Lethal Trajectories Read Online Free PDF

things—expel their ambassador and so forth. But our biggest challenge will be to neutralize America’s influence. We must turn this crisis into an opportunity … but first things first.”
    They walked over to the PSC meeting with preoccupied minds. Lin Cheng was thinking ahead to the call he would have to make to the president of the United States, and Wang Peng wondered why, despite what appeared to be imminent war with Japan, his thoughts kept returning to a conversation shared with his friend, Jack McCarty, over some troubling new climate-change data.

    The PSC meeting was a grueling five-hour affair, but Lin won the day with respect to China’s position on Chunxiao. Exhausted from the effort, Lin knew there was little margin for error. He needed a few short-term victories to assuage the distraught PSC members.
    As they adjourned to his office to debrief, Lin poured tea for Wang and asked, “What was your take on the meeting, Peng?”
    “I can’t ever remember seeing as much anger and rage as I saw today. My initial impression was that it would be hard to walk out of there without a firm declaration of war against Japan.”
    “And how prevalent do you think that feeling was at the conclusion of the meeting?”
    Wang thought about his boss’s masterful performance before answering. “The outrage against Japan was still there, but you made a compelling case for a more measured response. My guess is that at least two-thirds of the members were solidly behind you. The rest seemed willing to follow your lead, but the Nanking contingent has deep feelings and long memories regarding the atrocities committed there by Japan prior to World War II.”
    “I agree, Peng. They will not challenge me head-on, but we both know how quickly our position will deteriorate if our more ideological comrades—particularly in the full Politburo—sense weakness in our dealings with our capitalist opponents. We’re on a tight leash.”
    “Indeed, and a pivotal part of our strategy will be to keep the United States from aggressively supporting Japan. Like you, Mr. Chairman, I believe we can deal with Japan on our own terms and maybe even use this as opportunity to further our broader agenda of oceanic expansion, but America’s position will be the critical factor.”
    Lin looked at his watch and was surprised to see it was almost three o’clock in the afternoon. “I want to come back to your thoughts on how we should approach the United States. But first, what do we have for the official report?”
    Wang opened his laptop and considered his copious notes. “Let me read to you the agreed-upon points.
    “First, our official position is that Japan made an unprovoked attack on the Dragon II, destroying the $1.8 billion-dollar platform with considerable loss of life: an act of war perpetrated by Japan against China. Second, China was therefore justified in its defensive response of destroying the Japanese attackers as well as assets in the area that could be used against China. Third, China will expel the Japanese ambassador, freeze all Japanese assets in China until compensated for its losses, and take whatever actions are necessary to defend its interests, but will refrain from offensive military actions. If fired upon, China will retaliate with overwhelming force. Fourth, China will call on the United Nations to condemn Japan’s aggression against the People’s Republic of China; demand reparations from Japan for the loss of the platform, lost future oil production, and loss of lives; petition the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to redefine coastal waters to meet our desired definitions; and instruct Japan to back off the EEZ and territorial areas claimed by China. We will make every effort to minimize U.S. intervention in the negotiations and prevent the formation of an international coalition against China.
    “Finally, China will accelerate its plan to expand its oceanic horizons by building two aircraft