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the
Americans, has been rendered moot on the high seas in defense of our Republic.
I believe we must station the principal area defense ships in the major ports
to provide air defense, particularly to augment the Patriot batteries around
the Capitol. I then strongly urge that we utilize our technological strength
in our Air Force, and perform a unilateral, surprise strike against the two
large PLAN task forces that are forming across the straits in the vicinity
ofQuanzhou andXieman .
These task forces are comprised of one of their new amphibious assault ships
each, one of their new carrier groups, numerous escort vessels
includingHaizhou andLuhaiDDG s and many, many of these new
LCU type landing craft. They are clearly forming for onereason, and one reason
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alone. If we can mass our assets and strike quickly and resolutely, we can
destroy a large part of their amphibious capabilities and perhaps their
capitol ships as well.
And so, the debate that had been taking place all morning picked up again as
Admiral Chang, the Chief of the Naval Forces, spoke against such a plan.
General, I agree that our area defense ships cannot be risked in the Straits
at this time. It is unfortunate
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and is causing us to reassess our defense strategy, which I believe will lead
exactly to what you propose with respect to those assets. However, with all
due respect, I cannot condone an attempted mass attack into the teeth of the
People s Republic strength the disparity in numbers is just too unfavorable.
Not to mention the fact that their new SU-30s and SU-35s are the technological
equivalent of our own forces.
They are deploying them in increasing numbers across the straits to blunt our
advantage, particularly if they are willing to suffer attrition in their older
aircraft and I bet they are willing to do that. Who would bet against it?
What good would we do if we sank a lot of those landingcraft, or even some of
their larger combatants and suffered severe attrition of our own? It would
leave us wide open to any force they reconstituted, and we all know, from what
we are seeing andhearing, that they are producing these ships and landing
craft in large numbers. No, I say, let them come to us. We just draw back,
soak up their ballistic missile barrage, and wait until they try and force a
crossing. They will still have to come within range of our area defense
destroyers before they can launch, and that, in my opinion, is when our Air
Force can be used to the best effect just like we planned, in concert with our
naval assets.
The General interrupted. Just soak up their ballistic missile barrage? Listen
to yourself, Admiral. We are here to protect our people, and I believe we can
perhaps forestall such barrages by immediately going on the offensive. Those
hundreds and even thousands of missiles will exact an unacceptable toll on our
population and production efforts. If we do not act, they will do so before we
ever inflicted any casualties on the enemy and they would probably be
successful in taking out at least a part of our own defenses, particularly
your ships if they are restricted to their harbors.
The Admiral s composure began to weaken as he responded.
Would it be better to lose a part of our people and production facilities, or
all of it, General? I say we must modify our plans to fit these terrible
circumstances, but still keep intact the basic premise, and that is of a
defense in depth. Force the communists to come to us!
Finally, President Chen raised his hand, and indicated that he was ready to
speak, and render a decision and seek consensus.
Gentlemen& General, Admiral, please compose yourselves. This is a critical
time in which all of us are working towards the same end that of preserving
our nation and our people. It is a harsh time as well, where difficult
decisions will have to be made that will inevitably result in the destruction
of property and the loss of life either way. Thank you for your input. This
has been a long day, and we have all heard much. I will order the immediate
implementation of our Emergency Plan for full mobilization of our civilian and
military sectors. Our people have long prepared for this, though we had all
hoped to avoid it.
I will request that the LegislativeYaun immediately approve the State of
Emergency, and that we institute martial law. All reserves will be called up
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