Sea Strike

25

Deputy Premier Chang Hui’an was just completing an impassioned address as Harrison Van Lynden slipped back into his seat in the conference room.

“What have I missed?” he asked quietly, lifting the translator phone to his ear.

“Another round of enthusiastic but unoriginal West bashing,” Lucena Sagada whispered her reply. “He doesn’t seem to be finding many buyers, however. The other delegates continue to ‘with silence.’”

The Secretary of State nodded and replaced his translator phone in his ear. “I’ve just gotten off the horn with the president concerning the Shanghai incident. How was Chang referring to it?”

“That’s it. Just references. They aren’t making the big deal out of it I’ve been expecting. It’s almost as if they are preoccupied with something else.”

“They are. What do we have next?”

“A change in the schedule, Mr. Secretary. General Ho Chunwa has asked for time to make a general address to the conference.”

Van Lynden straightened abruptly as the Red Chinese officer approached the dais. “We’d better look sharp,” he whispered to his young associate. “I think this one is going to be critical.”

The General’s features were totally impassive. His eyes panned across the great U-shaped table array and the seated clusters of statesmen. They seemed to catch Van Lynden’s for a moment before lowering to the single page of notes on the speaker’s dais.

“In recent days, the situation within the People’s Republic of China has grown intolerable due to the ill-advised actions of misled factions within our own populace and the criminal adventurism of other nations. Accordingly, the People’s Government has elected to seek an equitable solution to this current crisis.

“We now put forward this proposal to all of the involved factions within this internal conflict. We call for a ceasefire in place. We call for the withdrawal of all Nationalist forces from the Chinese mainland and a cessation of all outside interference in the affairs of the People’s Republic. We also call for the rebel elements to lay down their arms and a normalization of the relationships between all of the involved provinces and the central People’s Government.

“In return, the People’s Government will recognize the full independence of the nation of Taiwan and accept the legitimacy of the Nationalist government. We will offer both diplomatic and trade relationships and a formalized nonaggression treaty.

“To the rebel factions of the so-called United Democratic Forces of China, we promise improved economic and political representation, a reevaluation of national policies concerning certain aspects of civil rights, and guarantees of no retribution against the general populace of those provinces involved in the rebellion.”

Ho hesitated, a ripple of some emotion momentarily crossing his face.

“Let no one construe this offer as an indication of any weakening of resolve on the part of the People’s Government. This proposal is born solely out of the humanitarian concerns of the People’s Government and their desire to restore peace and tranquillity to the People’s Republic.

“Let our enemies be warned: Should these just proposals be rejected, the People’s Government may find it necessary to consider extraordinary measures to bring this conflict to a close and to further the People’s agenda.”

Lucena Sagada’s pen flashed across the notepad.

Is he referring to what I think he is?

Van Lynden replied with a brief sketch of a mushroom cloud, underlined three times.

The conference room went very quiet as General Ho retrieved his notes and started back to his seat — so much so that the sound of another chair being shoved back abruptly pulled in all attention.

Duan Xing Ho, headman of the Taiwanese delegation, rose to his feet. He made no attempt to approach the dais; rather, he spoke from where he stood, his fingertips resting on the tabletop in front of him. His words were quiet, but his violation of protocols made them a shout.

“When the peoples of China began their quest for freedom, we were fully cognizant of the extremes to which the brutal and repressive regime that now rules from Beijing might resort. We wish to assure them that we have prepared accordingly. We wish also to state that should ‘methods’ be employed against the forces or territories of either Taiwan or the United Democratic Forces of China, ‘methods’ of retaliation will also be utilized.”

“Oh, Christ!” Van Lynden whispered. “They’ve both got them!”