Using unpreccedented degrees of violence, young Joey Tai (John Lone) becomes the head of Chinese mafia in New York and undisputed leader of Chinese community. Stanley White (Mickey Rourke), most decorated cop in New York, who hates Asian people since his service in Vietnam, is put in charge of Chinatown. Both men are prone to breaking long-established rules and both men are unlikely to make compromises with each other, which leads to unavoidable and bloody conflict.