The author enjoyed the exorbitant privilege of serving three times as Ambassador of Spain to China over a period of 25 years,between 1987 and 2013. He wondered about the US decisive role in empowering China,This book is the result of his review.
The book starts with an in-depth analysis of China´s exponential economic development since 1978, adding a reflection on economic power as the crucial underpinning of military and geopolitical might.
It underlines that when Nixon first visited China, in February 1972, he and Kissinger already understood that China would become a great power in a few decades and the ensuing risk "to be confronted, if our relations turn sour, with the most formidable enemy that has ever existed". The anticipated risk was taken to achieve short term benefits. Assessing the wisdom of this decision is the thrust of the book. Eight reasons are listed which might have given Nixon and Kissinger second thoughts when they decided to engage China.
The contributions of the different US Presidents to the engagement and later containment of China are analyzed. A chapter is devoted to "Unfulfilled prophecies": China and democracy, and the elusive collapse of the Chinese economy.
A European epilogue deals with the triangular relationship Europe - US - China. Will Europe be able to reach political union, engineering a renaissance from the ashes of 1945 and becoming again a great power? It is the existential question: to be or not to be.
"The book also features a foreword by Javier Solana, former Secretary General of NATO and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union."