The serenity of a remote tropical islet is shattered by the arrival of an invading enemy force. Over the course of the next sixteen hours, all hope for this remote patch of Taiwanese soil depends on the courage of three unlikely heroes: a guileless Marine frogman and two of the Coast Guard’s least-disciplined soldiers.

Deep in the South China Sea, Taiping Island, the southernmost outpost of the Republic of China, is left defended by a skeleton crew of twenty Coast Guards as the nation takes its New Year’s holiday, though their numbers are somewhat bolstered by the presence of fifteen Marines from the Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit who are conducting drills there. At this moment of relative weakness, the island comes under attack by the Philippine Navy, and the outnumbered R.O.C. forces are rapidly overpowered, save for three soldiers who happen to be working off base at the time of the attack.

Now, all hope for the island lies with these three unlikely heroes: a mild-mannered marine frogman, Wang Kai-hsu, who would seem incapable of hurting a fly; and the Coast Guard’s shadiest recruits, inveterate shirker Chen Jui-che and his partner-in-crime Hsieh Ping-yu. Possessed with a reinvigorated sense of duty, this ad-hoc band of brothers tempers itself into a force to be reckoned with. Availing themselves of Wang’s extensive training, and Chen and Hsieh’s intimate knowledge of the island’s terrain, they hatch a plan to liberate their captive comrades and defend the sovereignty of their nation.

But there are still questions that remain unanswered. Why would the Philippines, which had previously exhibited no designs on the island, suddenly invade? Could the invasion be a gambit by another power competing to control the South China Seas? When the three soldiers witness the execution of their commanding officers and comrades, their questions take an entirely new turn: stay and fight against overwhelming odds? Or, find some way to flee and save themselves?

Unfolding with the gripping tension and explosive imagery of a blockbuster war film, this high-stakes military crisis is narrated in tightly-paced chapters with precise time markers, keeping readers in minute-by-minute suspense until the final resolution, while true-to-life dialogue and characterizations highlight the personal stakes of every decision made on the battlefield. A rare military novel from Taiwan, 16 Hours on Taiping Island, is a thrilling addition to the genre, delivering intricate plotting, unexpected twists, and well-turned prose. As entertaining as it is thought-provoking, it is sure to leave readers pining for a film or television adaptation.