The Second Pearl

by Mike Bentley

The Communist Chinese leadership decides to move up their timetable to become the world’s sole superpower, from 2049 to the present. Part of this is to unify Taiwan by force. They believe the best model for accomplishing their wider goals is to copy the comprehensive moves by Imperial Japan in 1941-1942. The CCP/PLA thinks they can replicate the successes of the Japanese, while, at the same time, eliminate the failures. By means of subterfuge, they strike their East Asian neighbors, Western Pacific sea lanes, and the key American naval bases in Hawaii, Japan, Australia, and the United States. They rely on advanced missile and drone technology and are initially successful.

This novel is a cautionary tale that warns us of the current, comprehensive threat, that is Communist China today.

645 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2021

About the author

Dr. Michael Bentley brings an extraordinary breadth of experience to his writing. A fifth-generation Californian with deep roots in American history, he has spent his life bridging East and West through military service, humanitarian work, and academic study. His fourteen years as a U.S. Army chaplain, including service with the 101st Airborne Division and during Desert Storm, gave him unique insights into military operations and strategy.
After leaving the military, Bentley immersed himself in Asian culture, splitting his time between humanitarian work in Vietnam and scholarly pursuits. As a protégé of renowned Vietnam scholar Douglas Pike, he earned his doctorate in Vietnamese history, studying at both Texas Tech University and Vietnam's National University in Hanoi. His master's thesis on U.S. aid during the Vietnam War became required reading in government circles.
When not writing, Bentley continues his humanitarian work, using his medical ultrasound license to serve rural and remote communities. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Becky, a former U.S. Embassy staff member, with whom he has made nearly one hundred trips between their respective home countries.

Reviews

[David Hudgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought Provoking

Encapsulates all the concerns, foibles, bureaucratic assumptions, and mistakes the U. S. foreign policy experts, the federal politicians and the intelligence community has committed and continues to commit to this day vis-à-vis the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).
China is an existential threat to the United States, Europe and Asia. The mega problems that are snowballing in the PRC of population growth (1.4 billion), food insecurity, lack of jobs, degradations of the environment and over exploitation of all natural resources both within the boundaries of China proper and the continued claiming of new territories in the South Pacific are all coming home to roost in the near future. Not forgetting the repeatedly stated goal of liberating and re-integration of the island of Taiwan by 2049 (anniversary of the Communist takeover of China).
The author, Mike Bentley, does a thorough job of delineating and weaving these major challenges in a all too realistic future when we will have to face the Red Dragon. His coverings of all facets of the battle space from the oceans to the land and space are masterful and well written.
The tie that binds all aspects and viewpoints is freedom and its inherent cost in lives, money-and destruction The use of state of the art advanced technology in new and deadly applications i.e. drones on land. sea and air are an example.
Read this book for its entertainment value but focus on the questions raised about the relationship of the U.S. and China. Lastly keep in mind the steady increases in all phases on the Chinese military in hypersonic missiles, ships, planes, army and space. All geared to 2049…

[Cüneyt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fairytale about war

Complete waste of time, disconnected from reality. the author has no idea about modern warfare. Only good wish and christianity