Paperback, 560 pages

The stakes are sky-high when a power-mad Chinese president threatens Taiwan in the latest entry in this #1New York Timesbestselling series.

For decades, Taiwan has been a thorn in the side of the Chinese government. An independent nation to the rest of the world, it is considered a rogue province by the Peoples Republic of China. Previous governments have tried to conquer the island using economic force and diplomatic pressure, but new Chinese president Li Jian Jun is done fooling around. Hes devised a secret military operation to take the island. Only one man knows how to stop Lis mad and bloody plan for reunification, and thats Minister of Defense Qin Hiy. Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, Qin covertly makes contact with the CIA in Beijing and signals his desire to defect to the West.

To get Qin out, John Clark creates an international task force reminiscent of Rainbow Six and goes undercover in mainland China. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Commander Katie Ryan is deployed to the tip of the spear on the destroyer USSJason Dunhamto defend Taiwan. Threatened by an encircling Chinese armada, shes under pressure to find a flaw in the invaders plan that her father can exploit.

For his part, President Jack Ryan may have the power of the entire US military at his disposal, but what he really needs are Lis secret plans from Defense Minister Qin so he can stave off a warbecause Americas Defense Protocol could lead to a game of mutual destruction that would cost the lives of thousands of young soldiers, sailors, and special operators, as well as his daughter.