The Struggle for Taiwan

A History

Sulmaan Wasif Khan

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Hardback

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English

Allen Lane
13 August 2024

History; Asian history; Geopolitics

A gripping account of the past and future of Taiwan

In the overwhelming chaos across Asia at the end of the Second World War, one relatively minor issue was the future of the Japanese colony of Taiwan, a large island some one hundred miles off the coast of Fujian. Handed to the Kuomintang-ruled Republic of China, in 1949 it suddenly became the focus of global attention as a random cross-section of defeated Nationalists, including President Chiang Kai-shek, fled there from Mao's triumphant Communist forces.

The Struggle for Taiwan is a balanced and convincing account of the sequence of events that has left Taiwan for generations as a political anomaly, with issues around its status and future continuing to threaten war. With deepening democratization, Taiwan further goads Beijing, remaining functionally independent from China even as Xi Jinping clamours for unification.

This invaluable book allows readers to understand the complex story of this unique place and its role in international relations. With its striking economic dynamism and commitment to democracy, can Taiwan continue - as Hong Kong once did - to thrive, or will China conquer it? And will the world be able to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait or will it stumble into war?

By: Sulmaan Wasif Khan
Imprint: Allen Lane
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 240mm, Width: 160mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 536g
ISBN: 9780241674857
ISBN 10: 0241674859
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 13 August 2024
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Sulmaan Wasif Khan is Associate Professor of International History and Chinese Foreign Relations and Denison Chair of History and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. He is the author of Muslim, Trader, Nomad, Spy- China's Cold War and the People of the Tibetan Borderlands.

Reviews for The Struggle for Taiwan: A History

Deeply researched and fascinating… China-US relations now stand “at the edge of chaos”, according to Khan. Beijing’s aggression in the strait has hit new heights, and Biden appears to have recommitted the US to defend Taiwan militarily. A cataclysm beckons -- Charlie English * The Guardian * Excellent and timely… Khan’s book suggests that military conflict is not inevitable and that calm heads, open communication and the spirit of compromise could yet save us from a third world war -- Neal E. Robbins * Literary Review *