General Zhen contemplatively ran his finger over scar tissue. During the chaos of the ‘June 4th Incident’—the name chosen by the Party for the massacre of citizens at Tiananmen Square — a chunk of glass had been embedded in his cheek. A medic’s sloppy stitching left him with the Frankenstein-like blemish, though Zhen wore the mutilation with honor. Having personally shot nine of the pro-democracy demonstrators that summer night, his only regret was he had carried a pistol instead of a machinegun. Besides this Tiananmen blemish, combat in Vietnam, at the Indian border, and Tibet all had exacted their toll upon his aging body, leaving the old warrior with a shambling gait and sleepless, aching nights.
General Zhen sighed with impatience as he surveyed the men of the supreme martial committee. Most of them were half-drunk from dinner, and the rest, on the verge of sleep. All waited for People’s Liberation Army Air Force General Piao Bai to finish his droning statement.
“In conclusion,” General Piao half-mumbled, “I would advise against the army’s plan to invade Taiwan, continuing instead on a path of rapprochement, softly integrating Taiwan into our economy with agreements; essentially a de facto non-violent unification.” One man yawned. “As for the Americans,” Piao continued, we all know they will defend the island, so why fight those we can instead starve? Our 20-year plan to dismantle the economy of the United States and pilfer its technological jewels is on track. Soon, the Americans will no longer be able to afford aircraft carriers. Yes,” he exclaimed, nodding with self-agreement, “We must ignore this latest transfer of weaponry by the Americans and stay the course.” General Piao smiled to the president — his old schoolmate — and the rest of the committee attendees. Feeling his position unassailable, he creaked back down into his seat.
The president took back the floor. He reminded the committee that they had all read the air force’s proposal, and trusted all were in agreement: the plan would be adopted, energies focused on pressing issues at the Indian frontier, and with the restive Muslim population in the northwestern province of Xinjiang. General Zhen cleared his throat for attention and raised his hand. The interruption, a veiled challenge to paramount authority, and, therefore, the president’s nod of approval met wholly unenthusiastic acceptance.
“Thank you President Xu. With all due respect to the chairman and this body, General Piao is wrong.” Zhen stood, buttressing himself on the table with straightened arms. “Perhaps my distinguished colleague in the air force would be more comfortable wearing the uniform of the girl scouts?” Zhen taunted Piao. Piao’s blotches turned several different shades, and he looked to the president for intervention. None came, and Zhen proceeded. “Taiwan…” the poisonous contempt he held for the island came through clearly, “is no longer about an unfinished civil war, or the disrespectful meddling of a foreign superpower. Taiwan is about the ascendance of China to a place of glory befitting her new global power. My comrades…” the general paused, scanning the membership. “Let me take Taiwan and deliver China to this rightful place of glory.” Zhen raised a fist and began to pace behind the now wide-awake men. “We are blocked from the Pacific by the first island chain, of which Taiwan is the keystone,” the general tantalized. “Once the island is back in the fold, I will use its air and sea bases to drive the Americans all the way back to Hawaii. After that, gentlemen,” he smiled wolfishly, “it will be our bombers and warships conducting exercises off San Diego and King’s Bay, our aircraft carriers that steam on the horizon.”
“Insanity,” an admiral of the People’s Liberation Army Navy scoffed, Zhen’s rant. “You presume much general.” The admiral looked around for eye contact and support. However, most of the commission stayed neutral by looking to Mao’s portrait. The admiral hung in the wind. General Zhen continued:
“Must the commission be reminded of the massive firepower at our disposal? Of the new weapons deployed along the coast? While some…” Zhen looked indicated the direction of the fuming General Piao, “cling to faint-hearted policies; it is we who possess the advantage and the initiative. Gentlemen, it is time. If I may?” Zhen asked, though he was already in motion, reaching an arm under the table. President Xu extended an arm in invitation. Zhen produced a small remote control from a drawer. He strode to the map, and, like a scornful professor, waved his arms. Computer-generated icons populated the screen: little red airplanes, infantrymen, parachutes, rockets, ships, and tanks.
“In Fujian…” Zhen said as he pointed to the Chinese province adjacent to the sweet potato-shaped Taiwanese island, “I have under my personal command over 1,500 East Wind ballistic missiles, and over 400 highly-accurate East Sea and Long Sword cruise missiles.” He paused to allow his declaration to sink in. Then, with the push of a button, the computer simulated a massive single coordinated missile launch against the island; a ‘wargasm,’ as it were. “Then,” Zhen continued, “I command an entire airborne corps, four amphibious divisions, and countless armored, infantry, and mechanized divisions ready to be air- and sea-lifted across this…miserable little Strait.” Zhen sneered, and his tobacco-stained teeth glistened. “Our enemies cannot match our cyber-warfare capabilities, and the limitations of the Taiwanese armed forces are well known to this body.” The general activated a laser pointer on the remote control. With the red dot it projected, he circled the measly number of blue icons that represented Taiwan’s defenses. “Taiwan can at most field a few trifling divisions, and their air force and navy cannot endure our overwhelming onslaught. My staff has programmed several attack simulations into the new ‘Blue Lantern’ supercomputer, with each employing a multi-phase attack. First, our surface-to-surface missiles will rain down upon Taiwan’s military and air defense bases and critical infrastructure. Then, our long-range surface-to-air missiles will blast scrambling Taiwanese aircraft as they take to the air. Next, our air force will fly in, cudgeling any surviving enemy aircraft and ground targets; and, the final blow will be delivered by our amphibious and airborne forces as they land at Taiwan’s air and seaports, fanning out across the island. Blue Lantern has predicted that, against all possible defenses, we will have total victory in six days.” On the wall display, computer-generated arrows swept east from the Chinese coast, and turned the simulated island of Taiwan blood red.
“That is enough,” People’s Liberation Army Air Force General Piao shouted, standing again, his legs cracking and popping as he rose. Finally, on his feet, he growled, “We all know where this will lead: nuclear war with the Americans.”
“And risk our atomic reprisal? Never,” General Zhen roared at his counterpart. “The United States is bankrupt, distracted, and divided. The Americans have no stomach for a nuclear exchange. They would not risk Los Angeles for Taipei. Your conclusions are flawed and clearly exhibit diffidence. Perhaps retirement would better suit you general?” Zhen stabbed.
“How dare you?” General Piao rumbled, shaking with anger. “You ask us to risk everything; all our hard-won progress, just to satiate your craving for battle and conquest.”
“Gentlemen,” President Xu interjected, with the lilt of a man entertained. “I suggest we proceed with General Piao’s plan. We will boycott the American companies that provided the weaponry, but otherwise, do nothing. Time is on our side. We will use it. This is my executive recommendation. Is there any more discussion?” The president looked right at Zhen, and his glare willed the general to sit again. With that, a vote was called.