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  James received all the highlights worth noting before the American president did, but they held little interest for him now. Since launching Phase II of his plan, his sole focus was on the reports emanating from the special group that was devoted to watching China.

  His chen diyu had managed to penetrate the group, and according to her latest report, the Americans hadn’t yet seen any components of Raptor, neither the command and control ship, nor the launch platform, nor the satellite itself. That was positive news, but it embarrassed James to know that they’d seen virtually everything else.

  His agent had reported that the NGA even knew about the secret underground tunnels in the basement of each residence and office in Zhongnanhai. James had played in the tunnels as a child and knew the escape route well. The tunnels, sealed by steel doors that could be barred from the inside, led to elevators that descended to a secret railroad. The train was manned twenty-four hours a day and was prepared to get under way instantly. It was an escape route designed not to protect the leaders from foreign invaders but from their own people.

  The Americans reportedly found this escape route amusing. Let the fools laugh. Very soon now their satellite screens would go dead, and when they came on again, the not-so-amused analysts would be looking at a very different world.

  The limousine skirted the lake known as the Southern Sea and drove past the ornamental island known as Yingtai, the Ocean Terrace. It was here that the Empress Dowager Cixi had imprisoned the ill-fated Guangxu emperor in 1898 after his failed attempt to carry out reform. Today, it was little more than a scenic spot for certain privileged tourists. Bureaucrats under Mao had razed most of the buildings of the Imperial era. Yingtai, and the lakes, and a few dynastic-era buildings were all that was left.

  Old Wang pulled up to one of those buildings, the Huairentang, a palace from the late-Qing Dynasty, located on the west side of the lake. The Palace Steeped in Compassion had been preserved and refurbished for meetings of the Chinese Communist Party. It was here that Deng had met with James’s father and the other military commanders who’d crushed the protest at Tiananmen Square, just a half-mile to the east. Huairentang was the building where many of the most infamous decisions of the Chinese Communist Party had been made. Careers were made and broken in this building, and it was here that James and his plan would come under intense scrutiny in less than an hour.

  The old man shuffled out and opened the door. James recoiled at the smell. As one of Mao’s milder acts of insanity, he’d ordered the lake stocked with tens of thousands of carp. Protected from the people, the number had risen exponentially. The accrued excrement from the fish had turned the lake a dun color and created a smell that pervaded the entire compound. James covered his nose and looked around. The majestic landscaping he remembered from his childhood was gone, ruined by the building of roads and parking lots for the limousines that ferried the aging cadres back and forth. Nothing he saw was as grand as he remembered.

  He walked into the main hall, the first to arrive. The once-elegant interior of the building had also been refurbished. Clumsy-looking Soviet-era furniture and cheap light fixtures set the tone. He glanced up at the ornate ceiling. The ever-present surveillance equipment completed the sense of desperate old socialists - his father included - clinging to power.

  White-coated servants scurried to set up trays of food along the perimeter of the hall. In the center of the room, three long tables had been arranged in a U shape. A dais covered with a green cloth trimmed in gold had been placed at the open end. In the center of the dais was a high-backed upholstered chair with a place card for Xiang Shankun, the most powerful man in China. In theory, the CCP and the government of the People’s Republic were separate entities, but in reality, the Communist Party had its fingers in every government function. Xiang held the three top jobs in the country: president, Communist Party general secretary, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

  The old man derived his power not from the weak state presidency but from his post as Communist Party general secretary, the most influential position in China. He further cemented his power by chairing the Central Military Commission. It was this chairmanship - and the accompanying title of commander-in-chief - that gave the old men of the party control over the military, control that was vital to their survival.

  To the president’s right would sit James’s father, General First Class Lao Jianxing, as vice-chair. And to the vice-chairman’s right was a guest place card on blue paper that read, “Senior Colonel Lao Jintao, chairman and managing director, China Aerospace and Technology.”

  On the opposite side of the table, to the president’s left, were two more place cards on the blue paper that indicated they too were guests. The first was for Yang Deguan, the minister of national defense. The next one he couldn’t make out. Curious, he stepped closer until the name, Han Jinhua, CSIS, came into focus. A chill went through him. If President Xiang was the most powerful man in China, Han Jinhua, the head of the Chinese Secret Intelligence Service, was the most feared.

  Why was he there? Like the defense minister, Han wasn’t a member of the commission, but he had the power to invite himself to any meeting anywhere. His presence was not good news. Han despised the educated youth of China, especially those like James who’d been educated in the West. In Han’s view, their education, a privilege Han had never had, should have made them grateful to the state. Instead, it had turned them against the state. Han had been one of the hard-liners on the event that was now whispered throughout China as the “Six-Four,” the ruthless crushing of the young pro-democracy demonstrators at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. The old man rightly feared the youth of China, and it was that fear that made him dangerous. Han would be watching James closely.

  Commission members began drifting in. The original members were easy to spot. James watched them discreetly, shocked at their appearance. Unlike James’s father, who still stood tall and erect at eighty-three, many were stooped and trembling with age. At thirty-two, James felt a bit out of place in their midst, though the newest members were closer to his age. The commission had recently been expanded from its original nine members to a maximum of twenty-four and now included representatives from all seven of China’s PLA military zones, as well as commanders from what the PLA thought of as special forces - navy, air force, and missile groups.

  James’s father entered the hall carrying a worn leather briefcase. He nodded to James but said nothing. As they all took their seats and waited for the president to arrive, James watched Han Jinhua shuffle in and take his place. The head of the Chinese Secret Intelligence Service was in his late seventies but looked much older. Born of peasant parents, it was said that he’d learned the 5,000 characters needed to read and write through sheer determination. It was this diligence that had propelled him into the hierarchy of the Chinese government and had kept him there. Han controlled China’s laogai, and it was well known that the camps were full of the old man’s enemies.

  A private door behind the dais opened, and President Xiang entered the hall, accompanied by two staff members. With a great shuffling of chairs, the assembly came to its feet and stood while the chairman was seated. Lowering his hands, Xiang motioned for the members and invited guests to be seated.

  “Greetings, comrades,” he said. “Welcome to this special meeting of the Central Military Commission. I now decree that the commission is in session.”

  A hush fell over the hall. Xiang slipped on a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles and opened a folder.

  “At my request, the general political department of the People’s Liberation Army has developed a position paper on the Taiwan issue. I will now read an excerpt from that paper, code-named Document Sixty-five:

  ‘The Taiwan issue has long since become a trump card to be played by the anti-China forces and has deteriorated into a malicious tumor that hinders the development of our motherland. Playing the Taiwan card and using it to contain China is a manifestation of the old Cold War th
inking in the new international arena and an important means of opposing China by a handful of politicians in the U.S. Congress who cling desperately to the Cold War thinking. In terms of social systems, it is expressed as anti-Communist thinking; in terms of outlook, it is revealed as naked racial discrimination. In view of this situation, to resolve the Taiwan issue and achieve the reunification as soon as possible not only involves our national sovereignty and national dignity but also directly relates to our country’s development and is an important strategy in opposing world hegemonism.’”

  James glanced at the faces of the commission members. He’d already seen an advance copy of the paper known as Document 65. The phrases “anti-China forces” and “world hegemonism” were a direct reference to the United States, without saying so. What the paper also didn’t say was that once Taiwan was taken, U.S. hegemonism would be replaced by Chinese hegemonism in Asia.

  President Xiang took a sip of water. “The document goes on to state, ‘Taking into account the possible intervention by the U.S. and based on the development strategy of our country, it is better to fight now than in the future - the earlier, the better. The reason being that if worse comes to worst, we will gain control of Taiwan before full deployment of U.S. troops. In this case, the only thing the U.S. can do is fight a war of retaliation.’”

  Xiang closed the folder. “In summary, comrades, the document concludes that it is a most important task of the Communist Party of China to reunify Taiwan with the motherland as soon as possible. This has now been adopted as official policy. In support of this policy, we will move to implement our ‘two-island chain strategy.’ Concurrent with the taking of Taiwan, we will take the Spratley Islands and the Xinsha Islands, what the West calls the Paracels, to confirm our rightful ownership of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most important strategic waterways.

  “Once the region is secured, we will be in a position to control all shipping through it. Tankers from the Middle East must pass through the South China Sea to bring oil into the region. Conversely, goods bound for Europe and the Middle East must pass through the South China Sea in the opposite direction. An autonomous Taiwan gives the Americans a base from which to keep this waterway open, the primary reason America wants Taiwan to remain independent. By taking Taiwan and both island chains concurrently, the United States will be effectively removed from the area and China will emerge as the preeminent power in the Pacific.”

  Xiang removed his glasses. “You will recall my New Year’s address to this body in which I forcefully requested that the military come up with what I euphemistically called ‘assassin’s mace,’ a surprise weapon that would give China a decisive victory over the United States in such an encounter. I have been assured by the prime minister that such a weapon now exists.” His eyes swept around the U-shaped tables, making eye contact with every member of the commission.

  “Comrades, we are standing on the eve of momentous changes for the People’s Republic. A misstep could have disastrous consequences. The purpose of this meeting is to determine that all of China’s forces are prepared to go forward.”

  Han Jinhua rapped the table. “Please permit this lesser man to speak, Comrade President. As I understand it, the cornerstone of this strategy is the launching of this so-called assassin’s mace, an anti-satellite weapon that will disable the U.S. ability to respond. Everything depends upon it. The readiness of China’s forces, if you will permit me to say so, is irrelevant without an assurance that the satellite will launch on schedule and perform as expected. Can this be assured?”

  James felt the muscles in his neck tense.

  “Thank you, Director Han,” President Xiang said. “As always, the esteemed head of the CSIS raises a valid point.” He looked to his right. “We are fortunate to have with us today Senior Colonel Lao Jintao, the honorable chairman of China Aerospace and Technology. Chairman Lao is scheduled to make a presentation to the committee later, but in view of the question, perhaps he will be kind enough to brief us now.”

  James nodded at the president. Han Jinhua sat smirking in the background behind him - the old man’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. The skin across his face was stretched so tightly he appeared to be wearing a mask. Not even President Xiang would cross the meddling old fool, who knew all the weaknesses and peccadilloes of every man in the room. James came to his feet.

  “It would be my honor, Chairman Xiang. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this esteemed committee. I’m pleased to report that the satellite launch is absolutely on schedule-”

  “All well and good,” Han Jinhua said, “but how do we know it will work once in orbit?”

  “The satellite has been thoroughly tested and retested,” James said. “Only recently it was demonstrated for the prime minister and several others, including the minister of national defense, the honorable Yang Deguan, who is with us today.”

  “It’s true,” Yang said. “It was a most impressive demonstration in which the satellite performed admirably.”

  “That may be so,” Han Jinhua said, “but with all respect, I must question why one so young and inexperienced has been entrusted with this program, upon which everything depends. For example, the decision has been made to launch this satellite at sea, an unproven science. Why not launch it at one of our sites on land, under more controlled conditions?”

  James took a calming breath, then forced a smile.

  “The technology for launching at sea is actually well established and well proven. A launch there is no riskier than a conventional launch. Moreover, the advantages of a launch at sea are significant. First, it’s highly efficient. A launch on the equator directly into equatorial orbit is not only highly accurate but ensures significant fuel savings-”

  “I’ve heard that the satellite is powered by fuel cells,” Han said. “If that’s true, why is fuel economy an issue?”

  James began to feel more confident. If Han wanted to debate him on technical issues, he could make the old man look like a fool.

  “The savings on fuel will allow us to launch a heavier payload into orbit at the higher altitude required to avoid detection by enemy reconnaissance satellites. Once there, it will also give the satellite longer life, by providing a backup of fuel for maneuvering to correct the orbit, if necessary.”

  Han grunted. “All this technical talk obscures the important issues. What about the launch site? I’ve heard that the rocket will be launched over the sovereign territory of another land. Where precisely will this launch take place?”

  “The launch platform will be positioned on the equator at 106 degrees east longitude, approximately midway between Sumatra and Borneo. The launch will be to the east, in the direction of the earth’s rotation.”

  “Then it is so. In other words, you’ll be launching over land, Borneo to be precise. Has the government of Borneo given permission for this?”

  James had learned from an American attorney never to ask a question unless you knew what the answer would be. He smiled.

  “Let’s say that government officials have been . . . persuaded to allow the launch over their territory.”

  The hall broke out in subdued laughter.

  Han fell silent.

  James looked at the old man. Time to finish him off.

  “But equally important as the technical issues are the security issues. As the esteemed head of the CSIS surely knows, American satellites watch every aspect of our country. From the lowest deserts to the highest mountain ranges, the Americans photograph things as mundane as tire tracks around military installations, newly moved earth near industrial plants, and who is walking with whom around the lakes here at Zhongnanhai. I’ve seen these high-resolution photographs, and I can tell you that they reveal everything, right down to the ranks on shoulder epaulets. A launch at the Wuzhai Missile and Space Center, or any other site in China, would therefore be ill-advised, to say the least. The Americans monitor these sites constantly, and a computer-enhanced photograph of Raptor wou
ld reveal that it is no ordinary satellite.”

  “What makes you think their satellites won’t see a launch at sea?” Han said.

  “Let them look,” James said. “The command and control ship in the Pearl River Basin has been disguised to look like any of a thousand merchant ships moving around China. The launch platform moving toward the launch site on the equator has been configured to look like any of a thousand oil-drilling rigs moving around the world.”

  “But how can you be sure they haven’t seen it?” Han said.

  “I receive daily confirmation from my agents in America that those objects have not appeared on the screens in Washington.”

  “I’m glad to see you take security issues so seriously,” Han said. “But satellite reconnaissance is only one way for the Americans to discover what you are doing.” He looked at the door as if he were expecting someone. “You’ve allowed an American scientist into your laboratory in Guangzhou - your half-Chinese American cousin, to be exact. She has seen this satellite and has threatened to expose it. I understand that she has been ‘detained’ as a result. How can you guarantee that she will remain secure?”

  James steadied himself against the table. Han was in charge of all the laogai in China. Did he know something James didn’t?

  “The fact that the woman is, as you put it, my ‘half-Chinese American cousin’ means nothing. She is secure and will remain so until after the launch. After that, she will be of no further consequence.”

  Han glanced at the door. “Are you certain of this?”

  “I am absolutely certain of this.”

  The door opened. A young officer wearing the uniform of a PLA major tiptoed in. Glancing around, the officer spotted Han sitting at the dais and walked toward him. He handed Han a piece of paper and whispered something in his ear. Han looked at the note, then up at James. James held his breath.