James Bond is sent to investigate a series of international incidents orchestrated by media baron Elliot Carver, who manipulates news to spark a global conflict between China and the UK. With the help of Chinese agent Wai Lin, Bond must track down Carver and stop his plans to engineer a third world war. Along the way, Bond teams up with CIA contact Jack Wade and seduces Carver's wife Paris to gather information about Carver's operations.