BOOK REVIEW WRITTEN BY MANOJ CHAUDHARY

1. BOOK REVIEW
1. Name of Book : Dragon Strike “The Millennium War”
2. Author : Humphrey Hawksley and Simon
Holberton
3. Publisher : Pan Book
4. Look of the Book : Soft bound with cover illustration by Bill
Gregory. The cover page in red colour with broken Chinese coin in golden colour which
depicted the scenario of the future war. The backside of the book cover gives brief if
initiation of the millennium war and also caters the comments on authenticity and
authoritative writing of the thrilling fiction which enmeshes US, Asia and Europe in
unavoidable situation of war. It also horrifies the western defence planners .
5. Cost : UK{5.99 Rs 330/-
6. Pages : 438 (thriller from 1 to 418, references
419 to 424, index 425 to 438. i to xxvi i – description of authors, iii & iv- Name of book
writer and conditions, v- dedicated to, vii- contents, viii- Maps, ix to xiv- preface, xv to
xxiv- chronology of events)
7. Comments/Reviews of others : By various renouned dailies are
imprinted at the backside which shows the greatness and thorough writing by the writer
and also a comment by International Herald Tribune at front page cover says ‘The
Chinese are coming. Prepare for war in 2001’.
8. About the Author :
(a) Humphery Hawksley. He had been BBC correspondent in Asia for yearswith
initial stint during eighties in Sri lanka, India and Phillipines. From 1990, he was
based in Hongkong as regional correspondent and reported from more than
twenty Asian countries during twentieth century development. In 1994, he was
appointed as China Bureau chief and became first television correspondent of
BBC based in Beijing and travelled extensively through the country.
(b) Simon Holberton. He did tours of Asia and was Hongkong Bureau chief
for financial times from 1992 to 1996 and witnessed AND REPORTED China’s
preparations for takeover of the colony and modernisation of its vast economy.
In Mid 1980’s he reported on Japan and Korea for the Melbourne Age i.e 1984 to
1986. In 1996 again returned to Financial Times in Britain where he writes about
the energy.
(c) Review of the book:
(i) The book is based on the assessment and predictions of authors based on the
developments and their experiences in Far East Asia who had served in this region as
correspondents of print and visual media.
(ii) The book starts with preface that “the events described in this book have not
yet happened _ _ _ _ _ _. It is a future history”. Which means the present scenario
going on in this world may cause t happen this war which requires to be contained.

2. (iii) Authors tell about the determination of China to become world power and
American policy which is taking America and China in another cold war. The Chinese
Government who is insensitive against human rights and democratic legislation will
cause the war.
(iv) The book here unfolds the scenario in chronological manner and depicts the
picturesque scenario where China goes for airstrike at Vietnam who is unaware and
unprepared for war, destroying the military, air and naval bases of Vietnam including
the civilian casualties and then moves its navy to capture Spartly and Paracel islands
in South China sea where various oil rigs and employees of various European and
American companies working.
(v) This sudden strike whistles the world and every country’s premiers get jittery
and start their diplomatic moves to tackle the situation. The unfolding of situations is
very elegantly tied with each other. The China starts the war with mere concern over
South China Sea and its oil underneath but strangles all other aspects including the
blocking of trade routes through China, capture of Japan bound cargo ship carrying
petroleum products and sinking USS Nimitz.
(vi) The authors had described the situation of all affected countries and their
concern brilliantly which gives reader a food of thought that it’s not easy to go for a
war and taking decisions for the same is not a simple issue for any world class leader.
(vii) The author penned the book after a thorough research and reference in
terms of Weaponry and equipment used by China, Vietnam, US and NATO forces. It
has also thrown light on the capabilities and comparative analysis of equipments
used by either along with the importance of training.
(viii) The book enlightens the readers about the affect of war on the country’s
economy. It sheds light on how economies of various countries have an adverse
affect and the values of the currency shambles manifolds. It also reflects how one
gains from others loss. For example the gain by the company of China under General
Zhao in collaboration with First China Company books profit due to the fall of
Japanese currency.
(ix) It had shown how the sentiments of people in various countries come into
play in decision making during the crisis. It had been observed during the reading
how people and government functionaries had reacted on day to day basis.
(x) It also put a light on the role of Ambassadors of various countries and their
functioning towards the national interest.
(xi) It had thrown light on the business models and investors’ role and usage as
bait during the diplomatic decisions and talks to converge the decisions. It also
shows the importance of open economy around the world which can avoid the
situation of confrontation many a times.
(xii) The book had also suggested on future allies during such type of crisis if
occurs. Hence it is must to understand which country is going to be where or side
during the adverse situation/confrontation.

3. (xiii) Lastly the book educates the reader how the situation will unfurl during
various crisis if occurs and what is going to be the next as it is called as future history. It
has to be understood and analyzed meticulously.
Lessons Learnt.
(a) The ongoing changes in the world have to be analyzed and reacted upon so
to keep up the pace with the world.
(b) The economy of the country is related to the world powers and other
countries whose investors and companies are investing the money in our country has
to be considered as important factor on any decision which hampers the national
economy.
(c) The diplomatic relations have to be in better form so that any adverse crisis
or predicament takes place can be timely addressed.
(d) As the neighbour of the China we should be alert and understand their move
in the world and prepare ourselves to bring them on a diplomatic arena for
discussions rather fighting a war which can hamper the development and the
economy of the country.
(e) The alarming situations has to be understood in advance and act accordingly
to gain maximum.
(d) Conclusion.
The book is very well researched, referred and realistic framing of a situation,
yet to happen. The usage of technical and professional knowledge to make it more
authentic and authoritative had given added height to the book which had thrown
light on each and every aspect, going to take place during this kind of crisis or a
situation. It is a whistleblower that China is coming to become a Superpower. The
situations which are unfurl in present scenario also reveals the similar situation what
is depicted in form of this book hence required to be alerted and trained to fight
back.
The book has given overall view and situation going to be in 21ST century and
hence required to be prepared and policies to face the situation to be evolved and
old ones be amended accordingly.
The book is recommended to all those who are interested in knowing about
political, military and economic situations around the world.