Dark Ambition by Allan Topol Read Free Book Online

shook Cunningham's hand, they didn't disclose a thing.
    Cunningham didn't bother to offer Liu tea. He knew the Chinese ambassador well enough to know that his preference was for strong black coffee. When Cunningham pointed to the thermos on the table, Liu said, "A cup of coffee would be lovely." His English was spoken with a clipped British accent, the result of a Cambridge education at a convenient time to be away from China, when the cultural revolution was going full blast. Liu sat down in a wrought-iron chair at the table and looked out toward the river. "It's a great view of the Potomac and the Maryland side," Liu said.
    "Only after the trees shed their leaves," Cunningham muttered. He didn't like small talk.
    "I appreciate your seeing me on short notice," Liu said. "Can we speak frankly?"
    "Absolutely," Cunningham looked across the table at Liu and gave him a wry smile. "You don't even have to worry about video or recording equipment out here."
    Liu didn't appreciate Cunningham's effort at humor. "Then I'll skip telling you that I and my government are sorry that Secretary Winthrop is dead."
    Cunningham shrugged. "I wouldn't have believed you if you had. I knew that wasn't why you wanted to see me." The American kept himself in check. There were some questions he wanted to put to Liu, but he decided to wait, letting the Chinese ambassador set the pace of the meeting. Cunningham studied Liu as his visitor sipped coffee. The man's face told him nothing.
    Finally, the Chinese ambassador put down his Wedgwood cup and said, "We had nothing to do with the secretary of state's death. I wanted you to know that."
    Cunningham refused to tell Liu that he believed the denial. He stared at his visitor, waiting for Liu to continue.
    "However, my government hopes that Secretary Winthrop's death will lead to a reexamination of the President's decision to submit the massive arms request for Taiwan to Congress in January. Specifically, we want the four destroyers equipped with Aegis battle-management radar, the army's PAC-3 missile defense system, and the diesel-powered submarines all removed from the package of weapons being sold to Taiwan."
    Cunningham took a deep breath, trying one final time to formulate his position on this issue, which had been running through his mind ever since he had heard the news reports of Winthrop's death. "Let's review the bidding. Shall we?"
    "As you wish."
    "Two months ago when you first heard that Robert Winthrop had persuaded the President to submit the Taiwan arms package to Congress in January, you came to me in the hope that I would persuade Brewster to reverse his decision."
    "That's correct. I know that you agree with my government's position on the matter of Taiwan."
    "The word 'agree' is an understatement. From the time I've spent in Vietnam and Japan, I understand how significant the issue of Taiwan is to Beijing and how it might become the spark which ignites a full-scale war in Asia. I know that a war like that wouldn't benefit this country."
    "But it would benefit big arms manufacturers like Blue Point Industries, who would make the sales to Taiwan."
    Cunningham shrugged. "I'm not working for them any longer. You know that doesn't enter into my thinking. I've got one interest now. That's doing what's best for this country. Because of that, I'm willing to accede to your country's position on the undesirability of such an extensive arms package for Taiwan in order to avoid a war. So you could say that we wanted the same thing, you and I. As we both know, Winthrop had a different position."
    At the mention of the secretary of state, Liu pursed his lips together.
    Certain that the Chinese ambassador was cursing under his breath, Cunningham continued. "Winthrop believed that the people of Taiwan have a right to their independence, that the United States has made commitments for their integrity for many years that should be honored, and that particularly after Tiananmen Square, your government