Robert Ludlum's The Altman Code: A Covert-One Novel by Robert Ludlum (2003)

Another ghostwritten Ludlum novel, which shows on both language and plot. Factions in the Chinese Central Committee, Hong Kong shippers, an international investment (and covertly arms-dealer), Chinese and American reconnaissance organizations fighting over the documentation of a secret Chinese shipment of weapon chemicals to Saddam Hussein's Iraq (of course the storyline lost it's relevance to real events ...). On the sideline, there is the story of an American MIA, kept prisoner by the Chinese for the last 50 years, who happens to be the father of the sitting US president. With some luck here, there and everywhere, the Jon Smith, the good agent completes his job, and peace reins over the earth. An OK listening standing in traffic.