The Bear and the Dragon
Encyclopedia
The Bear and the Dragon is a political thriller novel
by Tom Clancy
featuring Jack Ryan. It was published in 2000.
. After Russia
discovers oil fields rivaling those of the Persian Gulf in Siberia
and gold deposits just as big, it looks as if the struggling Russian economy is on the road to recovery. But China
decides to speed up its plan to invade Siberia, which had been delayed after the defeat of Japan
in the book Debt of Honor
.
A roving CNN
news team in China captures on videotape the murder of Cardinal Renato di Milo, the Papal Nuncio
to Beijing
, and a Chinese Baptist minister, Yu Fa An. The two had attempted to stop Chinese authorities from performing a forced late-term abortion
on a member of Yu's congregation and in the process, one of the on site policemen, who mistakenly believes his partner is being attacked, puts a bullet through the cardinal's spine. In reaction, most nations impose a trade boycott on the PRC. With its economy struggling due to recent military expansions, China
decides to hasten its planned invasion of Siberia in order to access the newly discovered oil and gold fields. The operation includes attempting to murder the Russian President and his top-ranking advisor.
In an attempt to dissuade China from invading Russia, President Jack Ryan persuades NATO to admit Russia and personally promises assistance to Russia's President Grushavoy. China invades, despite international assistance pledged to Russia. Russia eventually repels the Chinese with help from the United States
Army
and Air Force
and NATO allies, in the process completely annihilating two Chinese Shock-Army formations and severely damaging two others. The U.S. Navy
attacks the Chinese mainland coastal defenses and destroys much of the Chinese navy
's aging fleet while it lies in port. Against his advisors' opinions, Ryan decides to broadcast CNN's coverage of the war, plus direct feeds from U.S. reconnaissance drones, over a CIA web site to counter the Chinese government's domestic propaganda about the war's status and purpose.
As the war turns against China, Beijing's increasingly desperate leaders decide to ready their ICBMs
for a potential launch. A joint NATO-Russian special operations
force (including Rainbow
), led by John Clark
, is dispatched to destroy the ICBMs. The force destroys all but two missiles in their bunkers. Of two that launch, one is shot down in the air by an Apache
, while the second missile heads toward Washington, D.C.
. Ryan's family is evacuated, but he decides at the last minute to stay behind on board a U.S. Navy ship (USS Gettysburg
) docked in Washington, which has an experimental anti-missile system. Ryan watches as the ship destroys the ICBM at the last possible moment.
Late at night, a group of students who have become enraged over the Chinese leadership's handling of the war after watching the CIA website march through Tiananmen Square
and invade a Politburo
meeting, setting the stage for an overthrow of the government. A reformist Politburo member, Fang Gan, takes over and arrests the men behind the invasion, Premier Xu Kun Piao, Minister Zhang Han San and Marshal Luo Cong. Fang also orders an immediate withdrawal of Chinese forces from Siberia and then holds an open discussion with student leaders that starts China's transition to democracy
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
featuring Jack Ryan. It was published in 2000.
Plot introduction
In the book Jack Ryan is President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. After Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
discovers oil fields rivaling those of the Persian Gulf in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and gold deposits just as big, it looks as if the struggling Russian economy is on the road to recovery. But China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
decides to speed up its plan to invade Siberia, which had been delayed after the defeat of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in the book Debt of Honor
Debt of Honor
Debt of Honor is a novel by Tom Clancy. It is a continuation of the series featuring his character Jack Ryan. In this installment, Ryan has become the National Security Advisor when the Japanese government goes to war with the United States...
.
Plot summary
In the prologue Sergey Nickolaievech Golovko, the chairman of the SVR and friend of President Ryan, is being chauffeured to his workplace in an armoured white Mercedes S-600 when somebody shoots at another car which, coincidentally, is the same make as his, with an RPG7. Due to the quick actions of his former Spetsnaz Gru bodyguard/chauffeur, he makes it to the SVR headquarters, left to ponder whether the RPG was meant for him or not.A roving CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
news team in China captures on videotape the murder of Cardinal Renato di Milo, the Papal Nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, and a Chinese Baptist minister, Yu Fa An. The two had attempted to stop Chinese authorities from performing a forced late-term abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
on a member of Yu's congregation and in the process, one of the on site policemen, who mistakenly believes his partner is being attacked, puts a bullet through the cardinal's spine. In reaction, most nations impose a trade boycott on the PRC. With its economy struggling due to recent military expansions, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
decides to hasten its planned invasion of Siberia in order to access the newly discovered oil and gold fields. The operation includes attempting to murder the Russian President and his top-ranking advisor.
In an attempt to dissuade China from invading Russia, President Jack Ryan persuades NATO to admit Russia and personally promises assistance to Russia's President Grushavoy. China invades, despite international assistance pledged to Russia. Russia eventually repels the Chinese with help from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and NATO allies, in the process completely annihilating two Chinese Shock-Army formations and severely damaging two others. The U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
attacks the Chinese mainland coastal defenses and destroys much of the Chinese navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
's aging fleet while it lies in port. Against his advisors' opinions, Ryan decides to broadcast CNN's coverage of the war, plus direct feeds from U.S. reconnaissance drones, over a CIA web site to counter the Chinese government's domestic propaganda about the war's status and purpose.
As the war turns against China, Beijing's increasingly desperate leaders decide to ready their ICBMs
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
for a potential launch. A joint NATO-Russian special operations
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
force (including Rainbow
Rainbow Six (novel)
Rainbow Six is a techno-thriller novel written by Tom Clancy. It focuses on John Clark, Ding Chavez, and a fictional multi-national counterterrorist unit codenamed Rainbow, rather than Jack Ryan and national politics...
), led by John Clark
John Clark (Tom Clancy character)
John Clark is a fictional character created by Tom Clancy who appears in many of Clancy's novels. He is an Irish American Catholic.-Personal life:...
, is dispatched to destroy the ICBMs. The force destroys all but two missiles in their bunkers. Of two that launch, one is shot down in the air by an Apache
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
, while the second missile heads toward Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Ryan's family is evacuated, but he decides at the last minute to stay behind on board a U.S. Navy ship (USS Gettysburg
USS Gettysburg (CG-64)
USS Gettysburg is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in the United States Navy. She is named for the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. She was built at the Bath Iron Works in Maine....
) docked in Washington, which has an experimental anti-missile system. Ryan watches as the ship destroys the ICBM at the last possible moment.
Late at night, a group of students who have become enraged over the Chinese leadership's handling of the war after watching the CIA website march through Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen Gate located to its North, separating it from the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the third largest city square in the world...
and invade a Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
meeting, setting the stage for an overthrow of the government. A reformist Politburo member, Fang Gan, takes over and arrests the men behind the invasion, Premier Xu Kun Piao, Minister Zhang Han San and Marshal Luo Cong. Fang also orders an immediate withdrawal of Chinese forces from Siberia and then holds an open discussion with student leaders that starts China's transition to democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.