the islands was officially recognized in the aftermath of the Zhouese-Annamese War.

Air
The flag carrier and largest airline of South Annam is Air South Annam, which was founded in 1976 by the South Annamese government as the national airline of the country, and has around 2 million passengers a year, while South Annamese Airlines is the second largest airline in the country, and was founded in 1985. South Annam has a total of 34 airports and 38 heliports, with the largest airport being Bai Gau International Airport in the capital of Bai Gau, one of the largest and busiest airports in the Asiapelago, which has around 25 million passengers a year.

Public Transport
All of the cities in South Annam, and almost all towns and villages served by a bus system, with many bus systems operating in the countryside as well, with the bus systems in the countryside usually providing transportation between villages. In the major cities, there are often many designated bus lines on the major roads to allow buses to travel more efficiently. The largest railway operator in the country is Anrail, and the rail system, which has around 40 million passengers a year, is overseen by the Rail Transportation Authority under Ministry of Transportation.

Road
Motor scooters are commonly used in roads in South Annam, with most travel in the capital of Bai Gau being done with motor scooters, and most families in South Annam own at least one motor scooter. However, in the other major cities, cars have become more prevalent as the cost of buying one has gone down, and many families in South Annam own at least one car as well. The highway system in South Annam, which serves most areas in the country, was built under the administration of President Tieu, and significantly expanded under later administrations.

Water
The largest port in the country is the Port of Bai Gau, which is one of the largest ports in the Asiapelago and plays a major role in both the city and country's economy, while the second largest port is the Port of Ba Ngoi, a historically significant port which is also home to a large naval base. South Annam has a merchant marine of about 400 ships, which transports goods between South Annam and many countries around Antarctica. The Khong River is a major waterway in the country, with many vessels traveling up and down it every day to ferry people or transport goods.

Foreign Relations

 * USA flag.PNG United States of Antarctica - Excellent - South Annam provided aid to the Revolutionists during the Antarctic Revolution, and was one of the first countries to recognize the United States of Antarctica after the war. The country was also one of the original signatories of the Treaty of Dorkugal, which founded the Free Republic Union. In return, the United States of Antarctica has stationed troops in South Annam to protect in from invasion, and South Annam is considered one of the USA's greatest Asiapelagoan allies.


 * SouthJoseonFlag.png South Joseon - Excellent - South Annam provided both military and financial aid to South Joseon during the Joseonan War and provided aid after the war for South Joseon to rebuild. Since then, both countries are close allies, having a mutual defense pact with each other, since they both have a hostile communist neighbor to the north, and both countries often trade with each other. South Annam sees South Joseon as its closest Asiapelagoan ally and a close ally against communism as well.


 * AcadiaFlag.png Acadia - Fair - Acadia has provided large amounts of foreign aid to South Annam in order to help them fight communism, but South Annam rarely associates with Acadia due to Acadia's hostility towards several of South Annam's allies, such as Dorkugal. Both countries have a trade agreement with each other however, but the South Annamese President has turned down several offers from the Acadians to station Acadian soldiers in the country and establish a military alliance between the two countries as well.


 * Asaina flag.png Zhou - Poor - Zhou aided North Annam against South Annam in the Annam War, and attacked South Annam after the war as well, in the Zhouese-Annamese War. Despite being forced to recognize the Hoang Sa Islands and Truong Sa Islands as South Annamese territories, Zhou still disputes with South Annam over the islands, occasionally sending ships close to the islands, which have led to threats of war. However, recently, both governments have slightly warmed to each other, but they are still not on good terms.