The Art of War

Neil Shaw, a skilled operative for the United Nations’ covert dirty-tricks division, employs espionage to ensure global diplomacy. His morally ambiguous tactics highlight the challenges faced in maintaining peace in a complex geopolitical landscape.

While in Hong Kong, Shaw infiltrates a lavish celebration hosted by business magnate David Chan. His objective is to hack into a laptop belonging to a North Korean Defense Minister to secure evidence of misappropriated U.N. aid funds.

Shaw's cover is blown during the celebration, prompting a tense escape. Unfortunately, he sustains a gunshot wound to his shoulder, complicating his exit from the scene.

Six months later, a shipping container filled with deceased Vietnamese refugees washes up on the New York docks. This coincides with a crucial trade agreement with China, raising suspicions among Shaw's team.

Eleanor Hooks, Shaw's commanding officer, suspects a connection between the Chinese ambassador and the Triads, leading to Shaw being assigned a dangerous mission. He must install a listening device on Ambassador Wu during a banquet thrown by Chan.

During the banquet, chaos erupts when Ambassador Wu is shot dead and Chan is injured. In the ensuing confusion, Shaw pursues a masked gunman, only for his teammate Robert Bly to be killed.

In the aftermath of the banquet chaos, Shaw is wrongfully arrested by the NYPD. This significant turn of events sets the stage for a harrowing series of confrontations ahead.

During a prison transfer, an FBI agent’s van is bombed, leading to Shaw's capture by Triad members. They plan to frame him for murder, complicating his dire situation.

Shaw awakens in captivity, only to find that his last ally, Jenna Novak, has been brutally killed. Fueled by vengeance, he eliminates her assassin and uncovers crucial evidence.

Shaw partners with Julia Fang, who sees an article declaring his innocence. Together, they survive an ambush orchestrated by a formidable hitwoman in a hospital.

Shaw and Fang trace the Triad's operations to a bakery disguised as a front for criminal activities. This discovery helps them form an unexpected alliance with agent Capella.

Shaw acquires video evidence implicating Chan in the conspiracy against the trade agreement. This vital clue adds another layer to the unfolding drama, as it reveals the complex underpinnings of the plot.

Shaw uncovers that Hooks is the mastermind behind the conspiracy with Chan. In a tense revelation, he realizes he has been deeply betrayed by his own commanding officer.

In an explosive conclusion, Shaw confronts Bly at the U.N. headquarters, leading to a brutal fight. The confrontation results in Bly's demise after a fateful tumble onto a glass shard.

After orchestrating Hooks's assassination, Shaw fakes his own death to escape. He ultimately reunites with Fang in France, although a mysterious spy continues to observe their every move.