Ambassador Fan took out an envelope. He held it out to the American secretary of state, who did not
budge. “As I said, I would be happy to
deliver it.” The ambassador sat up and
cleared his throat. He has practiced this , Pierce concluded. And
here it comes …
“Madame Secretary, the People’s Republic of China has been
attacked by one of its own renegade provinces. In measured and legal retaliation, China has begun reunification of its
lands. I have been instructed to make
absolutely clear that my government views this matter as an internal security
matter and will tolerate no intrusion. The United States has persisted in arming, emboldening, and defending
the Nationalists, and, with this continued arrogant interference, China has now
been given no other recourse than to defend itself by eliminating the tools of
this interference. The People’s Republic
also reserves the right to resist should the United States escalate the
affair…”
“Affair?” Secretary Pierce scoffed. “Ambassador Fan, this is not a lover’s spat. This is a very dangerous game your government
is playing. Over 700 Americans are dead
with hundreds more injured. Two of our
aircraft carriers have been knocked out and you have attacked us without
provocation.” Smiling smugly, the
ambassador opened his mouth to speak. Pierce stood, leaned across her desk, and continued: “The president has
authorized me to deliver a message to your government: A de facto state of war
exists between our two countries. Tonight, he will formally recognize the Taipei government-in-exile and
the independence of Taiwan. You and your
staff are hereby ordered to leave the country. All further communication must be by red phone. Good day, Mr. Ambassador.” The secretary sat again, lowered her head,
and stared at the desktop. The insulted
ambassador stood and exited. Richard
offered to escort him out of the building.
“Stay, mutt. I know the way,” the ambassador snarled. Richard shrugged and entered his boss’s
office.
◊◊◊◊
Taipei’s sky crackled with manmade thunder. Peering up warily, Senior Master Sergeant Li
reasoned that the sound was that of sonic booms. Dull thuds of distant explosions echoed
through neighborhoods and rebounded off Hill 112. Masts of black smoke rose from the southeast
and northwest. A blaze flared where the
capital’s telephone exchange and an electrical substation once stood. Li raised binoculars and focused on the
airport he was tasked with protecting. Songshan was quiet. Its air force
jets were already aloft and remaining commercial airliners were stowed in
hangars. Li panned toward Jhongjheng
District—the civic soul of the Taiwanese capital and nation—and fixed his
magnified view on the legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament.
The parliament was housed in a brick building draped in red,
white, and blue bunting. A portrait of
Chiang Kai Shek dangled from its tall central tower. A sandbag wall snaked through the surrounding
street. Soldiers and armored vehicles
loitered beneath swaying palm trees. Li
focused his binoculars and wondered what had become of his government. Before the missile raid had muzzled radio and
television broadcasts, journalists were reporting targeted assassinations and
kidnappings, though the parliament was still able to meet and approve a
declaration of war against Communist China, as well as formal independence for
the island nation. Remaining
legislators, along with the president and other members of Taiwan’s executive
branch, reportedly have fled southeast, escaping the island to establish a
government-in-exile.
A breeze licked Hill 112. Li lowered the binoculars to savor it. Air raid sirens belatedly sounded around Taipei. Firehouse and police station bells joined the
frightening cacophony. The city was
sobbing, Li reflected, and then thought of his little girl. One
budge. “As I said, I would be happy to
deliver it.” The ambassador sat up and
cleared his throat. He has practiced this , Pierce concluded. And
here it comes …
“Madame Secretary, the People’s Republic of China has been
attacked by one of its own renegade provinces. In measured and legal retaliation, China has begun reunification of its
lands. I have been instructed to make
absolutely clear that my government views this matter as an internal security
matter and will tolerate no intrusion. The United States has persisted in arming, emboldening, and defending
the Nationalists, and, with this continued arrogant interference, China has now
been given no other recourse than to defend itself by eliminating the tools of
this interference. The People’s Republic
also reserves the right to resist should the United States escalate the
affair…”
“Affair?” Secretary Pierce scoffed. “Ambassador Fan, this is not a lover’s spat. This is a very dangerous game your government
is playing. Over 700 Americans are dead
with hundreds more injured. Two of our
aircraft carriers have been knocked out and you have attacked us without
provocation.” Smiling smugly, the
ambassador opened his mouth to speak. Pierce stood, leaned across her desk, and continued: “The president has
authorized me to deliver a message to your government: A de facto state of war
exists between our two countries. Tonight, he will formally recognize the Taipei government-in-exile and
the independence of Taiwan. You and your
staff are hereby ordered to leave the country. All further communication must be by red phone. Good day, Mr. Ambassador.” The secretary sat again, lowered her head,
and stared at the desktop. The insulted
ambassador stood and exited. Richard
offered to escort him out of the building.
“Stay, mutt. I know the way,” the ambassador snarled. Richard shrugged and entered his boss’s
office.
◊◊◊◊
Taipei’s sky crackled with manmade thunder. Peering up warily, Senior Master Sergeant Li
reasoned that the sound was that of sonic booms. Dull thuds of distant explosions echoed
through neighborhoods and rebounded off Hill 112. Masts of black smoke rose from the southeast
and northwest. A blaze flared where the
capital’s telephone exchange and an electrical substation once stood. Li raised binoculars and focused on the
airport he was tasked with protecting. Songshan was quiet. Its air force
jets were already aloft and remaining commercial airliners were stowed in
hangars. Li panned toward Jhongjheng
District—the civic soul of the Taiwanese capital and nation—and fixed his
magnified view on the legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament.
The parliament was housed in a brick building draped in red,
white, and blue bunting. A portrait of
Chiang Kai Shek dangled from its tall central tower. A sandbag wall snaked through the surrounding
street. Soldiers and armored vehicles
loitered beneath swaying palm trees. Li
focused his binoculars and wondered what had become of his government. Before the missile raid had muzzled radio and
television broadcasts, journalists were reporting targeted assassinations and
kidnappings, though the parliament was still able to meet and approve a
declaration of war against Communist China, as well as formal independence for
the island nation. Remaining
legislators, along with the president and other members of Taiwan’s executive
branch, reportedly have fled southeast, escaping the island to establish a
government-in-exile.
A breeze licked Hill 112. Li lowered the binoculars to savor it. Air raid sirens belatedly sounded around Taipei. Firehouse and police station bells joined the
frightening cacophony. The city was
sobbing, Li reflected, and then thought of his little girl. One
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