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China's rapidly growing economy, carefully cultivated during his tenure as
finance minister before rising to foreign minister and then being confirmed by
the National People's
Congress to be prime minister just three years earlier.
Amid a dizzying array of flashbulbs and the sounds of hundreds of
autoadvancers, Premier Zhao cleared his throat and addressed not only the
throng of reporters but a worldwide television audience to whom he was now
speaking live.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it with a deep sense of concern that I have asked you
to gather on such short notice. As you know, there are more than two thousand
journalists from China and abroad covering the current session of the National
People's Congress. Allow me to say to all of you here that on behalf of my
entire nation, I unequivocally condemn these das-
tardly terrorist attacks on the United States. I offer the American people any
and all assistance they will need in the coming days and months. And my
government and I stand ready to work with the American people and their
government to hunt down those responsible for these atrocities and bring them
to justice."
The premier paused for a moment to let his translators catch up.
"Furthermore, I want to say in no uncertain terms that the People's Republic
of China was not in any way responsible for these attacks. Let me repeat: the
People's Republic of
China played absolutely no role in these attacks, nor would we."
A murmur spread through the press corps.
"Based on the latest available information, my generals tell me that these
were not attacks from intercontinental ballistic missiles. Nor were these
attacks launched from submarines. They appear to be the work of short-range
missiles launched from container ships operating near the Atlantic and Pacific
coastlines of the United States, and I can assure you that not a single ship
owned or operated by the PRC is currently
or has been in the last twenty-four hours within eight hundred miles of the
American homeland. What's more, the container ships that we do currently have
on the high seas,
headed for the U.S., have all been ordered to turn around and come back to
Chinese ports to be reinspected. We have also ordered all Chinese submarines
and other naval vessels to return to our ports to make absolutely clear to the
American authorities that we have no hostile intent toward the American people
whatsoever."
Again, Premier Zhao paused to let his translators keep pace. Then he said, "I
have just spoken personally with the U.S. ambassador here in Beijing to extend
my condolences and to give him the same message I am delivering here. Foreign
Minister Zeng Zou is doing everything he can to contact the American
government for the same purpose. This is a very dark day in the history of the
world. What has happened is unimaginable. We must all take care that this
crisis does not lead us into the abyss."
The premier now took questions.
"Mr. Prime Minister," the Associated Press bureau chief asked, "have all
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Chinese intercontinental ballistic missiles been accounted for?"
"I just told you, these were not ICBM attacks," the premier said. "But yes,
all of our missiles are present and accounted for. None of them were fired at
the United States. Nor would we ever consider a sneak attack like this."
"Is it true, Mr. Prime Minister, that you are concerned that the Americans
might be considering a retaliatory strike against China?" asked the editor of
the
People's Daily.
The premier shook his head. "There is no reason to fear that the Americans
would retaliate against us," he tried to assure the reporter. "We have done
nothing against the
Americans. Indeed, we are offering to help the Americans in any and every way
we can, including helping to retaliate against any country that is
responsible. Two more questions yes, you, in the second row."
A woman with Reuters stood up and asked, "Is it true that the United States is
moving two aircraft carriers into the East China Sea?"
"I have heard these reports in the media, but I cannot confirm them
independently at this time," Zhao said.
"A follow-up, sir?"
"Yes."
"If this turns out to be true, how would your government react?"
"You are asking a hypothetical," Zhao demurred. "This is a sad enough day
without responding to hypotheticals. Yes, you in the back row."
"Mr. Prime Minister, the wire services are reporting that President Al-Hassani
has mobilized nearly 150,000 troops to stop the Kurds in the northern parts of
Iraq from seceding and joining a new, independent state of Kurdistan."
"I am hearing similar reports, yes," Zhao said. "But that's not our topic
right now."
"I understand," the reporter said. "But given that China and Iraq signed a
series of strategic alliance agreements just a few months ago, are you
considering sending Chinese military forces to the Middle East to put down an
independence movement by the Kurds?"
Zhao replied, "We are in discussions with the Iraqis and U.N.
Secretary-General
Lucente on the possibility of sending peacekeepers to the Gulf region. We have
no plans at present to join forces with the Iraqis against the Kurds."
"At present?" the reporter asked. "Does that mean you haven't ruled out the
possibility of joint action?"
"The Kurdish issue is very sensitive. I'm very concerned that this could be
the spark that blows up the Middle East again. The last thing the world needs
is another war in
Iraq. We will do everything we can to bring a new era of peace to the region,
not more war."
Everyone noted that the premier hadn't really answered the question, and that
he quickly moved on.
"Yes," he said, pointing to a correspondent for the BBC in the third row.
"Mr. Prime Minister, you say you won't respond to hypotheticals," she began.
"But you have clearly put the Red Army on full alert. The streets of Beijing
are flooded with troops and missile batteries. Fighter jets are circling the
capital. The BBC is reporting that the Chinese navy is being ordered to sea,
your statement about Chinese vessels near the U.S.
coasts notwithstanding. Who are you worried about, if not the Americans?"
At this, the premier took his time, carefully considering the stakes, and
carefully weighing his words.
"You must understand the present situation," he said slowly. "A great power
has been viciously attacked today. The American president has been killed.
Untold millions of
Americans have been killed. I am hearing that as many as half of the members
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of
Congress have been killed. The White House and Pentagon have been destroyed.
Who knows the state of mind of the American leaders right now? Do you? Has the
newly sworn- in president given a press conference? Have you seen any live
images of him, or his advisors? No, not yet, so we are left to guess. And what
shall we guess? We are operating in the fog of a very serious crisis. We can
only imagine that the American leadership is angry and eager to strike back at
someone. So we must exercise great caution."
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