Zhijun

Zhijun (Daxian: 知君省), officially the Zhijun Special Federal District, is a territory of the Republic of Daxia in Australis consisting of two islands off the northern coast of Stenza. The main island is named Zhijun while the smaller of the two is named Tang. Colonized in the 1680's by the Daxian Qian dynasty, the islands were extensively populated by transplanted colonists. It served for many years as a trading outpost with the native tribes of what is modern Stenza, and later would be used as a staging point for a conquest of said tribals. In modern times it is a center of sugar production and a regional tourist hub especially for gambling related activities for which there is an especially favorable fiscal regime in place. It is home to the Daxian Navy's Australis Squadron which cooperates with the Stenzan navy in anti-piracy and anti-smuggling operations.

Geography and Climate
Zhijun enjoys a mild tropical maritime climate with persistent seasonal winds blowing throughout the year and high volume rains during three seasons of the year. Mean summer temperature is 27.9 °C and mean winter temperature is around 23.3 °C. The temperature difference between summer and winter is 4.6 °C. January to June are the hottest months and October is the coolest month. However there are temperature variations affected by elevation, as shown in disparities between the flat coastal areas and the more mountainous interior. Geographically the north, south and eastern shores are covered in sandy shores while the west is predominantly rugged rocky cliffs and a large coral reef. A limestone covered mountain named Mount Podong is the tallest point in the islands at 560 meters tall.

History
Zhijun was colonized by the Qian Dynasty during the maritime campaign of the Yuanjian Emperor in the late 1590's, as part of Qian efforts to explore and establish Daxian outposts in Australis. A fort town named Yishi was founded in 1594 with sixty families. The Yishi colony was governed initially by Xi Ling, captain of the vessel who had transported the colonists to the island. Two years later the Qian authorities sent another ship with twenty more families of colonists, three-hundred soldiers to serve as the town's garrison and several bureaucrats to order the affairs of the island and take over from Xi Ling. Crucially, the new ship also brought five smoothbore cannons of which only three were mounted on the walls of Yishi. The remaining two would be used by the Yishi garrison in raids against the, up until now, peaceful island natives.

The Republican era saw renewed attention on the island by metropolitan authorities due to its vulnerability during the Second Great War. Heavy handed military government was imposed, which would lead to periodic outbreaks of civil disobedience and armed rebellion. The Hluttaw rebellion of the late 1980's was the longest and most severe period of unrest on the island leading to the increased militarization of the island. The end of the Hluttaw Rebellion saw a negotiated settlement take place and the co-optation and installation of Green Army bureaucrats as the island's administrators and their institutionalization as part of the Daxian government.

The new peace brought increased attention and federal funds to develop the island, with the South Seas Development Company building sugar refineries and the government increasing infrastructure spending that resulted in port facilities, waterworks, power stations, paved roads, schools and entertainment facilities being built. The increased amenities coupled with fiscal and monetary incentive began attracting more colonists to the islands.

Government
Zhijun is ruled oficially by the Zhijun Regional Administration chaired by a District Chief as the executive. The District Chief is nominated by the Chancellor of the Republic of Daxia and ratified by the legislature. The legislature is formed by two chambers, the first of which is the Zhijun Territorial Assembly which is composed of three hundred members, none of which subject to popular vote and are instead personally appointed by the District Chief at his discretion. The upper house is called the Command Council and its fifty members are all active duty officers of the Green Army structures. The Command Council can block legislation approved by the Territorial Assembly. The current District Chief of the regional administration is General Hun San, who is also Supreme Commander of the Green Army. As of 2028 efforts are underway to overhaul the regional administration and bring it in line with other Daxian federal subjects, the changes include a new local constitution, official integration of Green Army political structures into the Party and the implementation of elections for the Territorial Assembly.

Not subject to the Chief Minister's authority are the naval forces of the Australis squadron stationed in Zhijun and the resident Bureau of State Protection batallions.

Economy
The agricultural sector is one of the mainstays of the local economy. Thanks to its tropical climate, the island's interior boasts one of the foremost centers of sugarcane plantation in Australis, having cultivated the crop uninterrupted for hundreds of years. During the Republican years the full spectrum of facilities required for sugar production were installed and it is now the islands principal export. Tropical fruits such as guava and mango are also extensively cultivated for export and for local consumption. The South Seas Development Company operated several fisheries, liquor distillation plants and a garment factory, all of which continue to operate but with their operational focus now shifted to servicing the Stenzan market. Zhijun has become a pivotal entry point for Daxian companies looking to participate in Stenza's economy, leading to many companies opening their regional offices there. The annual Zhijun Economic Forum seeks to continue attracting attention and investment to the island by promoting it as a unique communication and investment nexus between the regions bordering the Ocean of Cathay. Under PCD rule, the construction of casinos on the island has been heavily promoted with the first casinos opened in the early 2000's. The gambling industry has seen an exponential growth in the last decade and its become one of the largest sources of revenue for the regional administration, with Fondor Gaming International being the single largest taxpayer on the territory. Fondor's license to operate casinos was extended in 2026 by 35 years. The increased stream of revenue has fueled a construction boom and the expansion of the tourism industry, with luxury hotels, condominium complexes and shopping malls catering to rich foreigners being built at an accelerated pace. Criminal enterprises have also taken root along with gambling. Prostitution, weapons smuggling and drug production are also thriving under the nose of the Green Army regime, and some say with its connivance and protection.

Television
Local television stations in Zhijun are the following:
 * CZTV, which is owned by Daxian-Zhijun Television
 * WSZT-8, which is owned by Dayun Group
 * ABBA-TV, which is owned by Australis Telestations

Transportation
Zhijun is served by two airports, the Yishi International Airport and the Kaliman Military Aerodrome. The Zhijun Trans-Coastal highway traverses the length of the entire main island, linking all its major population centers and ports. There is also a terminal for cruise ships in Yishi and another one in Ato. A bridge connecting Zhijun and Tang is currently in the planning stages, to replace the ferry system in place. Transport between Stenza and Zhijun takes place by plane and by the Rakahanga-Yishi ferry.