America's Coming War with China

A Collision Course over Taiwan

Ted Galen Carpenter

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781403968418
• eBook ISBN: 9781466893016
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Diplomacy & Treaties
• Index: Politics & International Relations

One issue could lead to a disastrous war between the United States and China: Taiwan. A growing number of Taiwanese want independence for their island and regard mainland China as an alien nation. Mainland Chinese consider Taiwan a province that was stolen from China more than a century ago, and their patience about getting it back is wearing thin. Washington officially endorses a "one China" policy but also sells arms to Taiwan and maintains an implicit pledge to defend it from attack. That vague, muddled policy invites miscalculation by Taiwan or China or both. The three parties are on a collision course, and unless something dramatic changes, an armed conflict is virtually inevitable within a decade. Although there is still time to avert a calamity, time is running out. In this book, Carpenter tells the reader what the U.S. must do quickly to avoid being dragged into war.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Notice
• Contents
• Dedication
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. 2013: How the War Began
• 2. The Origins of the Taiwan Problem, 1895–1979
• 3. The Taiwan Problem Evolves: 1979–2000
• 4. Some Ominous Trends in Taiwan
• 5. Some Ominous Trends in the PRC
• 6. Washington’s Muddled Policy
• 7. The Dynamic Military Balance
• 8. Avoiding Calamity
• Notes
• Index
• Copyright