The Chinese populist Tuanpai faction, dissatisfied with the rapid pace of change by President Zhou’s elitist princeling coalition to transform the country into a full market economy, conceives a shocking plan to devastate America and put themselves in power.
With his friend Chen Teng, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Keung Yeng, Chairman of the Standing Committee, conceives a plan to send a nuclear attack submarine to La Palma, and island in the Canaries chain, and set off a slump of the Cumbre Vieja Volcano’s western flank. This would generate an enormous tsunami that would wipe out the American eastern seaboard, crippling the country, making way for Keung’s Tuanpai faction to assume power, elevating China as the only world superpower.
The mission is only partially successful and the tsunami causes minimal damage. Keung now faces the horrible prospect of America striking back if evidence if found that China was responsible. Thomas Meecham, FBI Special Agent in Charge, is placed in charge of a team to investigate the incident as a possible terrorist attack. Hull material is retrieved from the sunk Chinese submarine and President Walters confronts Zhou, threatening military retaliation for the unprovoked attack. Zhou suspects he knows who the perpetrators are, and to salvage something of China’s reputation and forestall a global economic and diplomatic backlash, he invites U.S. investigators to help him find proof.
Meecham is sent to Beijing in an attempt to uncover whether the attack was planned by Zhou or a dissident faction. Everyone knows that if Zhou was responsible, the investigation would yield nothing. Under a cloud of mutual suspicion, Meecham faces assassination on Keung’s orders and America readies itself for a military confrontation.
Proportional Response is a mind-bending expose of international politics and distrust between two vastly different cultures.
Check out Stefan Vučak’s other political drama books: Cry of Eagles and Strike for Honor.
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Latest Reviews
In most political novels this means leaving the book without really knowing the characters- the good guys or the bad ones. In this novel I left feeling like I knew all of the main characters well enough to feel satisfied with the book.
This book was very well researched, which is extremely impressive. The main plot focuses a lot on what’s been going on with US and China in today’s time.
Review by John H. Manhold *****
An author quite knowledgeable of Oriental as well as western philosophy and thought patterns has set forth a provocative scenario that makes a most enjoyable and captivating read.
Stefan’s polished prose intensifies his very conceivable story. convincing the reader that the novel in their hands is possibly predictive assures that he has another success to add to his growing stature.
Review by Bookshelf Reviews *****
This book was hard to put down, partly not just the fact that it was intriguing and quite a page turner, but because of the author’s writing.