Heroism is having to do something drastic to keep from getting killed.'

That's what security consultant Pete Avakian tells his dinner date Dr Judy Rose on a night out in Beijing. Little does he know that his words are about to be illustrated in graphic detail.

Just as they are getting to know each other, chaos erupts in the street. China has launched missiles at Taiwan; a long history of tension has given way to war. Suddenly Pete and Judy are confronted by hostile youths, and an act of self-defence puts them on the run from the authorities in a country crazed by war.

Pursued by the Chinese police, the Americans race toward the Mongolian border. Their only chance of survival is to work together to escape a country gone mad even if that means taking drastic action. .