ended in disaster, thanks to the United States Air Force, the
political ties still held firm, and there was no doubt that China
was becoming a major economic, political, and military force
in Asia.
"A very positive attitude, Comrade General," Jiang said.
But what about the Americans? What will their response be?
In the past, they have threatened nuclear war with Zhongguo
to protect the Nationalists. Only the threat of nuclear war kept
us from reoccupying Quemoy in 1958."
"The Americans have no interest in the region, and they
certainly have no stomach for nuclear war," Chin said confi-
dently. "We have historical and legal rights to Taiwan, a fact
that has never been disputed by the Americans. Even after the
Philippines conflict, America has no presence in the area. Pri-
vate American companies assisted us in exploiting the wealth
of the region-that is the extent of American presence. As
always, their government's policy is dictated by the capitalist
overlords, and for now the capitalists demand that they help
us exploit the oil deposits, so they dictate that their government
step aside. But now it is our time to enjoy what is rightfully
and legally ours.
"The United States will complain of our actions, but the
deed will be done, and after time the conflict will be forgot-
ten," Chin went on in a loud, demonstrative voice. "China
invests twenty-seven billion dollars a year in the United States;
we are responsible for creating ten million jobs in that country
alone. They dare not start a war that might result in our country
withdrawing all that economic support. Their carriers are not
in position to oppose us. Why? Because they fear our eco-
nomic power, and they fear an unpopular and costly war for
a province they do not care about-Taiwan. The United States
wants China united again. They do not want a divided China
because they have suffered defeat in every other such conflict
in Asia-Korea and Vietnam. They fight for a nation that cares
nothing about the United States, and they are defeated. They
will not fight for Taiwan."
There was a general nodding of heads in the commission
chamber, Jiang observed-all except Admiral Sun. The Black
Tiger had been the most enthusiastic and vocal supporter of
the idea of asserting dominance in Asia; now, when the actual
framework of a plan was introduced, he was silent. Sun was
56 DALE BROWN
not brooding or resentful because he had been slapped down
by General Chin.
... and then Jiang realized that Admiral Sun actually dared
to disagree with his superior officer, in the middle of a Central
Military Commission meeting! Sun was still sitting on his
hands, not averting his eyes but not meeting Chin's murderous
gaze either. To everyone's surprise, Jiang turned to the youn-
gest of all his generals and asked, "Comrade Sun, do you
agree with General Chin's assessment?"
Sun moved slowly to his feet, riveting the attention of all.
He stood and bowed to Jiang, then said, "Sir, Sun-tzu advises
us that being unconquerable lies within oneself, and that being
conquerable lies within the enemy. In that regard, I agree with
General Chin-we must quickly retake Taiwan, capture and
imprison all Kuomintang officials, and heavily fortify it with
our best naval, air, and air defense forces. But with all due
respect, I do not agree with General Chin regarding an attack
on Quemoy, or about the Americans."
"Oh? Explain yourself, Admiral."
"Comrade General Chin is quite correct: the American cap-
italists and special interests determine the law and direction of
government in the United States," Sun went on. "The Amer-
ican government does not interfere in the South China Sea
because the American oil companies profit by operating the
drilling platforms; they do not side with the Nationalists be-
cause it is in their . economic interests to side with us. But if
we bombard Taiwan or Quemoy and imprison or kill the Na-
tionalist leadership, they will seek retribution from the Amer-
People's Liberation Army is, we cannot long stand against a
strong, determined, organized American military. It would be
a complete failure. My former commander of the South China
Sea Fleet, Admiral Yin Po L'un, acting on orders from General
Chin, proved this.
"In my opinion, the Nationalist forces on Quemoy can eas-
ily withstand a blockade, bombardment, and even a full-scale
invasion long enough for the United States to organize a coun-
terattack," Sun went on. "Meanwhile, our country would suf-
fer the anger of world opinion. We would be twice defeated."
General Chin looked as if he were about to explode; the
other generals shifted restlessly, offended but interested
enough to want to hear more before they tore off this insolent
ML
FATAL T E R RAI N 57
pup's stars. What nerve! Jiang thought. What coura e! Sun
could be dead in four hours-Chin could never allow Sun to
remain on his general staff after this blatant show of disrespect,
and Jiang knew of Chin's henchmen that would work secretly
and effectively to cause Sun to have an untimely, unexplained
"accident"-but Jiang admired him his youthful strength and
audacity. Chin thundered, "I order you to leave this chamber
and report to-"'
Jiang raised a hand. "I wish for the young admiral to con-
tinue," he said, then turned his hand palm upward, a signal to
continue. Chin looked as if he had been slapped-he even
rubbed his face, as if still feeling the blow. Jiang said, "So,
Comrade Admiral, you think we-cannot prevail against the
Americans?"
"Not in a direct engagement with an organized, determined,
and bloodthirsty American military force, sir," Sun replied.
"The American military-any large military force, including
our own-is like a large, heavy sledgehammer. It is unwieldy
and takes great strength to employ, but once in action, it is
highly effective. Hammer against hammer, army against army,
the American military is clearly superior, and Sun-tzu teaches
us to evade a superior opponent.
"But the buzzing of a single mosquito, the hot rays of the
sun, or a single bead of sweat in the eyes can disrupt he who
wields the hammer enough so that his blows are less effective,
or can even prevent him from swinging the hammer altogether.
Even more important, if the target of the hammer's blow is
small, irregular, or moves too quickly, even the best smith can
miss his mark. After several ineffective blows, the strongest
smith will tire, lose patience, make mistakes, and eventually
cease. He has lost. He has been defeated by a vastly inferior
force-and he has been defeated by himself.
"Sir, I have studied the tao of the American military, and
I have examined our tao, and my studies conclude that the
mericans have no desire for prolonged battle in Asia. Asia
in general and China in particular have an aura of deadly mys-
tery and foreboding for Westerners-they fear China's mas-
sive population, its history of violence and warfare, our
homogeneous society, and the knowledge we have gained over
centuries of civilization. Americans in particular are reluctant
to have anything to do with us, fearing to be drawn into an-
other protracted Vietnam-like battle-they fear traveling far
58 DALE BROWN
from home, of being drawn into a dark tunnel of mystery and
killed by punji sticks and knives carried by billions of tiny
yellow hands. And they are far weaker than they appear. The
American navy is three-fourths the size it was in 1991 after
the Persian Gulf War; the American air force is almost half
the size. American forces in Japan, including Okinawa, have
been cut in half since 1992. And for all their bluster about
safeguarding Taiwan, the United States still has not recognized
the Nationalist government and still has no embassy, consulate,
bases, soldiers, advisors, or equipment there. During the Olym-
pic games last year, the Americans even referred to the rebel
government as 'Chinese Taipei,' not as 'Taiwan' or the 'Re-
public of China.'
"But even so, Comrade General Chin is wrong-the Amer-
ican president Martindale will send in his carriers," Sun went
on. "Two of them are within four days' steaming time to
Taiwan, and within two weeks a third will join them. The U.
government claims that the three carriers will rendezvous
somewhere in the Philippine Sea for what they term a 'photo
opportunity,' because one of the carriers supposedly will be
decommissioned, but we all know that these carriers are ren-
dezvousing to set up an attack on our homeland. They will set
up east of Taiwan so they can take advantage of air defense
protection from Taiwan and appear not to be concerned about
events in China, but close enough so they can conduct air
attacks on our ships and land bases if war breaks out. We must
not blindly cruise within range of the Americans' carrier-based
attack planes. Instead, we must draw the carriers toward us. T
"The key to victory over the Americans is contained in the
words of Sun-tzu: we must draw their carriers away from the
protection of the Nationalists' air defense forces and into 'fatal
terrain'-that is, a battleground where they must be uncon-
querable, where they must fight with reckless abandon and
complete disregard for any protest against the campaign, or
face total defeat. In order to draw them into fatal terrain, we
must force them to come to the rescue or force them to inter-
vene with the thought of preventing a conflict. That conflict is
Taiwan, comrades. In the confines of the Strait, we can destroy
the carriers. At the same time, we strike at the most likely
resupply and air staging base in the area: Okinawa. Once Oki-
nawa is destroyed, American forces will be forced to stage out
FATAL TE R RAI N 59
of the heart of Japan, and so the threat to Japan becomes
clear-"
"You speak in double-talk, Sun," General Chin shouted.
"You talk about dancing around the American carriers, but
then talk about a ftill frontal assault on Okinawa. How do you
expect to destroy one of the Americans' strongest bases, com-
rade?"
Without one change in his expression or voice, Admiral Sun
said matter-of-factly, "We should by all means use our nuclear
arsenal. "
The reaction was swift and powerful-and all of it against
Sun. President Jiang called for order, and his command was
echoed by the sergeant-at-arms and his officers. Jiang said
crossly, "Admiral Sun, you are to be reprimanded once again
for your impertinence and ignorance. It is obvious you are not
familiar with the Party's policy on the use of nuclear, chemi-
cal, or biological weapons."
"If I may speak, sir-I am very familiar with the Com-
munist Party's policy," Sun said. "The government of China
and the Chinese Communist Party officially rejects the first
use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons because it con-
flicts with the ideals of peaceful unification of all the peoples
of the world under socialism. I studied the policy towards the
use of special weapons in both the National Academy and the
College of War, and advised the office of the pren-fier on its
implementation."
"Then you should know that no one on this Commission
or the Communist Party is suggesting or even contemplating
the use of nuclear weapons against the Americans, Admiral."
"On the contrary, sir, I know their use is contemplated quite
often," Sun said, calmly but firmly. "I know exactly at what
bases they are kept, how many, and which missiles and ships
carry them-including the carrier Mao Zedong."
General Chin looked as if he was ready to murder Sun with
his bare hands. "Sit down, damn you, Sun!" he ordered from
between clenched teeth. "Be silent!"
"I will not be silent!" Admiral Sun said. His voice rang
like a shot through the Commission chamber, and it had the
same effect as if a real gun had been fired in that room. "We
seem content to have our foreign policy dictated by the Amer-
icans, even though the Americans have no cohesive policy
with regards to Asia except the furtherance of fair trade-fair
60 DALE BROWN
only to themselves, of course. The threat of American military
intervention paralyzes this commission, even though we have
it in our power to reduce or perhaps eliminate the force of
American intervention, or even whether or not they will
choose to intervene."
"I order you, be silent, Sun!" Chin shouted. "Be seated!"
"Wait, General," Jiang said. He motioned to Sun. "Speak,
Adn-firal, but be warned-your fitness for your post will be
determined by what you say here to this commission."
"I will accept that, sir," Sun said resolutely. "Comrade
President, members of this commission, the Party and our gov-
emment has said that it wishes our country first to reunify with
the pieces lost to us b foreign conquests-namely, Senkaku
Dao, Formosa Dao, and Nansha Dao-and second to make
China the preeminent power in Asia for all time. These are
worthy goals. I believe we have the support of the people,
which Sun-tzu says is necessary before the ruler may charge
the generals with preparations for war, and so we should carry
out this mandate immediately.
"But it is obvious to me, as I am sure it is to you, that the
United States, by its foreign policy and tremendous military
might, is the dominant force in Asia now. We do not retake
Formosa, Quemoy, or Matsu from the Nationalists because we
fear American intervention. We do not retake the Senkaku
Islands, taken from us by Japan, again for fear of retaliation
from the Americans. But we have retaken the Nansha Dao,
what the West calls the Spratly Islands, and America has done
nothing-in fact, American companies help us pump oil and
natural gas out of fields we took from other countries. America
does not care about what happens in Asia, as long as it does
not affect their bottom line-their ability to make money.
"But our very political and social framework is under attack
by America. They try to influence our laws, tell us not to limit
how many children our families can have, or tell us to buy
more automobiles, televisions, and blue jeans or else they will
not permit our goods to be sold anywhere in the world. This
evil influence is strangling our very souls, comrades, and I see
no solution except one: remove the Americans from Asia, per-
manently. This means destroy the American aircraft carriers
and destroy the main American military staging base on the
island of Okinawa. We have no choice, comrades."
You are advocating nuclear war with the Americans?"
FATAL T ER RAI N 6 1
General Chin retorted. "Are you insane, Sun? It will spell
certain annihilation!
"Nuclear war with America is not inevitable, Comrade Gen-
eral," Sun said. "America has almost completely eliminated
its ability to wage nuclear war-they believe it is unthinkable
and unnecessary, given their perceived conventional weapons
technological superiority. In a war that does not threaten
American lives or territory, my studies conclude that America,
even led by a hawk such as their president Kevin Martindale,
will not launch a nuclear strike against us. But if we are de-
termined to win, then we must acknowledge that we shall use
nuclear weapons against the Americans. We can be secure in
the knowledge that America will not retaliate with nuclear
weapons unless their homeland is attacked, and that even if
they do employ nuclear weapons against us, we can withstand
the attack as a nation.
We can use our subatomic arsenal, our neutron bombs, to
eradicate the Nationalist forces on Quemoy and Matsu-
quickly, before the Americans can react," Sun said. "We can
hide the attack behind a blockade and bombardment, but the