Dragon Fire

Anchor: We’re going from the crisis in India and Pakistan over to Beijing, China where we hope the Foreign Minister, Jamie Song, can shed some light on the terrible unfolding of events this evening. China is a long-term ally of Pakistan. It is at odds with India over Tibet. Seventeen hours ago, China invaded India, using the territory of another ally, Burma — or Myanmar — to move in. Jamie Song is calling from his car mobile so we apologize for the quality of the line. Foreign Minister, thank you for joining us. Firstly, on the nuclear strike. Hamid Khan has been unclear about whether he will launch another nuclear strike. Can you persuade him not to, for the sake of world peace?

Song: You speak about peace as if you can pluck it off trees. Yes, China wants peace. Our whole doctrine over the past fifty years has been to strengthen our political institutions and our economy. You can’t do that while fighting wars. We are not expansionist and we did not start the present conflict.

Anchor: You invaded India. You supplied Pakistan with the neutron bomb.

Song: Indian troops invaded Tibet. We are merely defending our borders. I utterly refute the allegation that we supplied any nuclear material to Pakistan.

Anchor: All right, Foreign Minister, you say you’re not expansionist, yet India claims that you have sent warships into the Indian Ocean.

Song: Technically, they are in the Andaman Sea. But you’re right. China’s oil supplies from the Middle East go through the Indian Ocean. We have a ship-visiting arrangement with the government of Myanmar. Given our reliance on that oil, it is only right that the Chinese navy is there to offer protection.

Anchor: Then you would have to take on the Indian navy.

Song: We hope it won’t come to that. You will also note that the British, Australian, New Zealand and Singaporean navies are in the Andaman Sea as well and an American carrier group is in the Indian Ocean.

Anchor: Could we try to look ahead, Foreign Minister. I understand President Hastings is about to hold a brief news conference. He’s expected to announce his support for the Indian government against Pakistan. What will be your reaction?

Song: He should examine the facts. India invaded both China and Pakistan. Pakistan exploded nuclear weapons over its own territory, not on Indian soil. India broke through the Line of Control in Kashmir to try to set up a new frontier ten miles inside Pakistani-controlled territory. India is hosting Tibetan terrorists. It is dangerously glib to talk about democracy and dictatorships. It might win him votes for the next election, but it will not create a better or safer world — that is if there is a world left for any of us to live in.

Anchor: I’m sorry, Foreign Minister. Should I take that as a warning for the President?

Song: If you wish to see it like that. India and China are not like Iraq and Kuwait or Belgrade and Kosovo. If we are threatened, we will defend ourselves, and as I pointed out just now, India has proved itself to be the most unpredictable and hazardous country on earth.