Nobel Prize–winning university professor Dr. John Hathaway's mission begins with Lt. General Shelby's request at the U.S. embassy in London that he travel to China to visit Soong Li, a former professor of Hathaway's who has reportedly developed an enzyme that would permit crops to grow in any kind of climate.

Shortly after his arrival in Hong Kong, Hathaway is sent to meet a beautiful young Chinese woman, Ting Ling, who introduces him to Security Chief Yin at a nightclub.

When Hathaway returns to his hotel room, he finds Ting Ling waiting for him in his bed naked and enticing him to seduce her because it is her duty for the Chairman.

They play a game of table tennis and discuss the enzyme, which the Chairman claims he intends to share with the entire world.

At this moment, Lt. General Shelby, who is listening in London, considers and discusses with his seniors the possibility of detonating the explosive device in Hathaway's head to kill the Chairman.

He is unable to scale a fence, so Shelby elects to set off the explosive device, but Soviet border troops arrive at the last minute to help Hathaway cross safely.

Jay Richard Kennedy who had written several novels and created the radio and television espionage show The Man Called X became vice president of Sinatra Enterprises in 1966.

In July 1966 Richard Quine was going to make the film as part of a two picture deal with Sinatra (the first was going to be an adaptation of Hemingway's Across the River to the Trees.

Although given second billing in the cast list, English actress Anne Heywood appears only at the start and end of the film for a total of five minutes.