Kilo Class

you cannot be constructive perhaps you should not be here. I admire you and would like you to think more deeply before you speak. Please continue, Zhang.”

“Of course, sir. I think we should concentrate on two areas — whether we consider taking retribution against the USA, which I am in favor of doing, and how to ensure the safe delivery of the final five Kilos—”

“Yes, yes I do understand the anxiety of the Navy in this matter, but you know, Zhang, there is a broader picture here and we should not ignore it. Let me just say that we have already agreed we are a satisfied state and do not really have any territorial claims. We enjoy a permanent seat at the United Nations, and a veto on the Security Council. We also enjoy Most Favored Nation status with the United States — permanently.

“Let me remind you of the words of Deng Xiaoping. He said we should hide our capacities, bide our time, remain free of ambitions, and never claim leadership. He meant, Zhang, that we should avoid adventures. And I am drawn to the conclusion that this is an adventure, but I would like to hear you say more.”

“Sir,” said Zhang, “I am wondering if I should just clarify for myself, and with the wisdom of your guidance… was it not decreed in all of our greatest Councils for the past forty years that we must work carefully toward the reintroduction of Taiwan to the mainland government? And have we not stated endlessly that we would like to remove the formal American influence in the area, just as we removed the British from Hong Kong?”

“Yes, Zhang, you are correct in those assumptions.”

“Then, with respect, if I may speak as a military man, I would like to put forward the idea that unless we can frighten the American carriers out of our waters we can never achieve those aims. As we now know more clearly today than we did last month, the United States is utterly ruthless in the pursuit of her own aims. She wishes to dominate the sea trade routes, which surround our eastern seaward border, and with every passing year she drives a bigger and bigger wedge between us and Taiwan.

“And when we show any sign of Naval power in our own Taiwan Strait, a giant American aircraft carrier appears, which could take our Eastern Provinces off the map if it felt so inclined. And who could do anything about it? No one. We have one chance, sir — the Kilos, and I implore you, in your unfathomable wisdom, to permit the program to go forward with the additional security Admiral Yang would like me to organize. And in which he is, of course, entirely unqualified to play a part.”

The Paramount Ruler smiled and shook his head. “You are not a good man with whom to pick a fight, Zhang,” he said. “But I am indebted to you for your clarity of vision. There is one further thought I would like to offer. You know of course that we did sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991. I do not want to provoke the West into believing that the acquisition of the Russian Kilos is merely to provide us with a vehicle to deliver an underwater nuclear warhead.

“Zhang, we are not at war with anyone, and I do not want that situation to change. I want this nation of ours to join the world, to be a part of the great interchanges and relationships that go with world trade. There is nothing for China in a major military disagreement with the United States. Might we not be better off to forget the whole thing and let the USA prowl around in the Taiwan Strait for as long as they wish? They are, Zhang, our biggest customer, and we are growing rich on the proceeds. The distant joy of reuniting Taiwan with Beijing is a very long- range hope, and I wonder if it would be worth it.”

Admiral Zhang smiled. “I am always awed by your discernment and learning, sir. And as usual your erudition is beyond reproach. But might I ask you for a few moments to consider the question of Taiwan from another angle. As that Chinese island grows ever closer to America, we must face the fact that it is just a matter of time before she acquires her own nuclear deterrent. Every country in this world that has grown rich enough, and felt threatened enough, has always tried to have an independent nuclear capacity.”

The Paramount Ruler spoke again. “You know, Zhang,” he said, “we should not perhaps forget that Taiwan is not a country alone. It remains a part of China. It was not so long ago they stopped threatening to retake the mainland.”

“No, sir. I am very aware of the situation. But I would also remind everyone that it was not so long ago that the United States sent in warships from the Seventh Fleet when they thought the forces of Communist China might attempt to retake Taiwan. The lines of self-interest are finely drawn.”

“They are, Zhang, they are,” replied the old man. “And we should attend to the unmistakable truth that all of our efforts to prevent major arms sales to Taiwan have in the end come to nothing. The island grows ever richer and will soon wish to own a nuclear deterrent.”

“Taiwan in my view,” said Zhang, “has already reached that stage, and I am certain has given the matter serious consideration. The only way we can discourage having a rich, possibly hostile, nuclear power right in our own backyard is to return them to our own fold. They will not come voluntarily. And we can only achieve that by ensuring that the big American Carrier Battle Groups cannot roam at will through our trading waters, two hundred miles out from the mainland, encompassing the whole of Taiwan.

“The Kilos from Russia will give us that capacity, and subsequently that freedom. But time is not on our side. The Taiwanese, as we all know, are very clever. I regard them as a time bomb that we cannot defuse, not for as long as they remain under close American protection.”

The Paramount Ruler nodded. “You are saying, Zhang, that in your judgment, we are not dealing with a problem that places us in an unwanted aggressive mode. You are saying that in the end, the Kilos represent the heart of a possible Chinese defense policy?”

“That is precisely what I am saying, sir. This is a turbulent world, and for a country of our size and potential wealth, we must have a capability to keep our own seas free from enemy warships. And our Navy cannot do that at present.”

The second of the elderly Deputy Commander in Chiefs, Vice Admiral Zhi-Heng Tan, now spoke for the first time. He was respectful but in disagreement. “I understand your desire to own the Kilos, Admiral Zhang,” he said. “And I also understand a certain youthful desire to exact a revenge on the USA. But there is a saying among Western lawyers that has a significance here: never go to the law for revenge…only for money.

“I believe it should also be applied to acts of war…never attack anything or anyone for revenge. Only for money…there is no money in such a move against the USA for us. I see only heartache, problems, and possibly bloodshed, and damage to our trade. The United States wears a large and friendly smile, but she has very sharp, white teeth. The men of the Pentagon are as vicious as Genghis Khan. They are ten times as strong as we are, and are likely to remain so for another half century. If we try anything against them, they will strike back at us. There will be loss of life, and perhaps even worse, the most horrible loss of face.

“I am as much of a patriot as you are, Admiral Zhang, and I offer my wholehearted support for whatever this Council decides. But I would like to implore all of you not to sanction some kind of direct action against the USA. Because that’s a fight we are destined to lose, to no sensible purpose.”

“I understand your concerns, Admiral,” replied Zhang. “And I hear great wisdom in your words as I hear that same wisdom in the words of our Paramount Ruler. But I would like to request, with all humility, that we continue to build our fleet of Kilos. That way leads to security and to our mastery of the South China Sea, and the waters that surround Taiwan.”

“That is, unless the US Navy decides to eliminate the entire Kilo fleet before we start,” interjected Admiral Pheng.

“May I remind you, sir, they have to find them first, and that will not be easy.”

“It was apparently easy four days ago — they got them two at a time,” snapped Admiral Yang.

“I accept your rebuke, Admiral,” replied Zhang. “And you have my word, such a thing will never happen again.”

“I remain unsure about your word, Admiral,” said Yang.

“For the moment I am unsure about your motives,” growled Zhang. “But I do know you speak not in the interests of China…” At this point the crisp veneer of the Fleet Admiral slipped away temporarily. And the haughty, supercilious Admiral Yang found himself face-to-face with a man who had been brought up on the rough waterfront of Xiamen — a hard, seasoned street fighter whose brain had carried him far, but who remained afraid of no one. Zhang snarled across the political table. “YANG…YOU ARE EITHER A FOOL OR A COWARD.”

Like a panther, the old man who ruled China was on his feet, tipping his chair over backward. “STOP,” he said. But his anger was directed at the Commissar. “I warned you, Admiral Yang, that I would not permit you to cast doubts on the abilities and integrity of my Commander in Chief. You have chosen to ignore me, and that is