The Japanese destroyer Kirishima was on routine patrol, escorting a supertanker and assorted container ships bound for Yokohama past the Senkaku Islands. The calm of the early morning was shattered by a klaxon sounding battle stations. In the operations room the sailor operating the ship's sonar had detected the unmistakable acoustic signature of a Chinese Kilo class submarine. The Captain gave orders for the ship to come about and prepare its antisubmarine torpedoes for launch. The Kilo had opened its bow doors and appeared to be preparing to launch its torpedoes.
AFTERMATH
China and Japan averted further bloodshed in East Asia with a direct telephone conversation between Jamie Song and his Japanese counterpart. A joint Sino-Japanese force occupied different sectors of the Taioyu-tai Islands — but the situation remained volatile. Offers of UN observers being stationed there were refused by both governments. The United States and China made the first steps to mend fences with a large Chinese order for Boeing aircraft. An American warship visited Shanghai. But the two governments entered into a nuclear strategic arrangement of Mutually Assured Destruction reminiscent of the Cold War policy with the Soviet Union. President Wang was hailed as the New Helmsman and lauded as a worthy successor to Mao Zedong and Deng Xiao-ping. He allocated the profits from manipulating the international markets to rebuilding and streamlining the Chinese armed forces into a hi-tech modern fighting force with emphasis on missile development and naval power projection. Jamie Song resigned from politics and went back to business. He floated his company, New China Computer Inc., on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Song was a frequent visitor to the US, often to see his friend Overhalt at Boeing, and occasionally President Bradlay.
President Bradlay was elected for a second term in 2004. He was hailed in many of the opinion polls as one of the great American presidents. He reversed the downsizing of the American armed forces and won fund allocation for ensuring the United States' position as the most powerful country in the world. The New Communist Party was hunted down by the Chinese security forces. Eleven ringleaders were jailed for between 13 and 20 years. Two, who were accused of carrying firearms, were executed with a single bullet in the back of the head. Five members, arrested in Hong Kong, were taken straight across the border to China, so they could receive harsher sentences and prison conditions. There were no objections from Hong Kong's legislative council or from the media which by now was controlled by Chinese interests. In the same way, the government in Taiwan ruthlessly wiped out any pro-Communist elements in the armed forces and political life. The New Party was destroyed. Vietnam declared its war with China a victory. In official announcements there was no mention of the French assistance. French companies were awarded contracts to modernize the roads, railways, and port facilities. The anniversary of the second battle of Lang Son was commemorated as a national holiday. South Korea ruled the north as a colony until 2003 when official unification was declared. In the interim, South Korean companies invested heavily in North Korea and built up the infrastructure. The workforce was disciplined and cheap. By November 2001, all American troops had left the peninsula.
The Far East remained a flashpoint for a Pacific war. Each country in the region made sure that next time it would be better prepared.